Catherine the Great

Children's Literature

This title in the "Judge For Yourself" series certainly packs a hefty amount of information in a few pages. In this part of the country, global history on this level isn't taught until the second half of sixth grade and then not again until the second year of high school—a bit beyond the suggested audience level. In fact it was way beyond my interest level. The attempt to mesh a biography and a history book seems to have been less than successful. I found myself hoping this book would end before I finished the first chapter! Do we really want to know about Catherine's extra-marital affairs and what did and didn't happen within her marriage? That has no place in an objective textbook and seems unnecessary. Though the chapters are divided practically and chronologically, they provide too much information in a small amount of pages and are quite dull. Fortunately there are many illustrations and photographs interspersed throughout the text. These provide a pleasant diversion, whether they enhance the chapter text or not. The latter portion of this book presents two sides of an issue from the first section of the book along with supportive evidence for each side. Only a classroom assignment would benefit from this format, as I feel this book will only be read cover to cover if it is as an assignment. Definitely not a choice for leisure reading, no matter how much of a history buff you may be. 2004 (orig. 2002), World Almanac Library, Ages 9 to 12.
— Elizabeth Young

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-Complex history, skillfully related. The first section, the biography of the empress, includes a peek into Russian society and information about those who influenced her. Sidebars, which include the Romanov family tree and a layout of local government and courts from 1775, help to clarify the complicated wording of the text. In the second section, readers are asked to judge for themselves as questions are posed for debate. They include "Enlightenment Empress or Old-Fashioned Autocrat?" and "The Serfs' Friend or the Serfs' Enemy?" Sources support both sides of each question, and students are encouraged to come to their own conclusions. Plentiful illustrations, photographs, and maps, mainly in color, balance each part of the book. Because of the intricate nature of the story, a little understanding of Russian history would be beneficial, but not obligatory. This title would be useful for reports as well as debates, and should be considered a first purchase.-Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.