Kristina: The Girl King, Sweden, 1638 (The Royal Diaries)
Grade 4-7-In her diary, covering mainly her 12th year, Kristina explains that her father, King Gustav II Adolf, desperately wanted a son to become heir to his kingdom. Upon her birth, he declared that she would be treated as a boy, raised as a prince, and someday become King of Sweden. She describes learning from the finest tutors, engaging in fencing and horseback riding, and being schooled in the laws and practices of the Swedish government. She is intellectually curious and takes her role as prince-in-training seriously. The story is full of tutoring sessions and frequent disputes with Kristina's combative mother. However, the action lags somewhat and the pacing is often slow. Fans of the series will probably pick up this entry, but it may be a tougher sell for others.Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OHCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.