Part of the popular Royal Diaries series, the story of the intellectually curious and determined future queen of Korea. Sondok's fictionalized diary entries transport the reader to seventh-century Korea and introduce the competing trends of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shamanism. Sondok -- who would rather study astronomy than weaving -- feels frustrated and misunderstood as a girl, but manages to emerge the wise ruler of Silla. For children 9-12.  (KOR14, $10.95)