Customer Reviews

Anacaona: Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490

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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.

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.

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!

I absoloutely loved the vivid diary of Anacaona, leader of Haiti.She is the golden flower throughout the story and i know that Edwidge Danticat is definitaly the 2nd best ROYAL DIARY WRITER,(first being Kathryn Lasky)This diary tells the true story of the beautiful Anacaona,golden flower of Haiti.This book is based throughout a series of symbols Anacaona used to write her days,just like how the other young women of the other royal diay series wrote down their days into perfect little pages(except for Victoria who stole hers)I thought this book was great and intersting even though theepilogue was sadder than the one of Kaiulani and Anastasia.I also love the radiant beauty that shined through the face of Princes Anacaona of Haiti in the front cover.The words were well chosen and said throughout and i especially like the way the white people said as bad and black good(this happened in the royal diary of Nzingha)I didn't find one bit of the story dull and absorbed the beauty of this beautiful woman in an exotic country,Haiti and independant that will always be rememberd.

PS: I CANT WAIT TILL Catherine-The great journey COMES OUT!

Anacaona was a woman born to the Taino people of Xaragua, what is now modern Haiti. Her Baba (Father) and Bibi (Mother) raise her and her brother, Behichio, to rule together. However, when Anacaona's premonitions suggest that she rule in the neighboring nation of Maguana she accepts a proposal from Caonabo, the reigning Cacique (king) to be his wife. As Cacica (queen) Anacaona takes on many duties and learns to carve in the way of her husband's people. But a threat arrives in the form of the first European settlers who have landed on their shores in search of gold and it is up to Anacaona and her husband to ensure that their people survive this threat no matter what the costs or means.

Approaching a subject like "Anacaona" when you know nothing about the actual person has its pros and cons. A pro is that you learn a touch of history, the culture of the people, and various other tidbits of info. An obvious con is that any of the historical details that have been embellished don't stand out so much. For me, knowing next to nothing about Haiti, this tribe, and woman specifically this was an interesting way to introduce me to her life and how she resisted the colonialization of her homeland. It made me want to do what this series is designed to do, research and read more about this fascinating area and period of time. One thing I did notice that struck me odd was how seemingly similar some of the details of her people were to that of the Mayan people. The flattening of the children's foreheads and the belief that the people came from corn originally was just a few of the many similarities. But there were also many characteristics that differentiated them and made them unique for their own way of life.

This was a great way for me to kick off my reading of the "Royal Diaries" series. I will definitely be reading more in the future, and I especially look forward to reading the ones about the non-westerners history and point of view (the Mayan queen book looks fascinating). All in all, this is a fantastic series for kids, adults, and anyone who wishes to learn about these amazing women and a little of what drove them to be truly memorable.

i collece the royal diaries series, so this book fit nicely on the shelf. arrival time was prompt, and the condition of the book was fantastic.

Anacaona, Golden Flower / 0-439-49906-2

The Royal Diaries rarely disappoint, but "Anacaona" brings a new level of pleasure and depth to the series. Our heroine is realistically mature, as she navigates the waters of her unique culture and her own progress from child to young woman.

Anacaona's unique and fascinating culture is presented beautifully here. Her uncle, the ruler of their community, is one of the more admirable rulers in the series (as opposed to many of the European monarchs) and - while he is certainly not perfect - strives to understand his people and to govern fairly, kindly, and wisely. He trains his two potential successors (Anacaona and her brother) in all the work of the community, so that they will be wise rulers.

Anacaona's community is a unique look at a non-European community and is certain to stimulate young minds. Of particular interest is the custom of the village healer consuming his own remedies - imagine the increased empathy of the chemist who must sample his own potions, imagine the interest in learning and science which would have been stoked in the European dark ages if surgeons had to submit to their own knives and leeches alongside their patients! Although the idea may seem quaint and strange, it is hardly deniable that a doctor who must take his own medicine will be deeply interested in curing, rather than accidentally poisoning, his patients.

It is worth noting that this Royal Diary is unique among the series in that the narrator is married and gives birth over the course of the narrative. This is handled delicately, with judicious leaps in time to avoid details which might be deemed unsuitable for children - there is never any suggestion of Anacaona's marital behavior which led to her pregnancy.

Since this diary deals with the arrival of Europeans in Haiti, the novel takes a violent turn. The Europeans realistically murder and brutalize the population, including cutting off hands and shooting at small babies. The Europeans also force native women to (euphemistically) 'stay in their camp' with them - and it should be noted that these unfortunate women are accidentally slaughtered when the Haitians launch a counter-attack. Everything here is historically correct and, I believe, an important facet of history which should be known, but this book may be too violent for very small or sensitive children.

~ Ana Mardoll

The royal diary of Anacaona is excellent, staring with Anacaona's marriage to Chief Caonabo, which made her ruler with Caonabo of Maguana. Next, the couple have a baby daughter whom they name, Higuamota. The spaniards start invading Maguana, and all the rest of Haiti, which results in war between the two people. The Taino people are disappearing, but if you read this book, you will find out if Anacaona survives the war or not.

I have only read two of the Royal Diaries series and while I like them the future never seems to bode well for the history of royalty. Anacaona does have an unfortunate fate but her life is somewhat unknown. The author takes some liberties having the future queen fear for her future as if she some how knows what will come.

I do not know much about this history but what is this tale is based on. So I do not know how much is true. Reading this children's book make me want to find a more involved history of the Haitian Queen.

I picked this up wanted to know more about Haiti after the most resent events there. There is so much history that gets lost I think this is one tale that does because I have never heard of her.

These Royal Diaries are geared more towards girls being that all of them in the series are royal young girls but this book to me had less of a girly feel to it. It mentions her brother and how close they were. I think even boys would like this one.

This Anacaona, Golden flower is the best ever Royal Diaries book I've ever read. The things sounds real exotic, and I like the part when they deal with those horrible Spanish invaders. I was horrified when I saw in the epilogue that Anacaona was hanged. Whatever, it's real good!