When I grabbed this book from my library, I was desperate for something to read. I had a bunch of books on hold that I was waiting on and I needed something to tide me over. For me, not having a book to read is unacceptable. I need to have the option available whether I'm in the mood or not. I was itching for some good historical fiction and this one caught my eye. I don't remember studying too much on Cleopatra in school and she is such an interesting historical figure that I thought, what the heck. After reading the back jacket I saw that this book wasn't even about Cleopatra--it's about her daughter. Even better--a fresh perspective! Here's my summary:
Cleopatra Selene is the only daughter of Cleopatra and Marc Antony. She's hailed as a princess and is training to become the next priestess of the goddess of Isis. When her parent's biggest enemy, Octavianus, storms the island of Pharos where they live, the worst happens. Selene watches as her beloved father dies in front of her. She only gets moments with her mother before she too is taken away. Not long later Selene hears the wails of the other priestesses and knows her mother is dead. Rather than staying alive and fighting, Cleopatra gave her life over to Octavianus. Selene and her brothers are quickly taken away and marched through their home streets in chains. Then Octavianus puts them aboard his ship to Rome to live at his palace as prisoners. On the voyage over, Cleopatra loses one of her brothers. Once they get to Rome, she is quickly separated from the other. Selene does everything in her power to remain true to her heritage and does whatever she can to plot and plan with her mother's advisors to take back control of Egypt. She wants to be the great queen her mother was. But what price will she have to pay to accomplish that? Her best shot is to ally herself with Octavianus' nephew, Marcellus. But then something unexpected happens--Selene falls in love with another one of the prisoners, Juba. But Juba has his own plans for his future that don't involve following Selene back home. So should Selene follow her heart and forge a new path with Juba or should she try to uphold her mother's dying wishes--that she become the next great queen. Just when the fight for her life and her future can't get any more dangerous, Cleopatra is betrayed by someone she thought she could trust. And the future she ends up with isn't at all what she expected.
**I can probably gush over this book all day. I had no idea I would be so interested in such an ancient time period but I was. Selene's character is one of the toughest female protaganists I have ever read. What she endures--the loss, the struggle to keep her family together, the fight to make her mother proud--made me cry more than once. I thoroughly enjoyed the sweet and tender first love between Selene and Juba; it felt authentic for who they were and the time in which they lived. Although Selene doesn't get the happy ever after you really want for her, what she does get is something almost as good. My only complaint was that there were a lot of minor characters in the story but I saw the need for each of them to be there. And Shecter had a complete cast of characters list in the opening pages that was a nice flip reference. What was after the story was cool too. Shecter's author's note was filled with additional interesting information on those involved and she even provided resources you can go to for more learning. Cleopatra's Moon is a great read that I can't recommend enough!
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I decided to read this book after I read an interview with the author on EW. In the article, Sepetys talked about how every time she did a book signing tons of people would show up mistaking her book for another with a similar title (yeah, you know the one!). She didn't mind though because most of those people, who not surprisingly were men, stayed for the reading. She figured even mistaken publicity was still publicity. Once I read this book, I immediately had to tell everyone I knew about it. Here's a summary:
It's 1939 and the Russians are invading Lithuania and forcing its citizens into labor and prison camps. Lina is a fifteen year old Lithuanian girl living a normal, happy life. She has a little brother she loves and a mom and dad she gets along great with. Everything seems fine until Soviet officers invade her home. They're told Lina's father is already on his way to a men's prison camp. With only minutes to pack, Lina's mom takes her kids aside and tries to prepare them for the horrors of what will surely lie ahead. Then Lina and her mom and brother are put on a crowded train where they spend months traveling across the country. They don't have showers or bathrooms and it doesn't take long before sickness and lice and all other manners of atrocities settle in. Constantly having to fight for their lives, food, and doing everything they can to stay together, Lina grows up quickly and does everything she can to try to find out if her father is still alive and where he is. She's hoping if she can get word to him, he'll find a way to save them. Eventually, with most already dead, Lina and her mother and brother end up in Siberia. The conditions there are not far from those of a Nazi concentration camp and the prisoners aren't treated much differently, only given the barest of clothes and shelter and food to survive. In the end, Lina learns that there are some things no one can ever take from you. She holds on to her art, her dignity, her hope, and her desire to live and doesn't let anyone change who she is.
**This is one of those books that you have to really prepare yourself for before reading. It's not a love story, at least not one between a boy and girl. It's more of a love story of a people for their country. Many die and the conditions described will not only horrify you but will also make you cry. Lina is strong and brave and you can't help but admire how she handles all that happens to her. As the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee, Sepetys writes this story in a way no one else could--with honesty, attention to detail, and a lot of heart. Lina's story will stay with you long after you are done reading it.
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I actually read this book a while ago and I often tell people it's one of my favorite YA historical novels. Here's a brief summary:
Melkorka is the oldest daughter of an Irish King. When her brother Nuada is attacked and left disfigured, no longer able to be the future king, Melkorka's father comes up with a plan for revenge. But first he sends Melkorka and her younger sister Brigid away to safety in the dark of night. But something happens before they get there. Melkorka and Brigid are kidnapped and taken aboard a Russian slave ship. As much as Melkorka wants to announce who she is and demand the rights and security she has always known, she soon realizes none of this will save her or her sister. So instead Melkorka takes a vow of silence, refusing to give anyone the power of her words. This fascinates the other slaves, the crew of the ship, and most especially: the ship's captain. His interest and wariness of her provides her with a measure of protection against the evils on board. Eventually, eight year old Brigid manages to escape and Melkorka is left with nothing but her own strength and determination to see her through. She uses what influences she has to help the other captives and ultimately ends up in the middle east where she watches all those she's bonded with get sold away.
What I loved about this book was Napoli's amazing ability to make you feel like you were right there in the year 900 A.D. with Melkorka. Her descriptions of Ireland, the daily life of the royal Irish family, and the time period are detailed and powerful. The conditions aboard the slave ship will leave you in tears. Melkorka's strength of character will have you rooting for her until the end. And the vow of silence is done so brilliantly that you hardly even notice your main character doesn't speak. While the ending isn't the happily ever after you would want for Melkorka, it is realistic to the story. Melkorka's journey will leave you breathlessly turning the pages until you finish.
