 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Cleopatra Rules! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen
- By Vicky Alvear Shecter
- Genre: History
Common Sense Media says
Hip, fun, and balanced look at the famous female pharaoh.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this informal history, peppered with puns and teen slang, features mystery, fights, death, murder, suicide, brother-sister marriage, drunks -- typical fare for a biographical look at an ancient ruler. There is nothing questionable in the book that isn't seen in mainstream media. In fact, it's relatively tame considering what currently appears in much tween/teen entertainment.
What's the story?
The story of Cleopatra's life and rule comes to life in this unconventional history written in the voice and slang of contemporary teens. Thanks to extensive research, including into atypical texts, readers learn details about Cleopatra's family, her childhood, her reign, and her powerful enemies that may have been missing from more conventional histories. The book dispels myths while teaching kids what life was like for a typical teen queen -- complete with makeup tips, boy gossip, and deploying enormous armies.
Is it any good?
History is cool again in this hip, fun exploration into the life of Queen Cleopatra. Life as a teen pharaoh isn't all it's cracked up to be. Thousands of years of innuendo, bad PR, and Hollywood versions of her story have painted her as a conniving tramp, when the real story is much more exciting and refreshing. Kids should be hooked from the first glance at its glamorous, edgy cover.
Sidebars, graphics, bright photos, and slang enliven the text. Heavy on metaphors, such as, “[they] trash-talked her worse than feuding starlets at a Hollywood club,” the language won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it will resonate with kids and reluctant readers. Amid the fluff and contempo tone, the information is solid and well-researched, and extensive footnotes and sources are provided for those interested in learning more about Egypt's famous queen.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about loyalty. Why is it important to Cleopatra to reclaim lands her country lost? What other ways did she show loyalty?
Families can also talk about perception vs. reality. What are some of the things you thought you knew about Cleopatra before reading the book? How did reading it change your perception? Name other modern-day examples of things not being as they appear.
This book is written in the casual way teens talk. Does that help make history come alive for you? Is it better than the way your history textbook is written? Or is it a gimmick to get teens hooked on history?
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| Author: | Vicky Alvear Shecter |
| Book type: | Non-Fiction |
| Genre: | History |
| Publisher: | Boyds Mills Press |
| Publication date: | August 1, 2010 |
| Number of pages: | 128 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 11 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 17 |
| Read alone: | 17 |
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