The Great and the Terrible

September 15, 2020
Profiles of ancient and early modern rulers historically adjudged "Great" or...not so much. O'Sullivan chooses her 25 entries from a pre-20th-century but worldwide roster--including figures from Indian, Persian, and Mayan realms and from Hawaii, Madagascar, Korea, and Morocco as well as diverse European countries. Separating "Greats" from "Terribles" and mixing in eight women, she leads off with Pharaoh Hatshepsut and concludes with "Bloody Mary" Tudor and Sultan Ismail "the Bloodthirsty." Along with tucking in side notes for each subject on broader legacies and on contemporary events elsewhere in the world, she appends lists offering two dozen more "Worthies" and "Notably Notorious" to check out. Her profiles, though brief, are invitingly informal (for Hatshepsut, "pyramids were already so last millennium") and focus as much on positive or negative character traits as on deeds and misdeeds. She commends the tolerance of Cyrus the Great for other religions and cultures in his empire, for instance, and S�leyman the Magnificent for not "micromanaging" his appointees. She also repeatedly points out that even the best sometimes went wrong, and vice versa. On the other hand, writing that the suspension of church services by "Bad" King John was unpopular because it took away a " 'fun' thing to do" is pretty superficial. Lugo supplies formally posed upper-body portraits of the smiling or scowling subjects. Casual, occasionally to a fault, but broad of scope and chock full of juicy role models and anti-models. (index) (Collective biography. 10-13)

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October 1, 2020

Gr 5-8-This amusing, colorful anthology provides an overview of some of history's most beloved and most notorious rulers. Covering well-known leaders (Elizabeth I) and lesser-known ones (Ranavalona I of Madagascar), the text presents a wide-ranging introduction to what makes a leader "good" or "bad." Full-page portraits of each leader are included as well as callout boxes that relay important anecdotes or context. The writing style is detailed enough for students to learn something but moves at a quick pace, which may help persuade reluctant readers to give it a go. Some vocabulary terms may go over the heads of middle grade readers, but the glossary at the back helps provide clarity. VERDICT A strong addition to middle school libraries and nonfiction collections for youth. Best suited for readers with an interest in history or as an introductory text that can inspire further research.-Katie McBride Moench, New Glarus Middle and H.S. Lib., WI

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