By Colorado Kids Advisory Board member Tori Price

Title: Kazunomiya, Prisoner of Heaven
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. NY


Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live in Japan during the 1800s? Well if so then Kazunomiya, Prisoner of Heaven by Kathryn Lasky is the book for you. This book is a story about Princess Kazunomiya; well actually it is her diary.
The story takes place in Kyoto, Japan in 1858 at the Imperial Palace. The book Kazunomiya, Prisoner of Heaven is one of many in a series called The Royal Diaries. These books are the diaries of royal people such as Cleopatra and Marie Antoinette. If you enjoy this book you will also enjoy some of the others in the series.
These entries tell the story of how Kazunomiya has to live her life as a princess, which is not the way she wants to live. She was born in the year of the Fire Horse, which is considered a bad omen. So her half brother, the Emperor, changed her birth date so now everyone believes she is13 instead of 12.
As people of the royal court welcome back the colors and kimonos for the women's tea party she realizes something is wrong. The color and blossoms are covering up something. She feels everyone knows something she doesn't. But all she can do is wait inside practicing her painting strokes, as a princess should.
I believe that this book relates to a lot of 12-year-old girls in many ways. Since Kazunomiya is stuck with a life that's confusing and hidden from the world, she has to act like a princess would. I feel like I sometimes have to live differently from other people and I feel that many other girls Kazunomiya's age would feel the same way I do.
This book would be great for girls of all ages but there is some advanced vocabulary. Overall I would say this book is a great book and even some guys might enjoy reading about Kazunomiya's troubles. So rush to the bookstore nearest you and check out Kazunomiya, Prisoner of Heaven. (February, 2005)