Anne & Henry

Gr 9 Up—Set in modern-day Medina, WA, this story is a reimagining of the intense, dramatic (and short) relationship between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Henry can see his future as clearly as if it was sitting in his palm. He will bow to familial pressure. Once he graduates from high school, he will go to Harvard. He will marry his longtime girlfriend, Catherine. Then he will pursue politics on a national level. All of this seems certain until Anne Boleyn arrives in Medina. Gorgeous but lacking the polish of other Medina girls, Anne does not fit in at the posh high school. The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of Henry and Anne. The protagonist are well developed. Henry's struggle to please his mother and satisfy his own desires is filled with tension that will ring true for many teens. Anne's fruitless efforts to fit in are fraught with angst that will resonate with readers. This soap opera for teens features deception and intrigue aplenty. All of the adolescents are gluttonously wealthy and amazingly sophisticated. Also, they are self-absorbed, spoiled, and prolific swearers. Parents are around but never when they should be. The teens have several opulent parties, all of which involve lots of drinking. Sex is referred to often and described explicitly at least once.