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Gr. 5-8. In her second novel for young people, part of the Royal Diaries series, Danticat writes a gripping story that shows European invasion from a native Caribbean viewpoint. In fifteenth-century Haiti, Anacaona is part of a royal lineage that rules the Taino people. After her coming-of-age ceremony, she marries a neighboring chief and learns battle techniques to defend against warring tribes. Then "pale men" arrive from Europe. Although Anacaona's people win a vicious battle against the Spanish explorers, children who read the epilogue will learn about the ultimate devastation that Europeans brought to the island worlds. The diary format raises several issues. A preface acknowledges that Anacaona, whose society had no written language, wouldn't have kept a diary. Also, the text is filled with long, purposeful explanations of Taino customs, which prompts questions about the division between factual and fictional content, as will some of the extensive back matter. Still, readers will connect with Danticat's immediate, poetic language, Anacaona's finely drawn growing pains, and the powerful, graphic story that adds a vital perspective to the literature about Columbus and European expansion in the Americas. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anacaona, Warrioress of the Tainos,
By ravenclaw29 (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Royal Diaries: Anacaona: Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490 (Hardcover)
Anacaona, whose name means "golden flower" in the Taino, her people, language, is sixteen-year-old, and hopes to one day become a great cacica of her Taino people living on a hot, tropical island soon to become known as Hispaniola by the Spanish, then later widely known as Haiti. Anacaona's tale is one of tragedy, warfare, love, and violence. This is the true reality of an expedition that was to be for the goodness of all discoveries and many new lands.Anacaona and her older brother, Behechio, will both inherit the ability to rule the Taino people from their uncle, Matunheri. The two close brother and sister can rule together, or Anacaona can marry but never have much power---she will only be a cacique's wife, and in order to be a cacica, she must rule on her own. Eveything seemed to be going just fine for Anacaona, until after Matunheri, suddenly died of old age and sickness. Anacaona's parents, whom she and Behechio call Bibi and Baba, now urge Anacaona to marry a handsome warrior from a different region name Caonabo. Anacaona chooses to marry him, and they later together have a baby daughter, Higuamota. Then, tragedy strikes for all of the Tainos. Christoper Columbus and his men arrive. They brutally murder many of the Tainos who refused to dig for gold for the Spaniards. Others are enslaved, to be brought back to Spain as playthings for Queen Isabella. Anacaona, Behechio, Caonabo and his brother, Manicaotex, know that this attack on their innocent people must stop immediately, or at least as soon as possible. Can they defeat the cruel Spaniards? This is the second novel that the author, Edwidge Danticat, who is actually of Taino descent herself, has written for young adults. Anyone taking a quick look at Edwidge Danticat's bibliography can see she always writes about Haiti or the Taino people. Here, in the second to last entry in the wonderful Royal Diaries series, she beautifully narrates the story of Anacaona, one of history's most tragic Queens, compared to Mary, Queen of Scots. This novel takes a bit of a departure from the rest of the Royal Diaries, for it is more violent and more mature. I would not recommended this to squeamish or younger readers, for it graphically details the violence. This is obviously one of the best, most moving books in the Royal Diaries. One of my new favorites. Highly recommended!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews) 21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent new book from the Royal Diaries series.,
By Rebecca Herman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Royal Diaries: Anacaona: Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490 (Hardcover)
Anacaona's story begins in the year 1490 when she is about sixteen years old. Her uncle is the cacique, or supreme ruler, of their province of Xaragua, located in what is now Haiti. Anacaona and her older brother, Behechio, have been raised to become the future rulers of Xaragua. But Anacaona gives up her birthright to marry Caonabo, the cacique of the nearby province of Maguana. Anacaona loves her husband and is happy in her marriage, and her joy only increases after the birth of their daughter, Higuamota. But life for their people is about to change forever when strange pale-faced men arrive from the sea and threaten their way of life and their very survival.
The author has done an excellent job at bringing to life Anacaona and her Taino people, and their life before and after the arrival of European explorers. This book shows how tragic the "discovery" of the Americas ultimately was for these native people, who were nearly all decimated within a few decades of Columbus's arrival. This book is an excellent addition to the Royal Diaries series, but it is not really for younger readers of the series. Due to some of the content, I would recommend it more to teen readers who enjoy this series or who are interested in this subject. 18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Could Not Put This Book Down,
By Gary H. Cassel "Flamingnet Teen Book Reviews" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Royal Diaries: Anacaona: Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490 (Hardcover)
Quisqueya is the name of the land currently called Haiti, and he time now is 1490. Anacaona is a young lady, and heir with her brother Behechio to the throne of Xaragua, a section of Quisqueya. Anacaona gets her hair cut off, a Native American ritual sending her into adulthood. Now that she is in adulthood, she can marry. Caonabo', the chief of the land of Maguana, which is a different section of Quisqueya, is looking for a wife, and he chooses Anacaona. The leader of Xaragua accepts, hoping to extend the friendship with Maguana. Anacaona accepts, and leaves Behechio as heir to rule rule over Xaragua. As she gets to Maguana, she is amazed at its beauty and the skills of its people. Shortly thereafter the ruler of Xaragua dies, and Anacaona comes to the funeral with Caonabo'. There Behechio is appointed the new ruler of Xaragua. Also, while in Xaragua, Anacaona becomes pregnant. After they return to Maguana, Anacaona has a girl. After the birth of her daughter her world is turned upside down when white men (Spaniards) come to the beach with weapons like lightning rods. Caonabo, his brother, and some warriors decide to travel to a place where the Spaniards are encamped, and attack them, hoping to get rid of them for good. Will the island of Quisqueya survive this new threat?
This book is a diary written by Anacaona and each day is a new heading. Sometimes the day can be boring and dull, and at other times the day could be so exciting that I could not put the book down. So there were slow parts and fast-moving parts to the story and you had to stick with the book through this variation. Despite this, I really liked this book a lot. Of the 13 Flamingnet books I have reviewed so far, this would rank in the top 5. This book also is very historical. It taught me a lot about the ancient people, and what their ways of life was like. I also learned about their fears, and what they thought about the Spaniards. Reviewed by M. Yousem for Flamingnet Book Reviews, www.flamingnet.com. 15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
**It is a very pleasing book to read during the holidays**,
A Kid's Review - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Royal Diaries: Anacaona: Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490 (Hardcover)
YEAH!!! I AM THE FIRST ONE TO WRITE A REVIEW!!!
Sorry, just a little excited! Anyway, I was able to get this book during a book club at my junior high. I was yearning to read it, and got to when we got out of school for break. I finished in a day, and thought it was very good. I loved how it is sort of connected with Christopher Colombus. I also liked the fact that Anacaona, got both her wishes! Oops! Won't say anymore! I guess you'll have to find out! You won't regret it! |
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