Books with author Frances Hendry

Meg, a Viking's daughter, with the help of her betrothed husband, wee hare-lipped Davie Spens, and her big manservant Peem, fights in love and kindliness to save the little princess, the Maid of Norway, from being murdered by Lady Marjory de Brus, who wants the crown of Scotland for her son Robert, and schemes to get it - with the help of Meg's sister, a powerful witch.

A fascinating, exciting struggle for survival by a lively young servant girl against the threat of dismissal and even hanging, through the malice of the appallingly-spoilt son of a London household in 1851. It is set against the background of London's mansions and slums. and the building of the Victorian marvel, the huge glass Crystal Palace. The details of the history and the major characters are accurate [well, fairly!] but not heavy, the characters are alive, the story is gripping.

It is 1745, and young Jeannie Main is a tough fisher lass in Nairn in northeast Scotland, where she lives a simple, quiet life―until a gypsy warns her of a greater fate than she ever dreamed. Jeannie Main, a poor working girl, would decide the fate of two kings. As she tries to come to terms with her destiny, Jeannie is plunged into adventure and danger that could determine the future of her country. One final test remains―risking her life by riding the Kelpie, the most feared monster in all of Scotland. Quest for a Kelpie is a fast-moving, thrilling story that takes place at a crucial moment in Scotland's history. This exciting fiction was the winner of the first BBC “Quest for a Kelpie” prize. (Ages 9-12)

John Russell, son of an archer in King Henri II's Scottish Guard, is chosen to be whipping-boy to sickly Dauphin Francois, who is betrothed to Mary, Queen of Scots. In the religious terrors of France in the 1560s, among the fans and fanatics, jesters and jousters, cardinals and courtesans, political plotters and sadistic sorcerers, can John and his younger sister, the sweet-voiced Lark, keep themselves and their young queen from disaster?

Jack Downie is the best thief in London; he has to be, to pay Ivory Sal and her hulking, vicious sons from tormenting and maybe killing his tiny, frail sister Jess and big, slow-minded Joe. With the help of Frank Verney, an apprentice spy, and Susanna, can he save his family; and also save Mary, Queen of Scots, from Queen Elizabeth's spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, who is fanatically determined to have her executed? The Babington Conspiracy entangles the three youngsters, Susanna's lovely sister and her mother, former courtesan Kate, all in a wild, exciting adventure of religious and social turmoil and courage. The historical background is (almost) accurate; Jack, Susannah, Frank and their families are inserted to tell the story of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Leezie Sinclair is a wild Borders lass, who carries a knife to protect herself and her mother, once the queen's nurse, from her violent step-father. So how can she cope with 'civilised Edinburgh', where religious fanaticism, murder and treason lurk in the narrow, twisted lanes and minds of Scotland's capital city? How can she come to be the friend of black Kate Lenton, the gorgeous courtesan, John Knox's worst enemy? How can she fulfil her dream of working with the Queen's hawks? And most challenging of all, how can she save Mary, Queen of Scots, from the nobles and preachers plotting her ruin? The historical background is fact; Leezie and her family are inserted, to help tell the story of Mary's life.

Chandra is looking forward to her arranged marriage - her new husband is open-minded and modern-thinking. But when he dies shortly after their wedding Chandra realizes that she is now the property of her husband's family who blame her for their son's death. She escapes into the desert and eventually finds her way home - but her husband's family are hot on her heels.

Chains come in many forms. To escape being trapped as a useless, ornamental 'lady', Juliet takes her brother's place on a shocking, dangerous voyage, slave trading to Africa. While escaping from her old life, through the horrors of slave trading and a slave revolt, she meets other youngsters on her life-changing journey; Polly, a child trapped in service; Dand, a Scottish farm lad kidnapped and sold in Africa; Hassan, proud son of an African slave trader; Bert, escaped ex-sweep, hoping to become an able seaman when he's 15; little Gbodi, eerily focussed on revenge on all the people who have enslaved her. Which of them will survive?A strong, exciting, fast-moving story for young adults, of violent, callous times, which may challenge your ideas about slavery and those involved in many aspects of it.