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cassie5489's review against another edition
3.5
I enjoyed the historical note at the end more than the actual diary. However, it did educate me about a culture I knew little about. I also need to consider that I am not its intended audience.
foreveryoungadult's review
Graded By: Maria
Cover Story: Fig Leaf Modesty
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Talky Talk: Oral Storytelling
Bonus Factor: Riddles
Anti-Bonus Factor: Christopher Columbus
Relationship Status: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Fig Leaf Modesty
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Talky Talk: Oral Storytelling
Bonus Factor: Riddles
Anti-Bonus Factor: Christopher Columbus
Relationship Status: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Read the full book report here.
kenzie5227's review against another edition
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
woodlandbooklover's review
4.0
The author had a tough job to write a diary about a woman and culture that didn't leave a written record behind. It was executed well enough. The story shows what we know of this culture's history enlivened through a fiction/nonfiction hybrid. I liked at the end how Anacaona writes she doesn't want the whole of her people's story to be about the white men, and I'm glad that was included. So often, indigenous cultures are only discussed/engaged according to how they relate to whiteness. Covering 1490-1492, we know how it's going to end, and the epilogue takes us from the end of the diary to the end of the people because of Columbus's genocide against them. This should be required reading for anyone who thinks we should still celebrate Columbus Day.
littlecornerreads's review against another edition
3.0
I hate to say it, but I was rather disappointed by this "Royal Diary." I rediscovered the series in the Children's section of the library (it was next to Harry Potter,) and was intrigued by the fact that Anacaona was set in Haiti. I really liked this series when I was younger, so I thought I'd give it a try. I don't know if my expectations were too high (not really) or if I'm getting too old for this series (more likely) or what (hoping for this one,) but it just fell flat. It was really disappoint because I felt like this had so much more potential. Unlike Marie Antoinette or Elizabeth I, I have a feeling few people know anything about Anacaona or Haitian culture in general. The book just fell flat for me. I didn't really care about Anacaona or anyone else in the book- and it wasn't for lack of trying. The story seemed a bit slow, and when the conquistadors show up, it was just bad. One of the good things about this book is that it puts imperialism in perspective a bit (or as much as you can hope for in a children's book.) Although the story of colonialism in Haiti and Anacaona's fate ends in a tragedy, I appreciated Danticat's efforts to end with a hopeful note.
I guess my overall review of Anacaona would be good intentions, not so sure if the actual execution was where it could be. I will say it made me want to read and learn more about Haiti, and I do think it would be a good way to expose younger kids to something they probably won't learn in school or anywhere else. So I guess I'd recommend it for young readers, but tell older readers to tackle a more substantial book if they're looking to learn about Anacaona.
I guess my overall review of Anacaona would be good intentions, not so sure if the actual execution was where it could be. I will say it made me want to read and learn more about Haiti, and I do think it would be a good way to expose younger kids to something they probably won't learn in school or anywhere else. So I guess I'd recommend it for young readers, but tell older readers to tackle a more substantial book if they're looking to learn about Anacaona.
empressofeverything's review against another edition
2.0
I think this is the only one of the princess books where they show her get married and have a baby. Others get married but never babies as far as I’m aware. Unfortunately, the book only gets interesting in the last 1/4, and then it ends.
annabellee's review against another edition
3.0
The entire Royal Diaries series is near and dear to my heart as I grew up reading most of them. Recently I discovered that there were four that were published after I moved on from the series, and I have acquired them to read for nostalgia's sake (and, as a member of the Pokemon generation, have the compulsive need to complete my set).
This novel follows the coming-of-age of Anacaona, ruler of the Taíno people at the time of the Spanish invasion. It begins just before her "hair ceremony," the traditional coming-of-age ceremony for Taíno girls, and goes through her engagement, marriage, the birth of her daughter, and their first encounters with the Spanish invaders. Anacaona was trained from birth to be a ruler of one of the Taíno tribes, and carried out her duties faithfully even after the death of her husband, as the Epilogue shows. While the book manages to immerse the reader in a distant land and culture, it does so without alienating the reader or making the reader feel as though they have to constantly flip back and forth from the glossary. The Epilogue and historical notes help to paint the picture of the life Anacaona would have led, and the world she would have led it in, in addition. The characterization was steady, even if there were more "aha!" moments plainly stated than I would care for, it *is* supposed to be the diary of a teenager, and what teenager doesn't make every revelation seem like *the* revelation they were meant to have all along?
I would recommend this book for elementary and middle school readers. There is no graphic language or sex, but there is violence (not terribly graphic). Three stars.
This novel follows the coming-of-age of Anacaona, ruler of the Taíno people at the time of the Spanish invasion. It begins just before her "hair ceremony," the traditional coming-of-age ceremony for Taíno girls, and goes through her engagement, marriage, the birth of her daughter, and their first encounters with the Spanish invaders. Anacaona was trained from birth to be a ruler of one of the Taíno tribes, and carried out her duties faithfully even after the death of her husband, as the Epilogue shows. While the book manages to immerse the reader in a distant land and culture, it does so without alienating the reader or making the reader feel as though they have to constantly flip back and forth from the glossary. The Epilogue and historical notes help to paint the picture of the life Anacaona would have led, and the world she would have led it in, in addition. The characterization was steady, even if there were more "aha!" moments plainly stated than I would care for, it *is* supposed to be the diary of a teenager, and what teenager doesn't make every revelation seem like *the* revelation they were meant to have all along?
I would recommend this book for elementary and middle school readers. There is no graphic language or sex, but there is violence (not terribly graphic). Three stars.
katiedavis's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
neverwithoutabook's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted more back history behind each diary entry. The last part of the book was the best.