Win a Copy of 'The Boy, the Witch and the Queen of Scots' (C & YA)

Bookzilla Book of the Month: The Boy, The Witch and The Queen of Scots

Competition type: Children's and Young Adult

Closing date: 31 May 2024, 23:59

We have five copies of The Boy, The Witch and The Queen of Scots by Barbara Henderson to be won, thanks to our friends at Luath Press! All you need to do is answer the question at the bottom of the page. Entries close at midnight on Friday 31 May. All entrants must reside in the UK and full terms and conditions apply. You can check out our competitions page for other giveaways. To find more great reads for children and young adults, download the Bookzilla book finder app.

About The Boy, The Witch, and The Queen of Scots

When a teenage Mary Queen of Scots arrives into the foggy Port of Leith to begin her reign over Scotland, the last person who wants to catch her eye is 12-year-old Alexander. He has been sent to Holyrood Palace by the Earl of Strathbogie to work as a falconer, to care for the young queen’s hunting birds – and to spy on her every move and report back to the Earl. Though Alexander does not wish to betray the queen, he is pursued at every turn by a sinister figure known only as ‘the cloak’, who makes it clear that more than Alexander’s job will be at stake if he refuses to comply. With the support of his new friend, Lizzie (the Queen’s wardrobe assistant), Alexander follows the queen on her journey around Scotland and grapples with the realities of leading a double life. . .

Suspense, treachery and treason abound in this thrilling historical tale. The atmosphere of a country bristling with religious conflict hums steadily in the background, in a way that is perfectly pitched for the age group. This is the ideal novel for any reader with an interest in history, bringing this unique period of Mary Queen of Scots’ reign to life for a new generation. One to be enjoyed in the classroom just as much as under the duvet with a torch.