Customer Reviews

Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba, Angola, Africa, 1595

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm confused by the other reviews. I adored this book--it fascinated me maybe more than the other Royal Diaries books. I learned much of the African vocabulary in this book and how harsh the Portugese were to slaves. This book told of Nzingha's ability to improvise... When she had no chair, she called a servant to make a chair with his body... Treachery, love, and fighting for rights make this book definetely worth a try.

I know alot of people think that this book was bad or too short, but I thought it was pretty good. It didn't go on forever, and besides, it wouldn't have much more plot to go on. i did learn alot of history in the fight for Africa, and thats all I cared about, not length. It was a good book to read, and I enjoyed it

This book was not like many other of the Royal Diaries because Nzingha was not a well known royal nor was she European. This is one of the lesser known of the series but it worth a look for it's good historical references.

Nzingha's story is worth hearing, she was a powerful leader to her people and a formidable enemy against the Portugese. As with many of the other Royal Diaries, they portray the situations realistically such as the slavery the portugese enforced to the captives of Nzingha's people.

This is recommended for anyone interested in angolan and africain history. It paints a realistic picture of the times when the Europeans were ruthless for power through slavery. It demonstrates to younger readers an inspirational and courageous person such as Nzingha. I am glad I read this book, it was informational and I enjoyed learning about the history.

This book is my introduction to the Royal Diaries series, it has propelled me to seek out more from this line. I loved the story of a strong, independent, and determined young girl growing to become a woman in a male-dominated time. I feel this book was very informative and am truly disappointed by some of the reviews for this book. I do wish it was longer, as I found the story quite intriguing. Young Nzingha learns that not all your enemies are your enemies, with friends among the foe. I love the insight into the Mbundu people. I feel it was meant to give you a view into the people, not of the land of Angola. I will definitely be adding this one to the shelf for my daughter.

Well, like everyone has commented, this book was short, but in my opinion it was interesting. I do agree that the story did cut off at the best part. Overall, for a queen with such few written records about her, this book was well done.

My suggestion is that you read it in a library first, then decide whether or not you want to buy it.

I have read many Dear America books and this is my least favorite so far I have to admit. I mean you are suppose to learn about Angola and all that but since this book was so short I don't really know that much about the whole plot yet. I mean it was really too short for you to understand the plot. Just not one of the best books I have ever read.

Nzingha, Warrior Queen / 0-439-11210-9

The only thing frustrating about the Royal Diary and Dear America series is that most of the books are still only available in hardcover... and at a hardcover price. "Nzingha" is definitely a good addition to the Royal Diary series, but at approximately 90 pages for the entire novel, it feels almost criminally short. Of course, this tends to happen most with the novels constructed for historical figures whose childhood details are largely lost to history, but it still feels like some fleshing out could have been accomplished here and there.

Although "Nzingha" is short, it is definitely a worthwhile, entertaining, and educational read. Nzingha is a royal princess in a country where women are no longer allowed to rule, but her bravery, courage, wisdom, and skill all so surpass that of her brother that her people cannot help but take note of this strong princess in such troubled times. As the Portuguese continue to press forward from their shores, Nzingha struggles with the best way to study and confront her enemy. She receives schooling from a captured Portuguese priest, by the order of her father, but she remains deeply concerned that what the priest might have to teach them might change the makeup of their society, and not necessarily for the better.

I recommend "Nzingha" as a worthwhile read, but it may be more worth your money to try to find it at a library rather than to buy it outright.

~ Ana Mardoll

Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba
By Patricia C. McKissack

"I wondered what it must be like to be on a ship flying over the water to Brazil. The horror of it was beyond my understanding. Suddenly, there was noise at my door. The Pombeiros and several guards entered. 'Come with us.' Then speaking to several guards, one said, 'Hold her tight. She is a young leopard.'" (McKissack, 79)

The old saying "never judge a book by it's cover" is one truth I have never had a problem with, until I came across this one book in particular. When I first saw the Royal Diaries book "Nzignha, Warrior Queen of Matamba," I thought for sure I would have not liked it. With the front cover depicted of an African girl holding a bow and arrows, and the background that of a barren desert, I presumed the layout of the book would be anything but royal and fancy. However, little did I know, stories can sometimes be very different from one's assumption.

One out of nineteen books in the Royal Diaries series, "Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba" by Patricia C. McKissack, sets in Angola, Africa, in the year of 1595. Nzingha is an adventurous, bold thirteen-year-old girl, and second heir to the throne of Ndongo. Throughout the book, which is written in diary format, Nzingha talks about the war with Angola's bitter enemy, the Portuguese, as well as what she would do to improve the land of the Mbundu if she were Queen, though does not discuss anything too exciting in which to capture your interest. At 136 pages, the plot of "Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba" is somewhat dry and tedious, and tends to quickly move on to other subjects without a thorough explanation. I must admit however, it pleases me that the authors of the Royal Diaries series are starting to represent girls in royal families, but with cultures and backgrounds much different from that of, say, Elizabeth I or Marie Antoinette.

As an avid reader of the Royal Diaries, I am not sorry I read the book, but am rather disappointed with the complete layout of the story. Mrs. McKissack could have done a better job adding clarification and activity to the real life character of Nzingha, one of the greatest women monarchs of African history. Unless you are new to the Royal Diaries series, and are anxious to learn about the lives of various queens in history, I would not recommend reading "Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba."

Overall grade: C + (or 3)

The year is 1595, and princess Nzingha is living a life of luxury in Angola, Africa. Her father is the respected ngola of Ndongo and many predict that he will be suceeded by his first son, Mtambi. Nzingha writes about her life in Africa as an important royal in the African Royal family. Nzingha lives an active life as she goes hunting with her friends and learns about the evil Portugese. She earns her say in court and is pretty much happy with her life, until she learns that her people are being enslaved by fiendish Portugese slave-traders. Eager to gain the leadership of Ngola and respect of all, Nzingha sets out on an important mission to save her people from the realm of the Portugese Slave-traders.

I'm living in Luanda, (present day capital) Angola. I see the results of the portugese's crulity and colinazation everyday and that makes the book even more fasinating for me. The book however, is a good book for anyone and the Angolan history is fasinating. I have been to portugese milatay fort build in the 1500's and still in use. The history here is amazing especially since it's so unprotected and there are no turists or lines any where. I think that learning about it in a fictional form is worth it.