Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven, Japan 1858 [Hardcover]

Kathryn Lasky (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

Intrigue and danger increase as Princess Kazunomiya's once-sheltered life in nineteenth-century Japan changes, in Newbery Honor author Kathryn Lasky's latest addition to THE ROYAL DIARIES series.

Kazunomiya, along with her royal family, is thought to be a divinity, descended from the goddess of the sun, and she lives an extremely sheltered life. However, when a Japanese general signs a treaty with the white-faced men from America, uncertainty and turmoil erupt in the kingdom. But the external threats do not compare to the tangled intrigue, romance, and politics that dominate the imperial palace, as wives and queens plot to destroy Kazunomiya and her mother.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8–Princess Kazunomiya, 12, meets and falls in love with Prince Arisugawa, to whom she has been promised for the past eight years. Suddenly everything changes and she must marry someone else to increase the political power of the family. The plot is basic and timeless, with a mixed-up love triangle and an arranged marriage, but it is both complicated and enhanced by the numerous details and descriptions of a royal life in Japan in 1858. While accurate and informative, the story gets too bogged down with the details of historical events. Fans of the series will welcome this addition, but it is unlikely to attract new readers.–Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439164850
• ISBN-13: 978-0439164856
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #620,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi Readers! Thanks for coming by my author page. I've written all sorts of books - from fantasy about animals to books about science. One of my favorite animal fantasy series, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, is a major motion picture. I liked writing about Ga'Hoole so much that I decided to revisit that world in a new series, Wolves of the Beyond. Visit my website, www.kathrynlasky.com to see a slide show about the real wolves I researched for the series and for the latest update on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole movie. All my best, Kathryn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good new book from the Royal Diaries series., August 15, 2004

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven, Japan 1858 (Hardcover)

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.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice story about an era of change, September 22, 2004

By 

hiphopgirl_1000 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven, Japan 1858 (Hardcover)

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.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest eras of change!!, July 15, 2005

By 

Toni Masters - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven, Japan 1858 (Hardcover)

12 year old, Kazunomiya is a virtual prisoner living in luxury behind the vast walls of the Japanese Palace.She is born in the year of the fire horse, which is a bad omen, especially when her father died after her birth, so they made her elder her age by one year.Kazunomiya, who lives her methodical life behind the palace walls, is going to find a new change in her life.

Paled skin people called, Americans are appearing at the Japanese boundaries and accepting trading rights from the Japanese.It is at this time too that Kazunomiya learns that her prince, she had known all her life was not going to marry her.Her half-brother the Emperor, wants her to marry the young Shogun of Japan, who is pathetic and stupid.Kathryn Lasky has created a beautiful character within the pages of this book, I sincerely congratulate her!