The Jackdaw: Quest for a Queen

By Frances Mary Hendry

Book Overview

12 year old Downie, known as "Jackdaw", the best thief in London, is desperate to save his helpless brother and sister from the brutality of Ivory Sal and her two vicious sons. His skills draw the attention of young Frank Verney, who serves Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's fanatical spy-master.Diverted by the lovely daughters of Black Kate, Frank rebels against the lies, double dealing and blackmail of the Protestant wolves at Elizabeth's court as they close in on Mary, Queen of Scots. Her friends make romantic, doomed plans to rescue her, but who is urging them on? Knowing who is friend or foe can mean life or death to Frank, Jack and Susannah in their quest to save the threatened queen; and Ivory Sal complicates matters further with her determination to get her revenge on the elusive Jack. As events intensify so does the danger for the three young friends.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0862414377
• ISBN13: 9780862414375
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Trafalgar Square Publishing
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Age Range: 9 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 4 and higher

Customer Reviews

Exciting historical novel for young and not so young people!

The correct title for this book is actually "Quest for a Queen: Jackdaw." That's because "Jackdaw" is the third book, in the "Quest for a Queen" trilogy written by talented British novelist Frances Mary Hendry. The "Queen" in question is Mary, Queen of Scots, but she doesn't actually appear in this book. These are excerpts from the synopsis on the back cover of the book: "Intrigue, romance, and high adventure mark the novels of Frances Hendry...Late 16th century London can rarely have been so vividly brought to life...12-year old Jack Downie, known as 'Jackdaw', the best thief in London, is desperate to save his little brother and sister from the brutality of a drunken woman and her two vicious sons. His skills draw the attention of young Frank Verney, who serves Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's fanatical spy-master." Although this book was written for young people age 12 and above, it is so vividly written and contains such accurate descriptions of Elizabethan London that a "mature" woman like me was unable to put it down. The style is literate, but readable and fast-paced. This is one of those rare books that the whole family can read and enjoy!