THE QUEEN’S GRANDDAUGHTER, by Diane Zahler, Roaring Brook Press, March 24, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)
Follow Eleanor of Aquitaine’s granddaughter as she travels to marry the crown prince of France in The Queen’s Granddaughter, by Diane Zahler.
Twelve-year-old Blanca of Castile is the granddaughter of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, once the wife of both the king of France and the king of England. When Eleanor comes to select the girl who will marry the prince of France, all expect her to pick Blanca’s much older, and much prettier, sister. But Queen Eleanor has always loved surprises.
To meet her destiny, Blanca, along with her best friend Suna, must set out over the Pyrenees Mountains for France. But the journey there is not easy. The group, which includes knights, attendants, and Queen Eleanor herself, faces blizzards and hunger, treacherous roads and even a kidnapping.
As Blanca overcomes the many perils of the journey, she will need to learn how to protect herself and those around her — and discover what it takes to follow in the footsteps of a queen. —Synopsis provided by Roaring Brook Press
The Queen’s Granddaughter is the imagined story of Princess Blanca’s journey toward becoming the crown princess (eventually queen) of France.
The story opens in the year 1200 with the arrival of Eleanor of Aquitaine in Castile and runs through her parting with Blanca just prior to Blanca (known as Blanche in France) arriving in Paris.
Blanca comes across as a self-assured, if not a bit spoiled, girl. She wants things to remain the way they always have, even if she knows that’s not possible. She learns a lot over the course of the novel, and though still royal, understands more about the world and all the people who live in it.
Two strong supporting characters come in the form of Eleanor and Suna, a Muslim orphan who has been raised beside her. Eleanor comes across as harsh and set in her ways, but there’s some warmth in her, too. Suna offers a different perspective and helps readers understand the complicated relationships between Christians and Muslims dating far back.
My 12-year-old just finished writing a report on Eleanor of Aquitaine for school, and was excited to learn there’s a book about her and her granddaughter. And I know she’ll enjoy it. The Queen’s Granddaughter is a compelling historical fiction novel that should appeal to middle-readers interested in the past.
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