Kids Who Rule: The Remarkable Lives of Five Child Monarchs.

Lisa Arsenault is a high-school English teacher who is involved in
several ministry campaigns to increase literacy.

The early lives of five historical figures who became monarchs as children are explored in this history book for young people. The children—Tutankhamun of Egypt, Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Christina of Sweden, Emperor Puyi of China, and the Dalai Lama of Tibet—are allotted a chapter each. The biographies are short but packed with information. Although the emphasis is on the early years the author doesn’t leave the reader hanging: each childhood biography concludes with “The end of the story” so we find out what happened to these people as adults.

At the outset of each biography the reader is catapulted back in time and observes a dramatic reconstruction of a pivotal event in the child’s life. Like a fly on the wall we see the individual in action, hear them speak, and view their world through their eyes. It’s a dramatic introduction that brings the individual to vivid life. The re-enactment is followed by their life stories narrated in a casual, breezy style and seeded with colloquialisms and colourful language. Although the delivery is informal, a ton of facts are conveyed. Informative sidebars, guaranteed to intrigue (for example, a description of the mummy’s curse in King Tut’s section), colour photographs, maps, diagrams, and family trees are sure to elucidate the text.

The book’s presentation and style are a winning combination. Thumbnail biographies will inspire readers to do further research on these fascinating historical figures. Highly recommended.