This book was very interesting. I enjoyed the historical references to real people and the fact that it refers to the real life mystery of what happened to the princes in the tower. It must have been a very frightening time knowing that an army of soldiers is marching towards your city and that you have no control over who is going to be in charge of the country or knowing how their decisions might affect your day to day life and I think this book will help children understand that. Without giving away spoilers, the ending was very intriguing and all in all this book has made me want to do my own research into the story of the princes in the tower.

A middle grades story set in medieval England. Jack wants to be a surgeon but goes on a quest to find out who he really is. I was hoping to like this one a lot but I didn’t connect with it like I thought I would!

Having always been interested in the story of The Princes in the Tower, this is a fascinating perspective. I read it in one sitting as I was desperate to find out more about Jack.

I have always been fascinated by historical mysteries and this is one that really fascinates me. Two princes locked into a tower before the oldest has his coronation and then overnight they just disappear and even today noone has any idea who did it, there are theories but no real idea.
This was an incredibel retelling and one that I couldn't put down and so raced through in a couple of hours. I liked that it retold the mystery as well as added some new extra mystery and twists to it. A great read.

An interesting take on one of the great mysteries of British royal history: what happened to the princes in the Tower? Andrew Beattie presents a new twist to the mystery, one that is thoroughly fun to read. This is one of those books that captures you from start to finish. I read it in 3 days, and that is because I intentionally paced myself. Set during the weeks leading up to the Battle of Bosworth Field, the main character Jack Broom discovers a huge secret that could impact who sits on the English throne. He also plays a critical role in what happens regarding that secret, along the way discovering what turns out to be his true identity. What made this enjoyable to read is that Beattie's twist, as far as I'm concerned, is actually plausible in some ways. It gave another layer to a topic that I have read and watched documentaries about many times over. Even though this is clearly geared toward a younger crowd, I as an adult loved it. I particularly appreciated the afterword, which gave historical clarity where needed. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sweet Cherry Publishing for this arc, which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“The Secret in the Tower” is a historical fiction middle grade novel by Andrew Beattie which is due to be released on September 8, 2022.

I was thrilled to receive an eARC from NetGalley and Sweet Cherry Publishing.

“The Secret in the Tower” takes place in England during the Cousins’ War when King Richard III is overthrown by Henry Tudor. The story encapsulates the famous story of the two princes held captive in the Tower of London. Both of whom have a stronger claim to the throne than either Richard and Henry. The story is told by Jack Broom, an apothecary apprentice in London, who dreams of more- including becoming a surgeon. It is this dream, Jack’s uncanny appearance to the two princes, and the work of several others in Jack’s life that shape his past, present, and future.

Personal note- I LOVE reading and learning about all things England and royalty. I was so excited to read this book! It is fictional, but based on real people and historic events. Overall, I recommend this book for middle elementary.

This was such a cute little read for any of the middle grade readers in your life! Middle grade is a fiercely underrated genre, and I will never get over that little tidbit about it. I think that anyone who likes historical fiction (especially Henry VIII/Tudor based) woud do great with this book, as well as any middle grade reader, whether young or old!