Isabel, Jewel of Castilla, Spain, 1466 by Carolyn Meyer is the fictional diary of the 14-year-old princess whose brother, the King, tries to use her marriage as an act of political gain. This book is part of the Royal Diaries series.
I enjoyed learning about Isabel as a historical figure because I didn't know much about her. She was connected to Christopher Columbus and Catherine of Aragon, who played a key part in the Marie Antoinette diary as well, and it was really interesting to see how these historical women are connected to well-known figures, but we don't hear much about these women.
This diary was the first one I read this year that wasn't written by Kathryn Lasky, so the writing was a bit different, but I didn't mind it. I also liked the difference in formatting for this diary, which was probably a byproduct of the difference in authors. This diary included more aspects of the Spanish language and culture, which was really helpful for providing context and setting for Isabel's diary.
What historical woman would you like to see a fictional diary of in her childhood? I'd love to know!
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