Nefertiti

April 1, 2020
Grades 3-5 Nefertiti was, and still is, known for her incredible beauty, but she was also a powerful ruler, as is revealed in this history from the True Book: Queens and Princesses series (4 titles). Parker does an excellent job of providing historical context for Nefertiti's rule alongside the controversial ancient Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. Arresting photos of period artwork and temples support the text's explanations of the seemingly loving relationship between the royal couple; of their near-equal status; of shifting artistic styles; and, significantly, of Akhenaten's rejection of polytheism for the sole worship of Aten. Parker lays out accepted theories when there is unknown information regarding Nefertiti's life, such as her parentage and her mysterious disappearance from the historical record. Engaging writing amplifies an already fascinating topic, which ends with Nefertiti's family tree and related True Statistics. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)