Nine-year-old Princess Victoria steals a discarded Herd Record from the family stable and uses it to record her secret thoughts. Her act is a rebellion against her undemonstrative mother and the abusive Captain Conroy, who police her communications. Victoria's description of pivotal events reflects her love of family, her realization that she will rule England, and a growing acceptance that royal families, especially hers, must put aside private preferences as they serve the world as well as the nation. She tells of her disgust with nine-year-old Prince George and her powerlessness over the disturbing relationship between her mother and Captain Conroy. Victoria realizes the important place she holds with the king and the necessity of not appearing at the coronation when her controversial Uncle Billy rather than she succeeds him. She delights in playing with dolls and dressing up, dancing, and painting. Victoria also enjoys Shakespeare and excels on demanding examinations that include scripture, language, literature, and history. The epilogue and historical note explain how this fictional record anticipates the real events of Victoria's life and time, including the personal journal she began at thirteen with the stipulation to her family that the most private information be deleted after her death. ne pictures, captions, and cover portrait depict a more mature Victoria. Readers who have enjoyed other books in the Royal Diaries series, however, might be disappointed when they discover that this book concerns mostly her tenth year. Looking past the writer's age, they can glimpse demanding and tumultuous events that helped shape Victoria's rule.
--Voice of Youth Advocates, Feb. 2002
