The Royal Diaries: Cleopatra VII

I’m a big fan of most of the books in The Royal Diaries series, fictional diaries written by authors pretending to be historical princesses from all over the world. In this case, Kristiana Gregory. But this is one of the diaries I will never forget, due to the fact that a) I loved it, and b) It’s the first one I ever read. Cleopatra VII’s life is wrought with danger, for the common Egyptians are not fond of her father, the Pharaoh. And Cleopatra, being his favorite daughter, is just another target for assassins. She and her father travel to Rome, hoping to find help in controlling the public. I admire Cleopatra greatly, she was a young woman who had the best interests of her people at heart, and valued brains above beauty. She spoke with many great men, including the Romans Julius Caesar and Cicero. One of the most intriguing things about her is that we aren’t certain if she was a good or bad person. Girls will enjoy reading about this amazing woman, though I do recommend that they be accustomed to violence in books. Please don’t read this book to your three-year-old. She or he will have nightmares.