While her father is hiding after an attempt on his life, twelve-year old Cleopatra records in her diary her fears for her life and how she hopes to live to someday become Queen of Egypt.

This is the book about how Cleopatera became Queen. ( )

This book was a fictional diary of Cleopatra from when she was twelve to fourteen, from 57-55 B.C. It gave an interesting portrait of life during this time in Egypt and Rome and I highly reccomend it. I read it years ago, though, so I don't really remember it in that much detail, just that it was an excellent book. ( )

The gold-edged pages were one of the big attractions of this book when I read it in fifth and sixth grade, possibly more so than the story itself. At the beginning it promised to be exciting, with plots of murder, but the story itself did not measure up, as it dragged on about the life of a privileged Egyptian princess. It was readable, and I distinctly remember the pet cheetah, hourglasses used for telling time, and servant-assisted baths, but I think I found the whole novel to be more "exotic" than well-written fiction. ( )

An excellent novel, basically told from Cleopatra's point of view as a young girl. ( )

Reviewed April 2001

Read on Cal-train returning from San Francisco vacation, as usual very interesting portrayal of a young Cleopatra. I'm not sure if I cared for the authors constant second guessing of the horribleness of life in Egypt. For example, Cleopatra wonders if she will continue with the bloody executions, and she frowns on the chained up men forced to row across the sea, anyone who could keep a leopard as a pet in her room would understand power and bloodsport. Pictures are also included in this book and a family tree, the author admits that it is a confusing one, and was she right! People seemed to like to name their children after themselves and call them something else, making for very confusing history. This just took 2 hours to read and I really enjoyed it.

10-2001 ( )

By writing this story in the form of a diary, the author is able to draw the reader into the story because they feel like the main character is talking to them. This style is very effective for capturing the interest of intermediate students and readers.
This is an example of historical fiction because even though Cleopatra was a real person and the events in the book actually happened, the diary is fictional. The author is using the historical events and information to create a diary of what Cleopatra might have written.
Media: N/A ( )

Quick, light read, but historically accurate (as far as I know, anyway) and I think if you're of the intended age group it's an excellent introduction to Cleopatra and the type of girl she might have been. ( )

TAKEN FROM TH BOOK
I, Cleopatra, Princess of the Nile, write this in my own hand.
Many rooms in the palace are mine, but this small one at the northeast corner is my favorite. It overlooks the sea. Waves beat wildly against the shore for another storm is upon us, our fifth this winter. The clouds are dark,. Even wrapped in my chiton, I feel cold.
It is most urgent that I record the troubling events of this week. Father has going into hiding, having fled for is life. Though it is the twenty-third year of his reign, he is in danger of losing his throne. He is, of course, King Ptolemy Auletes, honored pharaoh of Egypt. ( )

Alright. ( )