You’re a young sailor aboard the ill-fated Mary Rose, pride of Henry VIII’s fleet. You’ll learn the ropes (literally!) as you explore the famous ship’s rigging, its diverse and occasionally motley crew, its food supply and weaponry for battle. You’ll also be present for the ship’s tragic sinking outside Portsmouth Harbour – but will you survive this tragic event?

The humorous cartoon-style illustrations and the narrative approach placing readers at the centre of the narrative history encourage readers to get emotionally involved with the characters, aiding their understanding of what life would have been like aboard the Mary Rose. The title also covers the salvage attempts carried out by African divers like Jacques Francis in the Tudor period, and subsequent attempts, including the successful raising of the Mary Rose in 1982. This title has been written in consultation with the Mary Rose Trust to ensure that its content is as accurate as possible. Informative captions, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal introduction to the conventions of non-fiction texts for young readers.


Watch out...as a mother living peacefully near the Black Sea, you are about to be captured, parted from your family forever and sold as a slave...

Describes what life was like in medieval dungeons during the late fifteenth century, as seen through the eyes of the jailer.


The spread of female suffrage is one of the success stories of the 20th century, but it was not achieved without a great deal of hardship. Eyewitnesses tell the story from both sides of the Atlantic, and we learn that even today there is still some way to go.

The humorous cartoon-style illustrations and the narrative approach encourage readers to get emotionally involved with the characters, aiding their understanding of what life would have been like as a Suffragette. Informative captions, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal introduction to the conventions of non-fiction texts for young readers.

You are Christopher Columbus, the explorer who accidentally discovered America. Follow Columbus' struggles to finance his journeys, his sometimes infamous behaviour and his final lonely days. "You Wouldn't Want To Be" is a constantly-growing library of exciting titles which transport the reader to the grisliest times and places in history. The first-person narrative approach puts the reader in the shoes of some of the most unfortunate people ever to have lived. Humorous cartoon-style illustrations bring the characters to life, while informative captions explain processes or chronological events.

Marrying Henry VIII was not an easy option - tips provided in this book include 'think carefully before accepting his proposal' and 'give birth to a son, not a daughter'. Set against a backdrop of turbulence in the royal court, this book describes Henry and his many wives - what went right, what went wrong and what became of them all. You really wouldn't want to be married to Henry VIII! This title in the popular You Wouldn't Want to Be series features full-colour illustrations which combine humour and accurate technical detail. Featuring brand new extra content including a timeline, fun facts a list of 'top' characters and a map.

As Catholic conspirator and would-be assassin Guy Fawkes, you'll witness the secretive planning and thwarted execution of the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605 at first-hand. Plunge into a morally-murky world of political intrigue, persecution and religious extremism not so very far away from our own...

"You Wouldn't Want To Be" is a constantly-growing library of exciting titles which transport the reader to the grisliest times and places in history. The first-person narrative approach puts the reader in the shoes of some of the most unfortunate people ever to have lived. Humorous cartoon-style illustrations bring the characters to life, while informative captions explain processes or chronological events.

You are a young man from a noble family in Mexico. Little do you suspect that you are about to fall victim to one of the most powerful South American civilisations and become an Aztec sacrifice! The topics covered in this book include beliefs and attitudes of the Aztecs to life and death and the geography of the area in which the Aztecs lived. "You Wouldn't Want To Be" is a constantly-growing library of exciting titles which transport the reader to the grisliest times and places in history. Humorous cartoon-style illustrations bring the characters to life, while informative captions explain processes or chronological events.

It's 1828 and you're a medical student at the world-famous Edinburgh university. You are keen to start dissecting bodies to learn all about anatomy, but be careful whom you buy your body from - some people will do anything to get their hands on one! This book explores the body-snatching craze that gripped 19th century Britain, including the infamous Burke and Hare murders.

The humorous cartoon-style illustrations and the narrative approach placing readers at the centre of the narrative history encourage readers to get emotionally involved with the characters, aiding their understanding of the darker side of 19th century science. Informative captions, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal introduction to the conventions of non-fiction texts for young readers.

The humorous cartoon-style illustrations and the narrative approach placing readers at the centre of the narrative history encourage readers to get emotionally involved with the characters, aiding their understanding of what life would have been like as a prisoner in the Tower. The title covers daily life for rich and poor captives, how they were tortured for information, escape attempts, executions, the animals in the Tower menagerie, the Crown Jewels and even the ghosts that are said to haunt its corridors, along with much else!

This title has been written in consultation with Historic Royal Palaces, who manage the Tower of London, to ensure that its content is as accurate as possible. Informative captions, maps, timelines, speech bubbles and diagrams make this title an ideal introduction to the conventions of non-fiction texts for young or reluctant readers.