A lyrical and gripping read that captures the drama and intrigues in the Mughal empire at the height of its glory. It is 1626, and Jahanara is in Mandu, central India. Her father, Prince Khurram--who will later become Emperor Shah Jahan--has fallen out of favour with Emperor Jahangir, and now lives in the Deccan with his wife Arjamand Bano and their five children. As events unfold around her, Jahanara records them in her diary--her father's reaction to his exile; Empress Nur Jahan's demand that Jahanara's brothers be sent to her court as hostages; the conspiracies in faraway Agra and Lahore as Jahangir slides into ill-health; and her own growth as a sensitive writer and poet. Then one day, her father rides away to capture the Mughal throne, paving the way for Jahanara to return to her beloved Agra. This fictional diary recreates the drama of ambition, intrigue and loyalty that marked the Mughal empire at the height of its glory. As young Jahanara witnesses her father's rise to the throne, she also contemplates the incredible cruelty that men inflict on each other, and the love and tenderness that will finally redeem all. Gripping and lyrical, The Teenage Diary of Jahanara brings to life a time we only read about in history books.

'Yesterday, by the grace of Allah, I, Mehr-un-nissa, daughter of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and Asmat Begum, completed thirteen years of existence on this earth... Thirteen years...I'm not sure how pleased I am to have reached this significant age.' Long before she became Nur Jahan--Emperor Jahangir's last wife and the most influential Mughal queen--she was Mehr-un-nissa. Born to Persian refugees who attained eminence at the Mughal court, Mehr-un-nissa grew up on the fringes of Emperor Akbar's court in Agra, Kabul and Lahore. In this fictional diary, Deepa Agarwal gives us a glimpse into the queen's teenage years: how she grows into a strong and passionate young woman; her love for poetry and writing; and her interest in the larger world around her. Her diary also describes the Mughal world through the eyes of a young girl: the vibrant Meena Bazaars; the elaborate festival celebrations; and the intricacies of life in the zenana. But above all, her diary records her ambition to meet the love of her life and also to carve a place for herself in history. A fascinating blend of history and fiction, The Teenage Diary of Nur Jahan brings alive a bygone age in a unique and captivating manner for young readers.

A glimpse into the heart and mind of a young girl who went on to become an important queen. In the Rajput kingdom of Amber, Jodh Bai, daughter of King Bihari Mal, is now a teenager. Her clan, the Kachhwahas, are a proud warrior race, but Jodh Bai is a dreamer and poet at heart. When she picks up an empty accounting book and starts writing her thoughts in it, she ends up recording the happenings in the world around her--the joys, sorrows and ambitions of the women, the brothers and uncles who are trained to be warriors, the beauty of the arid landscape, and the politics of the times that is bringing the Mughals from distant Agra closer and closer to Rajasthan. Then one day, she is told something unbelievable--she is going to wed the Mughal emperor Akbar. How will Jodh Bai, a Hindu princess, live in the Mughal zenana? Will she find a true companion in Akbar? And what will life be like away from her beloved Rajasthan? History does not record the existence of Jodh Bai. Instead, Akbar's Rajput wife is only referred to by the royal title of Mariam-us-Zamani. But in this heartfelt fictional diary, Subhadra Sen Gupta skilfully brings alive the story of a young Rajput princess who went on to become a powerful queen of the Mughal empire.

THE ROYAL DIARIES is pleased to introduce historical novelist, Sheri Holman, who makes her debut on the list with a captivating story of fourteen-year-old Princess Sondok from seventh-century Korea. During the seventh-century, the land which is now Korea was fraught with political and religious intrigue. The country was split into Three Kingdoms, each fighting for supremacy: Silla, Koguryo, and Paekche. Besides the warring kingdoms, there are three religions in conflict: Shamanism, the ancient female-dominated faith wherein Shamanist priestesses wield great power at court, foretelling the future, performing important national rituals, and healing sickness; Buddhism, the contemplative State religion; and Confucianism, a recent import from powerful China.

Written by a Newbery Honor-winning author, this is the story of a princess who longs for freedom. Jahanara is the daughter of a rich emperor in India. While she is showered with many riches, she is also confined by her strict religion and the rules of the palace.

While her father is in hiding after attempts on his life, 12-year-old Cleopatra records in her diary how she fears for her own safety and hopes to survive to become Queen of Egypt some day.