Demiana’s Book Review on "Maia of Thebes"

Maia of Thebes

By: Ann Turner

Published: by Scholastic Inc.

Published in: 557 Broadway, New York, NY, USA, in 2005

Pages: 169

Found in: Christian Heritage School Library

Story Review: 

       Truth, justice, knowledge, and respect were the foods she craved while living with her mischievous and brutal aunt and uncle! However, because of that hunger and her love to her caring brother, her whole life changed and so did her destiny! She shined brighter than the Lighthouse of Alexandria, but in her case, she was the lighthouse of Thebes. She was a hero to some but to others, she was a poisonous snake to their power! Her name was Maia. Thirteen-year-old Maia lived in Thebes, Egypt, 1463 B.C., in the time of Queen Hatshepsut, hence the title, “Maia of Thebes”. Author Ann Turner wrote and painted a picture of Maia living in a time when Ancient Egypt was in all its glory! Themes of mystery, love, courage, and urgency are conveyed throughout Maia’s story. Enjoy!

      Maia wanted what her brother Seti had, knowledge. She begged him to teach her how to read and write Hieroglyphics, which was forbidden for girls to learn! But, she was a girl of courage and was willing to take the risk. She wanted to do something with her life, other than being a servant in her own house and being treated like an animal. Seti agreed, emphasizing to her that no one must know and that this was their secret.

      One night, her new skill did come in handy! While sleeping on the flat roof, she heard a strange sound. She got up and her uncle wasn’t there, but when she saw him come back, she secretly went to the storage room. There, she tried to read with only little light the clay seal of the bags of grain she found. She assumed her uncle just brought the bags because they weren’t there before. The clay seal would tell her where the grain is from, and it said, “ I belong to the temple of Karnak.” Her uncle was a thief! He, one of the priests of the temple, stole the grain from there to gain profit!

      It was the big day! It was the day of celebration at the Karnak temple, where the Queen was! Maia was very excited, but one thing kept gnawing at her the whole time there, the truth. She kept hearing the voice of Amun, the god of truth, inside of her about what she discovered the night before. She felt an urgent need to tell the truth. She couldn’t! Why? Because she knew the punishment for a priest stealing from the temple is terrifying, and it wouldn’t just fall on the thief but on his whole family! She thought of her brother. What would happen to him? Truth and love were fighting inside of her but truth won! She wasn’t in control of herself anymore!

       She gave her uncle up! As a reward, Hatshepsut gave her a gift for telling the truth, but that didn’t mean she is safe. The priests were planning the worst of the worst for her because by accusing a priest, she ruined their reputation! She had to escape because one of the priests threatened her! Maia fled with Nefert, a noble woman who she knew well, and Meret, her daughter and Maia’s friend, to their home in an estate south of Thebes. Maia was safe there. On top of that, instead of being treated like a servant, she was treated like a noble. She was taken care of and loved, but there it was again, that feeling of urgency!

          The thought of her brother kept gnawing at her. Not only the fact that he was away from her, but that he was in trouble and in need of her. Then, there was the truth! The trial was still happening in Thebes, and there, they needed a witness whom she wanted to be. She wanted justice and would do anything to get it! She also wanted her brother and would do anything to see him. After days passed by, she couldn’t take it anymore so she had to leave. Since she knew Nefert would never allow that to happen, she escaped early in the morning by boat back to Thebes!

         Hurrying to the temple, she opened the doors to find her terrified aunt, uncle, brother, some guards, and the priests of the temple, who were deciding on what should be done to her family! She was ready to say the truth until she saw his bother. She knew that justice was that her uncle deserved punishment, not her brother, but the priests didn’t know that! If she told the truth, justice wouldn’t be done. She looked into her brother’s eyes and didn’t know what to say. She always valued the truth, and she was always courageous. She learned to write, revealed the thief, fled back to Thebes on her own, and at that moment she had a choice! Will she please Amun, the god of truth, who always protected her, or will she not for her brother whom she loved?

      

Christian Perspective:

               This book clearly was not written from a Christian Perspective because the time was 1463 BC, therefore it was before Christianity. Also, the characters believe in the ancient Egyptian gods, like Amun Raa. However, Maia did have some Christ like values. I find her courageousness is admirable! I love how much she craved truth and justice, and how much she loved her brother to the point that she fled on her own to see him! In Psalms 89:14, it says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.” The only thing was that she couldn’t admit the whole truth when the priests were judging her family. As Christians, we could go through a similar trial where we have to choose between defending family, maybe also ourselves, or telling the truth. But we always forget one thing! We search for the truth not to prove we are right but to prove we love God! So really, truth and love don’t go against each other like we sometimes think. All we can do is be honest, ask for mercy, and God will do the rest! This is about trust in him! On the other hand, if the fault is from our family, we should try as much as we can to show them the true way of God before it gets to something worse. In 1 Corinthians 5-6, it says, “…. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? ^{6 ” Asking God for guidance is the greatest solution in both cases!}But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!

My thoughts:

                I chose this book because I am from Egypt, and I wanted to see what other people imagine ancient Egypt to look like! I’ve read a book from this series, “The Life And Times”, before about ancient Greece. I like the series at least from what I’ve read in these two books. I love this book because the author painted a picture of ancient Egypt in all its glory, which I enjoyed imagining now that it’s all gone! It brought me back home, and I could actually remember not just imagine the things that the author described! I recommend this book to people interested in history, especially Egyptology, and yes there’s such thing! This will give you a closer look into ancient Egypt, and the historical notes at the end of the book will really help. I recommend this book to everyone in the classroom because we learned about ancient Egypt. We flew through thousands of years, however, this book will take you through an everyday journey in Egypt! Have fun reading!

Demiana's Book Review on "The Magician's Nephew"

The magician’s Nephew

By C.S Lewis

First published by The Bodley Head in 1955

First published in Fontana Lions in 1980

Published by William Collins Sons & Co Ltd

Published in 14 St. James’s Place, London SWI

171 pages

Found in Christian Heritage School Library

Story Review:

             If myths of far away enchanted worlds are difficult for you to imagine, then your eyes need to open now! In England, in the late 1800's, lived two neighbors, Polly and Digory. Polly lived with her parents, while Digory lived with his aunt, his very ill mother, and his strange-mannered Uncle Andrew. It all began with Uncle Andrew or as he was called the “magician”, hence the title, “The Magician’s Nephew”. The famous author, C.S. Lewis, wrote an epic series of “The Chronicles of Narnia” starting with this brilliant fantasy! He wrote in a theme of mystery - of everything they were about to discover. Another was a theme of urgency - to escape from the White Witch. Last but not least was the theme of amazement - at the creation of a new world. This was all about to be part of the two neighbors’ lives!

              Polly and Digory were one day exploring in a secret tunnel they found in the attic. They were mainly focused on finding an abandoned, supposedly haunted, house. They thought they were at the right place until the door slammed open and they found something better than the haunted house, Uncle Andrew’s study room. They thought it would be a good chance to explore and see what Andrew spent most of his time on and paid the most attention to, until they were locked in! Andrew locked them in to trick them in taking part of an experiment he was doing. He told Polly that she could have one of the yellow rings he made and she did. However, he wasn’t offering, but he was sending her off to her possible doom, she vanished! Of course, Digory fell into the trap of having to go after her and he did. They ended up finding themselves in a very quiet, beautiful, and enchanted forest. It was so peaceful and dreamy that they almost were going to forget who they were forever! They named it “The Wood between the Worlds” because there were so many different pools that they discovered they could jump into to get to different “worlds”! Of course, they marked the pool they got out of to know which one is for “their world”. They head off jumping into another one to discover a different, perhaps dangerous place!

            That world was so dull and dark, with a red sun that looked like it was older than ours and was barely shining in a black sky, which was very mysterious! The place was full of ancient ruins and basically no life. Polly and Digory became more carious about this place, though Polly was a little reluctant to keep going. They explored further and further inside and came to a stop. They finally found something worth looking at, a room full of hundreds and hundreds of majestic, glorious, and powerful looking people. At least that’s what they thought at first, but then they discovered these were incredible waxwork figures or statues! The statues looked glorious and magnificent, but as they went further inside the statues became duller. Suddenly, they came across one that was confusing them. Her statue looked beautiful but her skin was so white and she looked vicious, brutal, and proud! Then, they found a square pillar inside the room with a golden arch, a bell, and a hammer on top of it. Through these things, they made the biggest mistake of their lives, they stroke the bell! At first, it gave a sweet sounding note, a steady note. It started getting louder and louder. It eventually became so loud beyond imagination, to the point that stones couldn’t stand it and a quarter of the roof fell! That statue that took their breath way became alive! She was Jadis, the Queen of Charn, the place they were in. She told them her story from beginning to end, but didn’t tell them she was up to get their world and she almost did!

                  In their world, she created such chaos and everyone was so terrified because they’ve never seen anything like what she did! On a hansom’s roof standing – not sitting - and holding a whip was Jadis the Queen of Queens and Terror of Charn! Without taking the chance of letting anyone get hurt, Polly and Digory rushed to get her out and bring her to “The Woods between The Worlds”. When they got there, they quickly jumped into another pool, trying to escape, but just as they reached the new world they discovered that they had company! The Queen was there, along with a Cabby, Uncle Andrew, and a horse! They were all standing beside Polly and Digory when they vanished from their world to the “Wood between the Worlds” therefore they vanished with them! Regardless, this world was different, it was dark and dull with absolutely nothing in it!

            They stood there, blind, and not knowing whether they’re dead or alive! Finally, in the midst of the darkness and silence, they heard a voice singing! It was the most beautiful sounding, magnificent, indescribable voice they’ve ever heard! However, what they saw next was incredibly the most glorious! They heard a harmony of voices singing and thousands of thousands of stars appeared. It was almost as if those stars were singing! They were much brighter than our stars. Then, the true light started appearing! It was a newborn sun rising from the East and after it, there was a fresh breeze spreading over the beautiful landscape! Trees and new grass filled the new earth. It was breathtaking and made it unbelievable for them to think they’re still alive! BUT … the most fascinating, unimaginable, glorious view of them all was who was behind all this, who was going to assign them the most difficult tasks, and make them nobles, the Creator of this Narnia, Aslan!

Christian perspective:

    

             Of course, this book was not written from a Christian perspective. It involved magic, many mythical “worlds”, and an evil witch, these are all unrealistic things! However, C.S Lewis was a Christian who clearly brought Genesis 1 into his fantasy. The “New World” in the beginning was dark and dull. Genesis 1:2 says, “² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep”. Aslan, “representing” God in the book, created the light of the stars and the sun. Genesis 1:3 says, “³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light”. Even in fantasy, existence without a creator wouldn’t make sense! No voices can be heard by chance and no trees can come up on their own! One thing I love about this book is the fact that it shows that just as music needs a musician and voices need singers – ex. the stars in the new world – a huge and extraordinary world definitely needs an unlimited and all-knowing creator. Another thing is that during the creation of the New World, thousands of stars were singing. This represents in our real world how all creation glorifies the name of God!

My Thoughts:

             I chose this book, because it was the first in the series of “The Chronicles of Narnia” and I’ve read the second book before it. I wanted to see how the series began and how Narnia came to be! I also wanted to do a book review on a fantasy book which I haven’t done before. I was fascinated by this book and how the author brings the story to life. I loved it! There were a few drawings here and there to help the reader picture what is happening – it certainly helped me. One of my favorite parts in the book was the creation of Narnia, because of the way C.S Lewis described it. I could almost hear Aslan’s song and see the stars, along with the newborn sun! C.S Lewis used excellent vocabulary and left the reader hanging every chapter. I recommend this book to those who have creative imagination, because that will allow them to hear, see, or even smell everything in the book. This will make it even more interesting than it is. I recommend it to people who have read other parts of the series or even those who have only heard about it, because this is the explanation of the first discoveries of Magic in the series. It will allow you to better understand the rest of the series. Enjoy reading!

Demiana's Book Review on "Pandora of Athens"

Pandora of Athens
By Barry Denenberg
Published by Scholastic Inc.
Place of publication is 557 Broadway, New York, NY, USA
Year of Publication: 2004
125 pages
Found in Christian Heritage School Library

Story Review

She didn’t feel like her soul was in her but rather in a shell. It was a forgotten soul that still carried within the one precious Athenian jewel, Pandora! This book presents the struggles of a 13-year-old Athenian girl named Pandora, hence the title, “Pandora of Athens”. She lived in Athens 399 B.C.E. Pandora waited with dread for her fourteenth birthday, as she was forced to marry a man whom she hated, her cousin. However, she didn’t realize that in one day her life could change just in a trip to the Fountain House to get water! Although written as a fiction, this book contains true aspects of Greek culture. It is conveyed through themes of mystery (of the Wise One), rebellion (against unfairness), urgency (to save a loved one), love (that is forbidden), and matters of life and death!

Pandora grew up in a very man-biased society. Women were treated very poorly to the point that they were viewed as “lowly creatures” that weren’t smart or intelligent and didn’t deserve education! Pandora’s father, Alcander, was a man who very much agreed with this belief. He, himself, once said, “Teaching a woman is like giving more venom to a snake!” The worst thing about him was that he arranged for his daughter to marry Meander whom she viewed as a horrible and careless man. However, Pandora’s stepmother, Charis the Spartan, was the complete opposite. She grew up in Sparta where women had more freedom and rights. Charis was Pandora’s role model whom she considered mother and best friend. They were the only two who understood each other the most and kept each other’s secrets!

One day, Pandora was taking a trip to the Fountain House to get water. She was surprised by the large crowds there at a place of no gatherings and was about to see with her own eyes the Wise One, Socrates. He was unlike all philosophers. Once Pandora saw him, she knew he was different and was blown away by his just thoughts and critical thinking! He actually supported women! His rebellion against unreasonable thinking was bravely shown and was a mystery to her. But more importantly, she was mystery to him, especially her name! He told her the story of the first Pandora who opened the box that the gods had commanded her never to open! She was the most beautiful girl the gods had ever created, but at the same time was cursed by her disobedience and let all the curses in the box escape to fill the earth. Pandora was proud to carry her name at the beginning of the story, but by the end she felt shame, felt a burden on her shoulder! The Wise One insisted that she would meet him again at the same time next week which Pandora was glad to accomplish but just in secret!

The last thing that Pandora wanted was for anyone to be suspicious about her meeting with the wise one. She waited for him for a long time at the Fountain House, but he never came. She decided to leave before she was questioned about anything that can get her in a tornado of trouble. On her way home, the most amazing thing happened that she considered a “sign from the gods”. A young man named Phoenix, one of Socrates disciples and the man whom Pandora eventually had fallen in love with, told her that Socrates invited her to a party. He thinks she will benefit greatly and grow in wisdom from the discussions there. This sounded unrealistic to Pandora, because only men were allowed to attend. To make this work, Phoenix told her about a plan to get her to out of the house and cut her hair to look like a boy!

She got away with out! Her father never found out about anything except about the haircut which he was extremely angry about. Pandora was now a new person and changed more as she spent more time with Socrates and Phoenix. Socrates almost considered Pandora his daughter and knew that she thought differently than the rest of the society who was against him. He kept emphasising to Phoenix whenever Pandora was there, that he should be very careful and glad because he was standing with a precious jewel. Phoenix, Socrates, and Pandora were so tight that they would give up their lives for each other, specifically the Wise One! For the Wise One may die but his wisdom never died out in their hearts. First, the death penalty by the government was for his teachings (they thought that by teachings of rights and independence he was destroying young lives) but then death finished him before the time of the penalty! After all this chaos, there were only Pandora, Phoenix, and silence between them. As a disciple of Socrates, Phoenix could not remain in Athens. He had to go. “We must go...” said Phoenix, “There is too much to lose, I can’t contemplate being without you. Please say yes.” Will she be willing to face all dangers and risks just for love? In this plan she could get caught and lose her life? Would she flee knowing she’s with him or let him go being dragged away by the wind?

Christian Perspective:

This book was definitely not written from a Christian perspective, because the story is within the time period before Jesus’ birth. Also, the characters believed in Greek mythology, for example, the story of the first Pandora. A very man-biased society is definitely not a Christ-like one. In the bible, it is very clear that men and women are equal. In genesis it is mentioned that we were created in the image of God, and it was written, “… male and female he created them.” Therefore Alcander was surely mistaken, especially in forcing his daughter into marriage without her having any say. Jesus never forced but gave advice, which were two things Alcander did not understand the difference between. God gave all of us free will. That would be everyone, including women! Pandora shouldn’t have kept secrets either, but instead should’ve stood up for what is right without sneaking around and getting herself in trouble! When Jesus was growing up, it is written that he was obedient yet bold, which would’ve been a great solution to her problem with Alcander! If the characters’ actions were more Christ-like, there would’ve been a drastic change in the story!

My Thoughts:

I chose this book, because I am very interested in learning about Greek culture, especially the struggles of living in such place and era. I personally loved this book. I thought it was very well-written and the author left a lot of parts in there for the reader to picture, especially the last scene when Pandora had to make her final decision. It was very dramatic and also full of mystery! I recommend this book to the students in our classroom since we just learned about Greek History. I recommend it to history lovers, because it is not just the content but also the everyday life you get to picture. If you are one of those people you will not be able to stop yourself!

Demiana's Paragraph on The Most Important Component of Surviving Alone

One may be stranded on an island perhaps with water, food, or even fire, but can be missing one thing that allows a human to stay alive for the longest time he can in surviving alone, sanity! With sanity, a person has control over his actions and resources. Without sanity, a person is actually safer in a place with fewer resources, as he will have fewer ways to hurt himself. For example, if you’re stranded in a desert with absolutely no resources and no sanity, it will be harder to hurt yourself than in a place where you have more resources that you can use in the wrong way without sanity. Therefore with sanity you will not risk your life for things that are worthless. In the movie Cast Away, Chuck spent 4 years alone on an island in the middle of no where. He found remains from what was in the plane, including a volleyball. He was so lonely and became so insane to the point that he developed feelings for it and a relationship with it! Chuck almost drowned himself to get his volleyball “friend” back. He had water, but could have died using it for a ridiculous and worthless reason without realizing it! Sanity will give you time to reflect before you act, less chance to feel depression, and you will be aware enough to regain your hope and your will of life, finding a reason to live! In the book Hatchet, Brian is stranded alone in the Northern Canadian Wilderness. In less than 54 days, he actually tried committing suicide using his hatchet from what has happened to him and his many failures in making tools for survival. He felt useless and used his tool of living to kill himself. Also, he lost his hope because of insanity and his fast horrible reaction to it. Sanity is very hard to keep in times like this, which is why so many people don’t make it!

Demiana's Book Review (Snow Bound)

Snow Bound
Author: Harry Mazer
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Inc.
Place & Year of publication: 1540 Broadway, New York, NY, USA. Year 1973
Number of pages: 142
Found in Christian Heritage School’s library

Story Review:

If you ever think about surviving in a forbidden region bound in snow, it usually means thinking about death! You can’t build a fire while it’s snowing and no one will even think about looking for you in such area, because of the weather. However, what makes it even worse is that if you’re stuck with someone you absolutely hate. Harry Mazer describes the tough survival of the lost Cindy and Tony in the forbidden Tug Hill Plateau near New York State in mid-January, 1970’s, as they were bound and put into the hands of what seams to be an endless cold snow storm of misery in Tug Hill, hence the title “Snow Bound”. This book was written in themes of survival, urgency, and change, because young teens were changed, desperate, turned around 180 degrees through the effects and discoveries of survival, and always feeling the urgency to find a way out of disaster!

Tony was a spoiled teen with attitude. He always got what he wanted and came from a family that was very high-tempered and aggressive. As he wandered through the streets, looking for a change in his life through his surroundings, he found a lost dog and instantly developed a deep connection with him. He decided to take him home. When Tony asked his father if he could keep the dog, the first word that went on his father’s mouth was NO! They had a huge argument, until Tony decided to secretly keep him. Later at night, the landlords were disturbed by the dog and Tony’s father got rid of it. Tony got so frustrated and angry at his father when he found out, because he loved that dog and it was gone. He said he wanted to “teach his father a lesson”, so he took his mom’s car and decides to drive in the severe storm all the way to his uncle in Canada behind his family’s back!

On the other side there was Cindy, a quite, aloof, and independent girl, who came from a rich and very musical family. Her only problem was that she was a hitchhiker which led her to danger. As she waited in the bus stop for the bus to Watertown, she was angry at the fact that there could be a delay of 2-3 hours. She decided to hitchhike behind her grandma’s back and it just so happened that the second car to stop by was Tony’s. She got in the car and there was an awkward silence between them. The storm started getting worse and worse and the visibility lower and lower. When Tony pretended to know where he was going to calm Cindy down, a vicious blow of snow took their sight away and Tony went out of control with the car. As they were violently bumped into rocks and fields, they hit what they didn’t except to find! They hit a huge rock that threw the car half up in the air and then the car came back down!

They were shocked and unbelievably hurt. They wasted a lot of time bickering with each other and assigning blame. They were on their last nerves and were freaking out. They were in the middle of no where without any sources, it was impossible for them to leave the car in this weather, and the worst thing was that the car engine wasn’t going neither was the heater! They needed fire. They argued over starting a fire inside the car, but it was settled. At least, there had to be a small fire for survival. For that they used a cigarette lighter found in the car and paper. Now there was another problem, food! After they started to get along a little bit, Tony decided he was going to go on a journey to find something, just anything to help them live. During his search, after days of struggles, fear of vicious attacks, and suffering, he lost hope and started praying desperately until he found it! He found a stream of water that led him to an old, abandoned cabin. This was the best moment of his life as he found in there furniture and lots of food. He stayed for another day and came back to the patiently waiting Cindy. They were overfilled with joy. They took what could be useful and left. When they found the cabin, they thought it was impossible for anything horrible to happen again, only until they left.

Tony broke his ankle and they got in a huge fight! Without thinking, Cindy decided to leave him because that was what he asked for. That was it; they were tired of the constant arguments and didn’t think any of this through. However, when she heard the cry of Tony, she stopped and turned to look at what could’ve been the end of their lives, a wolf! She ran, pulling Tony on the sled behind her! When they got far away, they realized that they left everything behind them and that they didn’t have any tools of survival. He stood up with one hand on a stick and put the other hand over Cindy’s shoulder to keep his balance. They walked and walked in the unending forest with new hope. Hope that wouldn’t have been there if they didn’t realize that the only tool of survival they had left was nothing except each other! Did they ever find anything again, or were they found by someone? If not what would’ve been their last actions or words to each other?


Christian Perspective:

This book was not written in a Christian perspective, however, Tony did pray once in his journey to the cabin. What was not Christ-like what so ever would’ve been Tony’s attitude! He had a rejecting, selfish, and proud attitude that developed hate and caused many problems – him running away, being rude and vicious with Cindy, and getting lost in the first place. Also, the way Cindy left him showed carelessness from her not Christ’s love. However, they did both learn their lesson at the end. Hate brings foolishness and love brings hope. Without Cindy coming back to save him from the wolf and both of them accepting each other, there would’ve been no hope except now in that case.


My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book very much! I chose this book, because I enjoy reading adventure and realistic fiction. I’ve enjoyed the Hatchet and I wondered what the storyline of survival would be like if it were a group of people instead of one person alone. The reason this book is very interesting is that it describes how tough it is to survive with someone else if you don’t put your differences in how you do things aside. The author did an amazing job especially in leaving behind the reader with a question in his/her mind at the end of each chapter that he/she will be desperate to find the answer for! The author used very descriptive words with good connotation and used lots of similes, metaphors, and personification. I learned a lot about the hardships of survival and some new techniques on surviving in the winter. I recommend this book to those who enjoyed reading the Hatchet, because if you did that shows you were interested in the theme of survival. You’ll be very engaged in this book as there is more dialogue because there are two lost people not just one. I hope you enjoy the book!

Demiana's Spelling Words Story

Emily's Symphony And The Queen
There it was. The day was coming. It was to be a phenomenon made to interfere in Emily’s life! In London, England, on October 3rd, 2011, Emily was given the privilege to forfeit her old life and be the accompaniment of St . James Choir to perform a symphony in the Queen’s banquet. Emily was exuberant and was ready to take on her odyssey anxiously! As she left her hacienda and got in to the car, she was thinking, “ What if the others in the choir do not appreciate my work and treat me like villains,” because that has happened to her before with other people. However, this thought was not what made her privilege an ambiguity although she thought it was inevitable. She had to make a very necessary sacrifice! One of her relatives died in a landmine zone and bits of shrapnel were found in him! Her cache of dreams were crushed because her relative died, she had to miss the banquet, and her family had to inaugurate the funeral. But when one of the members of parliament knew about his death, he told the Queen. The Queen decided to host the funeral in the palace and that the symphony played would be one to honor his death since he was adjacent to her. This was all like an allusion to a sophomore like Emily! She couldn't believe her coming was back on and that she could be the maestro again.

Demiana's Book Review On "The Royal Diaries (Elizabeth I)

The Royal Diaries (Elizabeth I)
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Published by Scholastic
In 555 Broadway, New York, NY, USA, year 1995
The book is 237 pages long
Found in Christian Heritage School’s Library

Story Review

Who could’ve she been from the inside? The one who brought unto us the Elizabethan Age! Did she go through torture as a child, or lifelong happiness? The one, who changed the future of England, was once seen as nothing but a shadow, Elizabeth. As a child, Elizabeth was skilled with needlework, and knowing many languages. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII, and his second wife Anne Boleyn, who was known in England as a “witch”. Elizabeth was later on, known as the Virgin Queen, as she never agreed to marry, because of her father who had six wives, two of them he beheaded, and two of them he divorced! This book is a brilliant piece written as a royal diary of the childhood of Elizabeth I, hence the title, “The Royal Diaries (Elizabeth I)” with true historical notes at the end of the book to complete the events.

In England, 1544, Elizabeth received a diary as a gift from her governess Kat. That is where she poured out her pain, secrets, and most important events on paper. The first thing she emphasized was her feeling of being invisible. First reason is because her father would exile her whenever he was unpleased with her. Another thing is the fact that she shall never rule, because she is third in line to the throne. Finally, how people look at her as half witch, because of her mother whom Henry VIII beheaded. Of course, her father was pleased with her sometimes, and still loved her, and so did Kat, and her good friend Robin. Years passed by, and things didn’t change from there.

And just as Elizabeth was waiting for her life to become more interesting, things instead started becoming very strange, and poison took place! The duchess of Lexford was poisoned. Elizabeth thought that it could’ve been her own sister, Mary, in the plan, because the duchess was getting in the way of Mary’s marriage plans! As all this chaos affected everyone in the palace, things get worse for Elizabeth, as Mary finds out about her diary that she has hidden! Back in the day that would’ve been a big deal, as she wrote how she truly felt about certain people in the diary that she would never say to anyone if she wanted to keep her life! As all this takes place everyone is waiting anxiously to find out if Edward will rule, or not, because his father, Henry VIII is terribly ill!

And it came upon them as the darkest hour, King Henry VIII dies! Of course now Edward becomes King, and rules by the guidance of his advisors, as he is still very young! Elizabeth from that point on was going through her hardest times. She would trade her life of royalty, but also of pain, and torture for a bird’s life! As she writes the last thing in her diary, “Would I trade my title for a bird’s life, a palace for a nest a realm for the sky?” Did Mary ever reveal her? Or rather did Elizabeth blame her sister for the poisoning of the duchess of Lexford, and announced it? How will Elizabeth ever rule? What is ahead of her before victory, as she discovers her destiny? The answer is in the book.

Christian Perspective

This book was written in a Christian perspective, because all the characters are Christian in the book. However there were many actions that were not Christ-like what so ever. For example, Henry divorcing two wives, beheading two, and exiling his daughter! Also, Elizabeth made terrible assumptions, and blamed her sister for poisoning the duchess! I think that if they were truly Christians, not just by name they would’ve had a lot less conflict in the family, and I also wonder how much the story would’ve changed if that was the case.

My Thoughts

I personally admire this book. It is a historical fiction written from the perspective of a royal victim. Because this book was written in the first person, it is easier to understand what Elizabeth really felt like in the book. It is an everyday journal in which you can find what might’ve been the inner feelings, and thoughts of Elizabeth I! I strongly recommend this book to history lovers, mystery lovers, and those who are interested in knowing what royals had to go through, because of their uneasy life. If you are one of those people, you won’t be able to put this book down!