Victoria Rebels

Victoria Rebels by Carolyn Meyer, 2013 Simon & Schuster

     Queen Victoria was closely watched as a child and into her early adulthood. Meyer's Victoria Rebels looks at the influences she faced as a princess. Sir John Conroy controls every moment of Victoria's life through her mother's influence. When her sister is married away from England and the comfort of friends are slowly taken from young Victoria her dislike of the man becomes a deep-seated hatred.
     Victoria learns to keep her feelings under wraps. Her letters and diary are read, her only confidants are her sister and uncle, living on the Continent. Both advise patience until the future queen is old enough to manage her own life.
     With each passing year, young Victoria watches her mother and uncle, the king, all but declare war against each other. As tensions rise, Sir Conroy attempts to strengthen his hold on the princess and her mother inciting conflict between the two.
     When she finally gains control of her life and future Victoria rebels against any semblance of supervision or control over her decisions. In her rebellion, Victoria develops her style of monarchy - only to be disrupted again when she meets the man she comes to love.