Most girls (and some grown women) dream about being princesses. But Peggilene Bartels dreamed -- literally dreamed -- of the time she would be king. 
 Her dream is the opening portent of "King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village," Eleanor Herman's account of a rare, powerful woman who was given the responsibilities of kingship. Not only is it an inspiring story, but Herman weaves a rich, expansive portrait of Ghana and its traditional villages. 
 Washington secretary Peggy Bartels was shocked when an acquaintance from the Ghanaian fishing village of Otuam called her with the words, "Congratulations! You are the new king of Otuam!" It turns out that her uncle had just died, and the ancestral spirits had selected Peggy as the new king -- a female king. 
 After some thought (and supernatural approval) she traveled to Ghana for her enstoolment -- only to find that Otuam was in desperate straits, with almost no medical care, little education, bad water, impoverished people and a palace rotting from neglect. After her enstoolment, Peggy discovered that there were problems that went much deeper, such as embezzlement, corruption among the elders and family strife. 
 But King Peggy had been chosen for a reason: she was determined to straighten out the governing body of Otuam, and make life better for its people. With the help of the kind Nana Kwesi -- and partly from the D.C. area -- Peggy begins working to change Otuam for the better. And despite the chauvinism, corruption and poverty, she's going to do it. 
 Eleanor Herman is no stranger to talking about royalty, but "King Peggy" is a very different kind of king from the ones she previously wrote about -- a modern, educated woman who unites age-old African tradition with the needs of a modern community. It's an inspiring, heartwarming story because there are so many obstacles to overcome that a lesser person (male or female) would probably have run for the hills. 
 And Peggielene Bartels -- who is still king today -- is a truly fascinating woman. It's easy to cheer for her as she asserts her formidable, fiery personality over Otuam, especially because of the struggles she had previously had (infertility and a crumbled marriage). You want to cheer every time she straightens out a knot in Otuam's daily life, and growl every time sometime tries to trick her. 
 Eleanor Herman's smooth, detailed writing is almost like a novel, with insights into Peggy's mind and lifetime. She paints so many vivid details that Otuam simply comes alive -- dusty fields, untouched beaches and sunny skies -- as well as the struggles that the village is confronted with, like a palace that previously looked like a condemned wreck and had toilets that didn't flush. 
 Almost as importantly, Herman and Bartels convey the rich culture and spiritual traditions that still infuse Ghana today, combining Christianity ("the Jesus is Our Savior Beer and Wine Pub") with ancient pantheistic beliefs (the royal stools). 
 Eleanor Herman gives "King Peggy" the rich, ageless quality that it deserves, giving a glimpse into a strong woman's triumphs and the culture she upholds. An absolute must-read.