Reviews

Catherine: The Great Journey, Russia, 1743 by Kristiana Gregory

jessjess125's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

readeatretreat's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

foreveryoungadult's review against another edition

Graded By: Maria
Cover Story: Face Blindness
BFF Charm: Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: About the Subtitles...
Bonus Factors: Crossdressing, Women in Power
Anti-Bonus Factor: Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: Loyal Subject

Read the full book report here.

livthebooknerd's review against another edition

5.0

I'm pretty sure this was the first of the Royal Diaries that I read. I used to own it, but the friend that I had lent it to KEPT IT! I'm still salty about it. I loved that book. I'll have to read it someday.

mkmusicmaniac's review against another edition

3.0

Just OK. not bad, not great.

nicolebookish's review against another edition

3.0

You know, this was the last in the series so I read it in high school. I liked it because it was the continuation of the series of fictionionalized diaries of important royals in history, although each was in a way a stand alone book.
I didn't like it as much as the others & I took it to a used book store which I didn't do with the others.

This entry is about the life of Catherine the great of Russia when she was engaged to be married & had to move to Russia.

I have to reread this series and give my adult post graduate degree perspective but what I remember liking was:
-the characters in this series were roughly my age when I read the books (YA)
-it gave you an idea of what life may have been like back then
-they did have an afterword with historic information that gave you more context on their real lives and often photos or paintings

miathebooknerd's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

hopeylope's review against another edition

4.0

This book is what got me into the royal diary series! It was sooooo good! I read it all in one afternoon. I think one thing that was really good about it was that I could imagine myself in her shoes and I could envision what she saw very easily. It also helped that it was snowing and everytime I looked out the window I could imagine myself in Russia with Catherine.

erine's review against another edition

2.0

Again with the Russian history, I think the story itself is intriguing. This book made Catherine II look like a gentle and wise ruler, and I appreciated all the additional information in the back of the book that helped to clarify fact from fiction, but I am now interested in finding out more about her. One of the best things about this type of book (also the Dear Mr. President, American Girl series and the like) is that it sparks an interest. I wouldn't be who I am today, studying what I am and working where I am if it weren't for the American Girl series, and I think this has the potential to be as powerful, to be that spark that ignites the interest in a budding historian or storyteller. History teachers could do worse than use these loose interpretations of the facts to get their students interested in the topic.
Readers who like diaries, royalty or history might enjoy this. Because of its serial nature, once you read one, others might also interest you (although this is not a series about one character, but rather fictional royal diaries throughout history).
Nothing obviously objectionable.

anji87's review against another edition

3.0

This is a fictionalized account of the Prussian girl Sophia who would go on to become Catherine the Great. Born to a lesser noble mother with emotional balance issues and a doting father who was once a soldier, Sophia enjoys her life in Prussia until one day she is told that the Grand Empress of Russia has chosen her and her cousin to rule Russia. The story then changes to Sophia travelling to her new home and then acclimatizing to it. Issues such as free will and autonomy from parental control are touched on but not elaborated upon. And because of this lack of depth, I can only give it a three out of five.