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- Anacaona: Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490 (The Royal Diaries)
Anacaona: Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490 (The Royal Diaries)
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
12+
Release Date
April 01, 2005
ISBN
0439499062
Buy This Book
With her signature narrative grace, Edwidge Danticat brings Haiti's beautiful queen Anacaona to life. Queen Anacaona was the wife of one of her island's rulers, and a composer of songs and poems, making her popular among her people. Haiti was relatively quiet until the Spanish conquistadors discovered the island and began to settle there in 1492. The Spaniards treated the natives very cruelly, and when the natives revolted, the Spanish governor of Haiti ordered the arrests of several native nobles, including Anacaona, who was eventually captured and executed, to the horror of her people.
Editor reviews
1 reviews
The 'Noble and Good' Flower of her people
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
0.0
Writing Style
0.0
Anacaona, a poem and song composer is raised along with Behechio, to become a ruler of their people, the Xaraguá (part of modern day Haiti). She is popular among her people, and is also called “Golden Flower.” The Xaraguá, as well as the tribes around them are known as the TaÃno, which in their language mean "noble and good." The Xaraguá live in harmony and treat each other as well as other tribes with respect. But when the Kalinas, a fierce group from another area attack and raid the Xaraguás and others near them, she asks permission from the ruler of the Xaraguás, MatunherÃ, to train warriors for protection. But soon Anacaona will see that there are more dangers out there besides the Kalinas.
After her coming of age ceremony, the cacique (ruler) of Maguana, Caonabó, expresses his interest in marrying her. Should she accept? Being a ruler and being the wife of a ruler are two different things. Anacaona has feelings for Caonabó, but is she willing to leave her beloved Xaraguá? Anacaona chooses to marry Caonabó, leaving the leadership of the Xaraguá to Behechio. Anacaona must adjust to life in Maguana; she is happy with her new life, and soon has a daughter which Anacana and her husband names Higuamota.
Just as everything seems to be going smoothly, there is news of “pale men” in another region. Are they threats or just spirits? Whoever they are, the lives of the TaÃno people are changed forever. When these “pale men” frighten TaÃno people with “lightening sticks” and demand more and more gold, Anacaona, Caonabó, and Manicaotex take action. Anacaona, Caonabó, Manicaotex and their warriors must use wits to defeat the “pale men” who have superior technology and weapons. But will they succeed? And if they do, how long will their victory last? Can Anacaona and the TaÃno people avoid the “pale men” for long? Read this Royal Diary to find out!
The Royal Diaries: Anacaona, was pretty good and quite interesting. It gives readers a snapshot of life in Haiti before the 1500’s. Anacaona is a brave, compassionate, and strong figure that her people admire. The author does a good job bringing this part of Anacaona’s life alive. If you liked other books in The Royal Diaries series, you may enjoy this one. However, this addition to the Royal Diaries series has some violence and graphical scenes—I wouldn’t recommend it to younger readers.
After her coming of age ceremony, the cacique (ruler) of Maguana, Caonabó, expresses his interest in marrying her. Should she accept? Being a ruler and being the wife of a ruler are two different things. Anacaona has feelings for Caonabó, but is she willing to leave her beloved Xaraguá? Anacaona chooses to marry Caonabó, leaving the leadership of the Xaraguá to Behechio. Anacaona must adjust to life in Maguana; she is happy with her new life, and soon has a daughter which Anacana and her husband names Higuamota.
Just as everything seems to be going smoothly, there is news of “pale men” in another region. Are they threats or just spirits? Whoever they are, the lives of the TaÃno people are changed forever. When these “pale men” frighten TaÃno people with “lightening sticks” and demand more and more gold, Anacaona, Caonabó, and Manicaotex take action. Anacaona, Caonabó, Manicaotex and their warriors must use wits to defeat the “pale men” who have superior technology and weapons. But will they succeed? And if they do, how long will their victory last? Can Anacaona and the TaÃno people avoid the “pale men” for long? Read this Royal Diary to find out!
The Royal Diaries: Anacaona, was pretty good and quite interesting. It gives readers a snapshot of life in Haiti before the 1500’s. Anacaona is a brave, compassionate, and strong figure that her people admire. The author does a good job bringing this part of Anacaona’s life alive. If you liked other books in The Royal Diaries series, you may enjoy this one. However, this addition to the Royal Diaries series has some violence and graphical scenes—I wouldn’t recommend it to younger readers.
D2
Dominique, 2006 Teen Demi-Goddess
User reviews
Anacoana The golden flower
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
It is a great book but Parents should be advise their are scenes where it may not be suitable for younger audiences
Good Points
Anacoana a poem and song writer live in a place in Haiti.She is to raised to be a ruler in the place she is raised.Anacoana is loved by her people. She is married off to Caonaba who is a chief.When white men comes to the place where she live and they start to attack her people.Eventually she is killed by the white settlers kill her.
The golden flower of her people
Overall rating
3.0
Plot
3.0
Characters
0.0
Writing Style
0.0
Reader reviewed by Jessica M.
The story takes place in Haiti in the 1490's. The main character, of course, is Anacaona. She, along with her brother Behechio are to be chosen either cacia or cacique by their uncle. Anacaona tells about her everday life in her personal "journal". She is always full of concern about her people. Though she is married off to Chief Canonabo` later in the book, she still has her new people's best interest at heart. This is why Anacaona grew to be a great leader. Even though she had an early death, her life was still intriguing. Anyone who is a big fan of this series should read this book.
The story takes place in Haiti in the 1490's. The main character, of course, is Anacaona. She, along with her brother Behechio are to be chosen either cacia or cacique by their uncle. Anacaona tells about her everday life in her personal "journal". She is always full of concern about her people. Though she is married off to Chief Canonabo` later in the book, she still has her new people's best interest at heart. This is why Anacaona grew to be a great leader. Even though she had an early death, her life was still intriguing. Anyone who is a big fan of this series should read this book.
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