My Name is Victoria is a delightful new take on Queen Victoria’s younger years and how she was molded into the monarch that we are now so familiar with.
Written by a curator for the Royal Palaces, this novel has quite a lot of historical fact in it. The tale is told from the perspective of Victoria–but not the Victoria you know. Victoria Conroy, also known as Miss V or Miss V Conroy, is the younger daughter of Sir John Conroy. She is brought to Kensington Palace to serve as the playmate of the Princess Victoria, while also performing spy duties for her father.
As the girls age, a true friendship develops and the Victoria’s become quite close. At the heart of this story is the unfolding of a friendship and mutual affection that will shape the lives of two young women as they grow to adulthood in a world fraught with rules and systems that they must learn to survive, if not thrive in.
This book is a good read for all ages. There are a few vocabulary words younger readers may find themselves leaning on a dictionary for, but they certainly are sparse enough that they don’t detract from the story. Older readers will enjoy a fresh perspective on Queen Victoria’s childhood and how her upbringing and small circle of associates was formed and maintained over the years.
Light, engaging and will keep you turning pages until the very end, this is a Worsley novel worth a spot on your to read pile.
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Candlewick Press
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 7 religious exclamations; 3 mild obscenities.
Violence/Gore: Girl kicks another in shin under table; paper ball is thrown down on old woman’s head; playful biff to head; dog bites man with minimal injury; scary scene of potential assassin being chased away; woman states man slapped and shook her; woman slaps girl viciously on back; accidental bump of heads during bow; 2-page scene of house fire with trapped woman being rescued with minor injuries; girl overturns furniture during tantrum.
Sex/Nudity: 4 instances of hugging; 3 kisses to hand; 1 kiss.
Mature Subject Matter:
Death of family member, mental disorders, serious illness, marriage infidelity, ethics, robbery.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Women unknowingly use large amounts of laudanum.
