You wouldn’t want to be Cleopatra! An Egyptian ruler you’d rather not be describes Cleopatra’s life in a unique way. It is written from a very personal perspective which helps the young readers identify with Cleopatra. The first lines in the book already introduce a strong identification with Cleopatra: You are Cleopatra, a princess living in Egypt 2,000 years ago (p.9). The whole narration of the story flows in this personal style. This specific style helps young readers understand what the young princess’ and later queen’s life looked like and how she could feel. The plot of the story has a rich historical and cultural background of the Ancient Egypt. The first few chapters are about Cleopatra’s childhood and youth. Later on, readers along with Cleopatra become rulers who face all the difficulties she had to overcome in her life as a Queen. In the last chapter, which is a description of Cleopatra’s final moments, the author includes a small mini vocabulary and a summary of three important matters: Caesar’s murder, Egyptian fashion and the top Egyptian Gods. The book is illustrated with many beautiful drawings in the form of comics.

The book is as easily accessible to older as to younger children. It’s enriched not only with historical background but also with cultural references to Ancient Egypt and Rome. It is a great example of a book which educates through play and entertainment. Historical and cultural facts might be amusing also for adults. The great strength of this book is the variety of rich and beautiful illustrations and their unique comic style. These visual additions are a great help in remembering Cleopatra and her story in an easy, pleasant way. Cleopatra is drawn in a unique manner highlighting her characteristic make up and her famous nose. On the coins from the times of her reign we can see her profile with rather large and sharp nose. In the later art representations her nose was changed because it did not fill into the Cleopatra’s  beauty canon. Pascal wrote that if Cleopatra’s nose was different maybe the fate of our world would be different too. Cleopatra’s nose representations are either pretty and complimentary or realistic based on ancient historical coins. Readers can also admire the variety of colorful clothes which remind us that Antiquity is not all about white garments. In the last chapters we find a detailed description of Caesar’s murder and historical reasons behind that assassination. There is also a fascinating presentation of the Ancient Egyptian culture during Cleopatra’s reign with many curiosities, funny illustrations which help a young reader to understand better the culture of Ancient Egypt.