The big idea of this book is to tell about the life of Catherine The Great and explain how she gained power.

In my opinion, this is a good book. I liked the writing because it was organized and engaging. It easily made sense and was easy to follow for young readers who are newly exposed to chapter books. It was easy to follow along because the chapters were short and the information was to the point. It also made it easy to follow along because it was in the form of a story and gave examples of her actual thoughts. For examples, the book gave direct quotes from Catherine's diary.

I also liked this book because of the photos that were included throughout the book. When a new person in Catherine's life was introduced, or when there was an event, the book had paintings to show who the person was or the place or the event that happened in that section of the book. I thought this well helpful to readers to try to help give readers visuals while they read. ( )

http://joriesreads.wordpress.com/2010/06/15/zu-vincents-catherine-the-great-empr... ( )

Love history? Appreciate cunning? Tired of the usual biographies? Then, A Wicked History series may be your answer.

Catherine the Great is one of history's famous (infamous?) characters who fits the criteria for this engaging series. Catherine is a study in contrasts. She was an early proponent of the Enlightenment; she sought to free millions of Russian peasants from serfdom; she was a great patron of the arts - founding the renowned Hermitage museum. And yet, she overthrew Russia's lawful ruler, her husband; she is widely suspected of ordering her husband's murder; she put down peasant rebellions with an iron fist.

Zu Vincent's book examines both sides of Catherine's life, allowing the reader to draw his own conclusions. Skillful use of maps, period quotations, illustrations, and explanatory text box insets, Catherine the Great: Empress of Russia is a brief, attention-grabbing biography. A "Wicked Web" replaces the usual "family tree," and a "Timeline of Terror" replaces the more benign and generic timeline. This balanced book, however, does not dwell solely on the sensational (though readers, parents and teachers should expect the truth -including murder, villainy, and extra-marital activities).

A glossary, index, list of additional sources, and author's note with bibliography complete this well-researched book. A perfect choice for reluctant 'tweens and teens with biography assignments.

Attila the Hun, Henry VIII, King George III, and many other villains may be found in the series.
Best for middle and high school readers. ( )

The many illustrations, charts, and sketches reinforced the narrative about not only Catherine but the historical perspective also. Chapters are short and concise; the main text is chronological and easy to understand. Commentary is woven throughout the book. This Wicked Series book includes a timeline, glossary, a “find out more” resource guide, an index, and an author’s note and bibliography (though throughout the text sources are not footnoted). Overall, the biography presents a viewpoint about a famous historical figure in an easy-to-read, graphic rich format for younger teens. ( )