• Age: 12 to 15
• Grade: 7 to 10

It started with a history project. Mr. Gregor assigned a research paper on a figure from the Tudor era, and of course Jane Grey had to pick her namesake - Lady Jane Grey, the fifteen-year-old girl whose parents schemed to place her on the throne of England, then abandoned her to face the executioner. The project is engrossing from the start, but when Jane opens a mysterious prayer book and finds herself in the Tower of London in 1553, she finds herself literally drawn into her namesake's story.

Soon, Jane is slipping into the past whenever the present becomes too unbearable, avoiding her mother's demands, her best friend's fickleness, her crush's indifference. In the Tower she plays chess with the imprisoned Lady Jane, awed by her new friend's strength and courage. And it is in the Tower, keeping vigil as the day of the execution draws near, that Jane learns that she, too, must have the courage to fight for her own happiness.

Sue MacLeod has filled her career with the written word, working as a writer, an editor, and a library assistant. Born to a military family, Sue moved many times throughout her childhood but always felt rooted in Nova Scotia, where her family returned each summer. That rootedness is apparent in her two books of poetry and in her novel Namesake, which received a starred review from Quill & Quire and was a Best Books for Kids & Teens selection. Sue now lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Sue MacLeod's profile page

• Commended, Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books Kids & Teens

[A] must read for lovers of historical fiction.

Amy's Marathon of Books

Both characters are wonderfully fleshed out...MacLeod's evocative prose makes friendship across time seem possible.

School Library Journal

In every way, this novel is a triumph. MacLeod deftly weaves the modern Jane's contemporary story with the true-life tale of Lady Jane Grey. Both storylines are fully developed and vividly rendered, with the time-travel element simply and elegantly incorporated into the fabric of Jane's present-day life....**Highly Recommended**

CM Magazine

**Starred Review** In her debut novel, Sue MacLeod successfully accomplishes a feat many more experienced writers struggle with: weaving an historical narrative smoothly into a contemporary storyline...It sounds like a lot of ground to cover in one slim volume, and it is, but with sensitivity and some well-placed humour, MacLeod pulls it off.

Quill & Quire

The history is true, the twists unique and the touches of humour and romance are heart-warming.

CanLit for LittleCanadians

The historical details of the Tudor monarchy and everyday life in the 1500s are impressive. Kudos to MacLeod for bringing this fascinating slice of British history to Canadian teens.

Resource Links

Suspenseful, emotional and powerful.

Kirkus Reviews

Without a misstep, Namesake proceeds from a tantalizing prologue to the satisfying conclusion. Perfectly constructed, this book is a gem.

Canadian Children's BookNews