A review by angelica87
Sŏndŏk: Princess of the Moon and Stars, Korea, A.D. 595 by Sheri Holman

3.0

I wish that this book had been written by an author of Korean descent, but it was published in 2002, which was a vastly different time to now. Sondok: Princess of the Moon and Stars is about fourteen year old Sondok who is her father's heir apparent. She has always taken an interest in astronomy and the reading of the heavens. The journal starts when she is given the jade container of her Grandmother. She is to fill it with rice and write out prayers and thus the narrative continues through. I found this to be a very engaging read, and I loved how Sondok pushed for the science of the stars and her own calculations instead of relying upon the flawed method of those who visited her court. There are certain events towards the end which really were heartbreaking, but on a whole everything ended up okay for Sondok at the end of her year long journal.