(4) 4-6 Great Queens series. These biographies tell the story of each queen and her role in shaping historical events that affected her subjects. The texts, though choppy, are informative, highlighting important milestones in each ruler's life. Useful sidebars, photographs, reproductions, and illustrations add further context. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Queens titles: Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, Marie Antoinette, and Catherine the Great.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) YA European Queens series. Whether they came to the throne through their own machinations or because they were next in line, these five women made history-altering contributions--both good and bad--to their respective countries. While the books don't neglect to discuss the intrigues and assignations of these monarchs, the laudatory tone downplays each ruler's flaws. Black-and-white and crisp color reproductions appear throughout. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these European Queens titles: Marie Antoinette and the Decline of the French Monarchy, Catherine de'Medici and the Protestant Reformation, Catherine the Great and the Enlightenment in Russia, Queen Isabella and the Unification of Spain, and Queen Victoria and the British Empire.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman