Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven, Japan 1858 (Royal Diaries)

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Summary: Bound to awaken a young girl's dreams of being a princess
Review: Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven, is part of the historical fiction Royal Diaries series. The author, Kathryn Lasky, has written numerous other books for children and adults. It is best suited for girls between the ages of nine and fourteen; it is bound to awaken a young girl's dreams of being a princess. The purpose of this diary is to present the life of a Japanese princess in such a way as to hold the interest of a young person.

The main conflict throughout the diary is finding out who Kazunomiya is going to marry. She was originally betrothed to a prince, with whom she fell in love. But she is then forced to marry a man with higher status, though she wants to be no more than his friend.

Lasky did a great deal of research to make this book as close as possible to the real story of Kazunomiya. The diary is supplemented to enhance the reader's understanding. A brief historical note gives a condensed presentation of the situation in Japan at Kazunomiya's time. A family tree helps the reader remember who each character is and how they are all related. There are a few photographs with notes, which help the reader to visualize the events in the story. A glossary of Japanese words makes it possible for the story to be spiced with Japanese terms without confusing the reader.

This diary is supposed to be written by a Japanese princess, but the style sounds like that of an English monarch. The word `shall' is used innumerable times. The style is pompous and wordy, and many sentences are either very long or fragmentary. Though this gives a deceptive view of the Japanese mindset, I think Lasky's style is great for telling the story of a Japanese princess to a young Western audience.

Reviewed by Candace Smith for Flamingnet Book Reviews.

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Rating:
Summary: A nice story about an era of change
Review: 12-year-old Princess Kazunomiya, the half-sister of the current emperor of Japan, lives a very common life of a person of royal lineage. She has luxery and respect, but shes not much more than a prisoner behind the palace walls. She is never allowed to leave, unless for official state events or to pray in the temple. Her life is generally very monotonous and everyday is similar to the next. However Kazunomiya is living in a time of great change for her country of Japan, a time in which her own life will also be affected by the changes of the political landscape. Japan is becoming more open to foreigners and many are flocking in eager to trade and make money. Different alliances are being made and soon Kazunomiya finds her future in question because of political calculations.

Kazunomiya comes off as a likeable character. Her confusion over the circumstances of her country are understandable. I'm Asian American so I was really looking forward to reading morea about the Japanese culture. I recommend this book to all fans of the series.

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Summary: Good new book from the Royal Diaries series.
Review: As a princess of Japan in the year 1858, twelve-year-old Kazunomiya lives a life of privilege and luxury. But it is one in which she is a virtual prisoner, kept sheltered behind palace walls, only able to leave for the occasional visit to a temple or shrine. But her predictable life is changing. Japan has kept itself isolated for generations, but now foreigners are clamoring to be allowed in, and given trading rights. And Kazunomiya finds her own future in question, when she learns that her betrothal to a prince she has known since childhood may be broken so that her half-brother, the Emperor, can make an alliance by marrying her off to the young man that will be the next shogun of Japan.

I recommend this new addition to the Royal Diaries to all fans of the series. I enjoyed learning about what life was like for a princess of Japan during an era of great change. I had never heard of Kazunomiya before I learned of this book, but I found her life fascinating.

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Summary: Jahanara-Princess of Princesses
Review: Jahznara was the child of one of the most famoust emperors in India.Her life was all luxury and fun.Jahanara had everything she wanted in the whole wide world except freedom.Jahanara was a virtual prisoner in her own castle.This book is another of Kathryn Lasky the best royal diary authors.This book is told in a descriptive way and im sure gives true facts.Well done Kathryn another great book.If you don't find the front cover of this book appealling borrow it and then buy it. This book is the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Summary: Kazunomiya- Prisoner of heaven.Japan,1858
Review: Kazunomiya lead an interesting life. Being born in the year of the fire horse and shortly after her dear fathers death made Princess Kazunomiya unlucky for it is a bad omen to be born in the year of the fire horse.Kazunomiya lived in hardship as the Japanese royal kept on changing her birthday and moving her away from her husband to be.When they move Kazunomiya away from her handsome husband to be and force her to marry the ugly shogun of Japan,Kazunomiya sees red.This is one of the best books in the Royal Diaries series,written by the best,interesting and most accurate Royal Diary author,Kathryn Lasky.

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Summary: LUV IT!!!! :)
Review: This is another fabulous addition to the Royal Diaries series! I was completely blown away by this book. The language used is so spellbinding that you cannot help but be drawn into this fantastic story. Kathryn Lasky has onced again done a superb job and I hope to see other Royal Diaries that are up to this quality very soon. Royal Diaries rule!

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Summary: Kazunomiya Rules!!!!
Review: What a wonderful new book to this series.I was completely blown away by this book.Kazunomiya is definitely the best Royal Diaries book,it has superb quality and when you read this book you feel very strong with the characters.This book can beat Anastasia any old day.Kazunomiya is a prisoner of Heaven she is never allowed out of her palace and never knows what is going on outside in the world.But one day at a ladies tea party she senses that the other ladies know something she doesn't.After finding out that she was not allowed to marry her true love and was meant to marry the shogun of Japan,Kazunomiya's life is torn to bits.But when secretly meeting her true love in private Kazunomiya learns she will be connected to him whatever happens.This book is definitely the best yet.I really enjoyed it you will too.