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Parents' Guide to

Cleopatra Rules! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen

By Terreece Clarke, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Hip, fun, and balanced look at the famous female pharaoh.

Book Vicky Alvear Shecter History 2010
Cleopatra Rules! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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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?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

Book Details

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