Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter
A YA book review
Cleopatra's Moon is about the daughter of Cleopatra VII, Egypt's last pharaoh. In the shadow of Rome's growing power, Cleopatra risked all by allying herself with one Roman, Mark Antony. Their defeat by Octavian, the future Caesar Augustus, ended with the death of both Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Octavian took their daughter, Cleopatra Selene, to Rome as a captive and displayed her in his triumph. She lived in the household of his sister Octavia, Mark Antony's first wife.
In the novel, Cleopatra Selene comes to life as an intelligent, strong-minded young woman who gains insight from her devotion to the Goddess Isis. Her story begins with the events leading to Egypt's fall when she is ten. Her determination and unusual upbringing make Cleopatra's Moon a solid story for teens from the beginning. After she is taken captive, Cleopatra Selene refuses to passively accept her fate. As daring as her mother, she is willing to risk her life to regain her heritage: the rule of Egypt.
As she grows into her teens, two young men attract her. Kind and scholarly Juba, a prince of Numidia (today's Algeria and Morocco), remembers no life before Rome and expresses no ambition to rule his homeland. Octavia's son Marcellus is heir to Rome. One day he may be able to send Cleopatra Selene back to Egypt as Rome's powerful client queen. But Marcellus is known for losing interest in girls as soon as they give him what he wants.
Which of these young men should she encourage? Can she marry either? History reveals the end of Cleopatra Selene's story, but for readers who don't know it, part of the fun of the novel is finding out what happens. (2011; 355 pages, including author's notes about the historical facts behind the novel. Recommended for ages 13 and up.)