Walking with Witches by Lynn Huggins-Cooper

In which Eleanor and her friend Isabel see a glass case where the pages of a witch's book start turning! On Halloween they go digging and find a magic pendulum. That's when their troubles begin. They seek the aid of local shop owner Kelli and her daughter Rhanna. After many weird dreams, visions, and very strange coincidences Eleanor and Isabel learn that they alone hold the fate of many women in their hands.

If you have not figured this out yet, Kelli and Rhanna are based on  my mom and me! And Eleanor and Isabel are real people too! (Eleanor is my best friend in real life! hey Elle!) This book takes you into a city in England called Newcastle, where 16 witches and one wizard had been hung on the town moor. It takes you into many landmarks around the old city, including the Lit and Phil library and the castle keep. The dreams are very life-like and you feel almost as if you are the witch. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out how it will end! This historical fiction-fantasy book is great and even if you are not a huge reader like me, this book will change that very quickly!

 

Recommended for people who like: witchcraft, spooky stories, and magic.

Lady of Palenque: Flower of Bacal by Anna Kirwan

In which 13 year old Green Jay on the Wall lives with her many siblings and step mothers. Soon she is told that she will be leaving to go marry. She is given many lovely gifts including a belt made out of jade. On the trip to her new husband they meet some unfriendly tribes, they lose two men’s lives to the water and run into many caimans. Will she get to her new home safely?


As sad as it makes me, I did not finish this book. There are too many long names of people and places so by the end of each chapter you are exhausted. One thing I did like about this book was the creation stories. There are many of them in this book. I did enjoy learning about a new place and time. I hope that you will be able to read this book and really enjoy it.

This book is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: fancy names, creation stories, and rain.

Anacaona: Golden flower by Edwidge Danticat

In which Anacaona, niece to the supreme chief, loves to write ballads and riddles, practice dances, and is preparing for her coming of age ceremony. As she is accepting gifts from other chiefs, she is given a cage full of colorful birds; the chief tells her that someday she will let the birds free and she will follow them back to him. After her uncle becomes very ill, her brother marries, and a deadly hurricane blows through, she follows the birds to her new husband where they are happy.

But their happiness did not last; soon afterwards they were attacked by "the pale men with their lighting rods” as she called them (the Spanish). This book really gives you the other side of the story of that time. When you hear about how the 'Brave Spanish' conquered the 'savage people' they were only saying that because the Spanish could not survive a day there and would look like the wimps they really were. (no offense to anybody who likes Christopher Columbus) but he had Anacaona hanged when she was 29 years old and killed many more people for no reason except greed, for the gold, land, and easy slavery. (Do you still like Christopher Columbus as much now?? I don't think so!)

This book is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: Queen Anacaona, great creation stories, and proof against Christopher Columbus.

Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba by Patricia McKissack

In which 13 year old Nzingha, the first daughter of Ngola Kiluanji, loves to practice with her bow and arrows, and try to get her father's attention. While she waits for her father to come back from fighting the Portguese she gets ready for her coming of age ceremony. After talking, hunting, and becoming closer with her father, he sends her out to go talk the leader of the Portguese, who wants to ask for slaves every year. There she talks with a maid who tells her what happens to slaves that go over the sea. She is shocked. When she goes to talk to the Portguese king he tells her that she can sit on the floor. Not okay with Nzingha, she tells a servant to get on his hands and knees so she can sit on his back and be at equal height with the king.

I had never heard of Nzingha before this book. She is now my new favorite queen! She married and had one son who was later killed by her half brother. Her husband died in battle. After her father died her youger half-brother took over and went crazy with power. Some people say that when she went to talk to the Portguese king she had him killed. No matter what really happened, at age 42 she became king and ruled for 40 years! She lived until she was 82 years old, which is very old for those days. Wait! That's really old even for today :) Her sister became king after her. I now LOVE Nzingha (also spelled Nzinga) who is just like Queen Elizabeth I and I can't wait to learn more about her!

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recomended for people who like: spunky African princesses, warrior queens, and really awesome old wise women!

Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess by Carolyn Meyer

In which Anastasia is living with her family, who happens to be the imperial family of Russia. She loves to play with her sisters, and hates her lessons. One day her brother hurts himself and a 'saint' comes and makes him feel better. Anastasia and her family go on a cruise where the sisters catch each other doing things they are not supposed to do, make plays about bears, learn that a friend of theirs has been killed, and that the 'saint' has been attacked. Anastasia's father must send armies out to start a war, which he hopes will be over by Christmas. Christmas comes and goes and the war is still going. After her father abdicates the crown Anastasia's whole family is put under arrest and are no longer allowed to go wherever they want. Will they be rescued from this misery?

Sadly they were not rescued but end up being shot the same year the book ends. What happened to that family is just Horrible. Whenever you read a history book or listen to someone talk about history you will always hear "and then so-and-so got overthrown. then the next ruler was...." What you don't hear is what happened to the families, people, and children involved in the revolutions. This story I think is well known because it happened in the 20th century.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

 Reccomended for people who like: Anastasia Nholaievna Romanov, sledding, and Russia.

Elisabeth: The Princess Bride by Barry Denenberg

In which Elisabeth learns that her older sister Helene is going to go see the Emperor of Austria in hopes of becoming the Empress and Elisabeth is going along. Elisabeth would rather stay home with her Father but she has no say whatsoever. When they get there the Emperor only has eyes for Elisabeth and not her sister. He asks if she will marry him and she says yes. After months of preparation and saying good-bye to all her pets and friends, she gets married and becomes the Empress of Austria.

Their marriage was not "happily ever after." Her mother-in-law (who was also her aunt!) did not like Elisabeth (she even took Elisabeth's first two children!). Elisabeth's husband was very obedient to his mother and did not talk very much to his wife. Before this book I had NEVER heard of Elisabeth . And it was fun to learn about somebody new. I learned that while Empress, she took beauty to a WHOLE new level. Her auburn hair came down to her feet and took 3 or 4 HOURS to fix correctly, and she hardly ate anything to keep her 20 inch waist. She walked, rode her horse, and every other kind of exercise that she could do. She spent the rest of her life devoted to looking nice.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: writing poetry, their dads, and just plain craziness.

Catherine: The Great Journey by Kristiana Gregory

In which Sophie lives her life in Germany with her mother, father, and two younger siblings. One day she learns that she is to go to Russia to meet Empress Elizabeth and meet her future husband Peter! Sophie and her mother get on a sleigh and start the long journey to Russia. They get there and the Empress changes Sophie's name to Catherine when she changes her religion. She gets showered with gifts from the Empress: jewels, dresses, and a little puppy that she dresses up. Catherine's husband is still a boy but they become friends.

Before I read this book I didn't really know who Catherine the Great was. It was fun to learn about somebody new. She ruled for 35 years after Peter III died. So much happened during her reign. LOTS of stuff happened in the new world: Europeans discovered Hawaii, Uranus was spotted, and Catherine helped cure smallpox. I'm a new fan of Catherine the Great and can't wait to learn more about her.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: Catherine the Great, snow, and long walks.

Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles by Kathryn Lasky

In which young Maria Antonia, a princess in Austria. One day she learns that she is to be married to Prince Louis Auguste, next in line for the French throne! She starts to learn the French ways and dress in the French style. When she gets to the French border she must leave everything that had in Austria (including her clothes) behind to be French! When she meets her husband he does not talk to her much. She is very lonely for months and is watched constantly, but eventually they become friends. After she shows Louis how to make a snowball he does a little dance and says "I have the most wonderful wife in the world! She is the most talented, beautiful creature on God's earth."

I learned a LOT about Marie Antoinette in this book. Before reading it, the only thing I knew about her was that she misplaced her head. It was not Louis and Marie's fault that they stunk at ruling. They were not taught the right things about ruling. I learned that the hair fashion at the time was CRAZY!!! Women have whole scenes put into their wigs. I have a lot more sympathy for Marie Antoinette now.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: Maire Antoinette (Or if you don't like her...READ THIS BOOK!) the French, and crazy fashion.

Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile by Kristiana Gregory

In which Princess Cleopatra learns that her father King Ptolemy XII has fled from the angry people that he rules, and she lives in constant fear of being killed by her older power-hungry sister Tryphaena. When she hears that her father is going to Rome to ask for help against the fierce Egyptian rebels, she goes with him. They get to Italy and learn that they must travel north to meet up with Julius Ceasar. On the way Cleopatra meets Marc Antony, Cicero, and Pompey the Great. Her father gets help and they go back to Egypt and her father takes the throne back from Cleopatra's older sister.



I learned a lot of new things about Cleo in this book. I did not know that her older sister Tryphaena's real name was also Cleopatra and Cleo's mother was named Cleopatra as well! She married her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, Caesar (who was 52 years old while she was only 21. YUCK!), and Marc Antony. She had four children with Ceasar and Marc.


I was Cleopatra for halloween in 2007. ;)


This is in the Royal Diaries sieres.



Recommended for people who like: Egypt, Cleopatra, and families who are just plain crazy.

Duchessina by Carolyn Meyer.

In which Catherine de'Medici, a young duchess, lives with her aunt in the big Palazzo Medici. But a lot of people hate the Medicis and when Catherine is 8 a mob is at the gates and are threating to get in and tear the place apart they escape dressed as boys in a dung cart. After all that, Catherine is taken to a convent with mean nuns. For months she lives there in dread. Soon a mysterious man comes and brings her to a very nice convent where the nuns are not mean but loving. She makes friends and lives there for 4 years. When the pope tells her to come to to him she must obey and leaves sadly. When she gets to the Vatican she learns that is going to marry the young French Prince Henry who hardly ever notices her. She lives the rest of her in the French palace as Queen Catherine de' Medici of France.

After reading this book I like Catherine much more than I did before (another book I read made Catherine look really bad). She and Henry had 7 kids together who all had their turns to be king or queen. Sadly, King Henry did not love Catherine but a lady named Diane de Poiters and when he died Catherine banished Diane from court. I really liked learning about Catherine de' Medici and her childhood.

Recommended for: people who like drama, nuns, and the Medicis.

Loving Will Shakespeare by Carolyn Meyer.

In which Agnes Hathaway lives with her family in her cute cottage, but much too soon a sickness sweeps across the county and takes Agnes' mother and unborn baby. Her father remarries a mean woman named Joan who does nothing but scold Agnes and her sister, making their lives miserable. Then young Will Shakespeare comes back from a trip all grown up and tells Agnes about his dreams of being a poet. When the time comes for Agnes to marry, her father is dead and her stepmother has betrothed Agnes to her yucky nephew Hob. She gets out of marrying him, and marries Will (who calls her Anne).

I liked to read the story of Anne Hathaway. In this book I learned a lot, like that Anne's real name was Agnes (even my mom didn't know that!) and that Will was 7 years younger then Anne. Their marriage was not a happy one, since Will was hardly ever home and only came home for like two weeks out of the year. Poor Anne and kids! In the end she did outlive him by 8 years.

Recommended for: people who like love stories, and Anne Hathaway.

Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer

In which 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth is living with her brother and governess Kat. She soon learns that her father, King Henry VIII, has died and her younger brother Edward is now king! So she goes to live with Cathrine Parr, Henry's last wife, and is very happy. But then after ruling for 7 years Edward dies of illness and Mary becomes queen. Queen Mary imprisons Elizabeth in a run-down old shack that is wet, windy, and cold and takes Kat away! Poor Elizabeth! How will she get out of this mess and become queen?

This book takes you through Elizabeth's teenage years and into her 20s. I loved reading about what Elizabeth was doing for the years she was a teen. I feel bad for the torture she went through for 5 years of her life. She had vowed not to marry when she was young, which I think is AWESOME! She ruled for 45 years and that time period was called the Elizabethan age.

This book is in the Young Royals series.

Recommended for: people who like spunky girls like Elizabeth Tudor.

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer.

In which Princess Mary Tudor, first daughter to King Henry VIII, lives peacefully with her mother and father. But when some lady starts to get the King's attention and he forgets about Mary and her mother. Then her father banishes her from the palace and separates Mary from her mother! With little money, dresses that are too small, and living in a lonely house, her life has turned from a great life to the worst nightmare ever. Suddenly her father says he is not married to Mary's mother anymore, and has a child with the evil lady (now Queen Anne), who wants Mary to come back to be a maid to the new Princess Elizabeth. What will poor Mary Tudor, the rightful heir, do?

It is fun to read about Princess Mary's childhood. I read and learned that her father had betrothed her to three suitors (all old enough to be her father! YUCK!) by the time she was ten, and I think it is horrible that women couldn't marry for love. She did become queen when she was 37 and married her second cousin Philip, (who just happened to be 11 years YOUNGER!!) but almost as soon as they married he left her. Poor Mary kind of went crazy in the end after ruling for 5 years and leaving no kids.


This is in the Young Royals series.

Recommended for: people who like historical fiction, and royal families.

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor by Kathryn Lasky

In which young Princess Elizabeth, second daughter of the king Henry VIII, loves to be at court with her lovely governess Kat. But sadly her father hardly notices her, and her mother was beheaded when she was only two. With an older sister Mary who hates her, and younger brother Edward who is almost always sick, her best playmate is Robin Dudley and sometimes Lady Jane Grey who comes to visit occasionally. Together they like to play cards and tennis. But when King Henry dies and Edward becomes the 9-year-old boy king what will happen to Elizabeth...?

Queen Elizabeth is my HERO!!! I love that she never married and was the best ruler of that time. My favorite quote that she said when someone wanted to marry her is "I will have here but one mistress and no master" I want to be like her so much. This book is like Elizabeth's diary. "Long live good Queen Bess" and boy did she! Elizabeth became queen when she was 25, reined for 45 years, and lived until she was 69 years old.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for: people who like Elizabeth, and the whole Tudor family.

Kristina: The Girl King by Carolyn Meyer

In which Kristina, the young princess of Sweden, is being raised by her loving aunt. Her father's wish was that she would learn to be a prince (instead of a princess), and she loves it! She and her cousins live, learn, and play together. But then her insane mother (who insisted on sleeping next to her husband's corpse for a year) comes back and wants Kristina to live with her! Kristina relunctantly agrees and her mother's first reaction is to start sobbing all over her, then she tells her she NOT very pretty. Poor Kristina! Will she be able to get away from her weird mom?

This book is like her diary. I liked this book a lot because I had never heard of Kristina before. She does not want to be a princess, but a prince, and inspired by Queen Elizabeth, she plans to never marry. She never did marry and abdicated the throne after 10 years of ruling. I loved reading about this tomboyish girl.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for: people who like strong-minded girls, loving aunts, and wise teachers.

Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine by Kristiana Gregory

In which Eleanor, the daughter of a duke, lives peacefully with her sister and grandmother. She is 14 and just wants to have fun with her younger sister Petra. But when her father goes on a religious trip and does not come back she must marry the young prince of France, Louis. After the wedding she learns that her father-in-law has died from illness and now she is the 15 year old queen!

This book is written like it is Eleanor's real diary and it is fun to see the days, months, and sometimes even years go by. I would like to say that Eleanor of Aquitaine is my 27th great-grandmother, which made the book even more fun to read.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for: anyone who likes historical fiction!

The Last Girls of Pompeii by Kathryn Lasky

In which Julia, a young Roman girl with a deformed arm, and her slave Sura live their life in Pompeii, planing for Julia's older sister's wedding. But strange things are happening: Why does the garden pool ripple on such a still night? Or why do the girls smell sulfur in the evening? What about the small earthquakes that everybody ignores?

We all know the ending to Pompeii but this book really brings life to the family drama and mystery of that time period. Kathryn Lasky, the author, actually went to a Pompeii dig site and saw the bodies of what she turned into the characters that you read about in this book. This book is so fun to read.

Recommended for: people who like Pompeii, smart girls, and the goddess Venus (a.k.a Aphrodite)

Doomed Queen Anne by Carolyn Meyer

In which Anne Boleyn catches the eye of King Henry VIII (not necessarily a good thing!) In this book we follow Anne from her teenage years through her flirtatious years at court, to marrying the King and becoming Queen of England, to losing her head. Dang, what a life!

I have mixed feelings about Anne Boleyn; one part of me thinks, "Poor Anne" while another part of me thinks "What a sneaky little brat!" She didn't originally set out to become Queen, but she was selfish and greedy, so once she met Henry, it easily became her goal. When she gave birth to a daughter instead of a son (what a failure!) she became frantic to have a son and ended up going a little cuckoo. I really enjoyed this story about Queen Elizabeth's mother, and I bet you will too.

This is in the Young Royals series.


Recommended for: people who like large plots, scheming women, and stories of crazy families.

Patience, Princess Catherine by Carolyn Meyer

In Which Catherine of Aragon leaves Spain to start her new life in England. She marries Prince Arthur, an extremely nice boy who dies far too soon. Catherine becomes friends with Arthur's younger brother Henry, which is a good thing because her father-in-law is VERY cruel. We learn in this book how Catherine and Henry fall in love and become King and Queen of England.

One of the first things I learned from this book is that Catherine's real name was Catalina. I think it's terrible that these women making foreign political marriages had to give up EVERYTHING, including their first names! I would hate to be forced to give up my name just to get married! Everyone knows about Henry VIII and his six wives, and I really enjoyed learning the beginning of the story in this book.

This is in the Young Royals series.

Recommended for: people who like girls who don't give up, the Renaissance, and love stories.