Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl is about Elizabeth Hastings, a young lady in England whose parents died just two weeks ago in a carriage accident.  Left with no money and little help, Elizabeth takes a position at Kensington Palace as a lady's maid to none other than the future queen - 16 year old Victoria.  Unaccustomed to the life of a maid, Liza gets herself into trouble immediately with others on staff and with the rest of Victoria's family.  Troubled by something she discovers about Victoria's mother and Sir John Conroy, a family "friend", Liza begins spying on Victoria's behalf.  Victoria and Liza take unprecedented measures to ensure that their plan is thwarted so that Victoria takes her eventual place on the throne.  Things aren't quite as easy as they expect and the girls end up getting themselves and their friends in quite a bit of trouble in the process.  Will Sir John and Victoria's mother end up ruling England?  Will Liza ever get out of servitude and back to her life as a lady?  Read Prisoners in the Palace to find out!

This was a great book!  It was full of mystery, adventure, action, history and a little bit of romance!  I had a hard time putting it down, and finished it in just two days.  I especially enjoyed the author's note at the end, explaining which of the events were actual history and which were fictional.  The letters and journal entries added interest and a different perspective to the story.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, but especially intermediate and YA girls with an interest in Victoria before she became so "famous".