What’s the book about?
Forget what you know about Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen with a fantastic hairstyle. That’s only part of the story. Before she was a ruler, Cleopatra was a girl with a fierce ambition: to become pharaoh.
When twelve-year-old Cleopatra and her father, Pharaoh Ptolemy XII, flee to ancient Rome in 59 BCE after Cleopatra’s sister seizes the throne, they are in serious trouble. It’s up to Cleopatra to raise enough gold to hire an army, gain the support of powerful allies, and take back her country’s land.
Three years later she had become the most famous pharaoh in history.
This is the story of how that year in ancient Rome might have changed Cleopatra’s life, with daring escapes, crocodiles, pirates, shipwreck and encountering the intrepid Captain Fileas and Myra, the slave determined to be free.
Recommended for:
Ages 9+
Three reasons to read it:
- One of the coolest things about Cleopatra #1: The Girl Who Would Be King is how alive the ancient world feels. The book takes you from Egypt to Rome. Rome feels crowded with powerful politicians, soldiers, secrets, and people trying to survive. Egypt feels just as dramatic, with royal families fighting over the throne and everyone desperate for power. Because Cleopatra is still young, you experience these places through someone who is constantly learning, watching, and planning. You’re not just reading facts about the ancient world. You feel like you’re travelling through it alongside Cleopatra while she figures out how to become strong enough to reclaim her kingdom.
- The side characters make the story feel much bigger than just “a girl who becomes queen.” Captain Fileas brings adventure to the story, especially with all the danger involving journeys, pirates, and survival. Myra is also really interesting because she wants freedom super badly, which adds emotional weight to the book. Her struggles remind you that not everyone in the ancient world had power or safety.
- What makes this book stand out is how naturally it teaches history. You learn about real events, real places, and real historical figures, but it never sounds dry or overloaded with facts. Seeing Cleopatra before she became legendary also makes her feel more human. You get to imagine what it might’ve been like for a young girl to grow up surrounded by betrayal, politics, and enormous pressure. By the time you finish reading, you feel like you understand not just who Cleopatra became, but why she became one of history’s most famous rulers.
Buy a copy of Cleopatra #1: The Girl Who Would Be King here.
About the author:
Jackie French AM is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator, the 2014–2015 Australian Children’s Laureate and the 2015 Senior Australian of the Year. In 2016, Jackie became a Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to children’s literature and her advocacy for youth literacy. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors and writes across all genres — from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi, to her much-loved historical fiction for a variety of age groups. ‘A book can change a child’s life. A book can change the world’ was the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term as Laureate.
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