In her first book for The Royal Diaries series, Newbery Honor author Patricia C. McKissack presents the very wise Nzingha, caught up in her people'...
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Nov 22, 2007
Toughlove
rated it: 
Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba, by Patrick Mckissasck, is just one of the many book series, in The Royal Diaries. Nzingha is a princess, who lives in Angola; Africa in 1595, her only wish is to hunt with her father, before she marries. She is only thirteen, but is very mature for her age. This book was written based on a true person, some of the characters names are false, but their existence is true. The book is mostly her life and written as a journal of what is going on in her life. It is
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Aug 26, 2011
Mikitara (Raychal)
rated it:
It was nice, I really liked it, it was different from those other historical-fiction diary books that I read in some way. I'm not sure how, but I do know that I read liked it and did a book report on it and got 120% WOO!! Thanks Spedwards. >:DDD Those two will always be my favorite teachers (along with Mrs. White).
It's Angola 1595, centered around Nzinja, princess of the Mbundu people. She is willing to fight for her people, to do anything; but alas, she has one of those dreaded thi More...
It's Angola 1595, centered around Nzinja, princess of the Mbundu people. She is willing to fight for her people, to do anything; but alas, she has one of those dreaded thi More...
Jun 16, 2011
Autumn
rated it: 
Interesting to read about such a fascinating woman. Nzingha is a strong, intelligent leader. This particular story also offers insight into the history of the invading Portuguese and the slave trade they ran from Africa to Brazil. Chilling to read about that.
The brief history of Nzingha portrayed here is interesting—she was an amazing leader who lived into her 80’s leading her armies to battle with her life-long loyal sisters and denouncing the slave trade—but I wanted more about her l More...
The brief history of Nzingha portrayed here is interesting—she was an amazing leader who lived into her 80’s leading her armies to battle with her life-long loyal sisters and denouncing the slave trade—but I wanted more about her l More...
May 06, 2011
Denise
rated it:
The people, places, customs and events in the book are historical. Nzingha (NZIN-gah) was a woman, a warrior, a general and a queen of her people (the Mbundu) in southwestern Africa (modern day Angola). She spent her entire adult life fighting against colonization of her beloved land by the Portuguese and the Dutch. She resisted the actions of slavers who wanted her to capture other tribes and sell them to the slavers for transport to Brazil and the Caribbean. Living to be 82 years old in the fo
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Oct 01, 2011
Grace
rated it: 
I borrowed this from the library becuase of fond memories of reading other books from this series a number of yours ago as a tween. This book lvied up to those memories and was a fun ascape back into those years, and I recommend it to anyone just arriving at them. The only thing I'd say, is that the book and it's epilogue made a focus of Nzingha being against slavery, when in fact, she was merely against slavery as practised by europeans, not that of her own people. And as commendable as her lif
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Jan 10, 2009
Rachel (Sfogs)
rated it: 
I loved this book but at the same time was deeply saddened by it, in that all her life Nzingha fought the Portuguese and yet they never managed to save their homeland (now part of Angola, Africa )from the invasion. This has happened all over the world, with many different invaders, Humans seem to like invading. But worse of all I like is the slave trade which still continues from countries like the Congo, to many places in the world. Many Angolan slaves were taken to Brazil and America. In Brazi
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Nov 28, 2011
Hannah
rated it:
I loved Nzingha, because she is like the most popular person in Angola today. She was the only female Ngola, which is the ruler of the country, because her power hungry half brother killed her son and grandma to get the crown. Nzingha is a perfect example of a tomboy. She would rather hunt with her father anyday, then be the ruler of her country, but she was good at both. I love that she would call a servent to kneel down so she could sit on him. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read
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Mar 09, 2011
Ana
rated it:
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 h More...
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 h More...
Jul 02, 2009
Nadia
rated it:
I enjoyed this book so much, I read it very fast like for couple of hours only or so, but I am sure I will keep it in my bookshelf, in case I'll have children I want them to know about the life of this remarkable woman.
I am not Angolan but curently I live in Luanda, and the busiest street here is named Gingha (or, Nzingha). I took me sometime to understand that Nzingha was an Angolan queen, who fought for her kingdom against colonialist (portuguese) and slavery. I was amazed to hear More...
I am not Angolan but curently I live in Luanda, and the busiest street here is named Gingha (or, Nzingha). I took me sometime to understand that Nzingha was an Angolan queen, who fought for her kingdom against colonialist (portuguese) and slavery. I was amazed to hear More...
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May 04, 2010
i wrote this poem called Women, to show that girls were not really that important to the men, except to marry off.
almost thirteen
i have into
womanhood.
i will be presented
with other girls,
all elegible to marry.
before i marry,
i want to hunt with
father.
one time.
but he hardly notices.
He has a Daughter.
almost thirteen
i have into
womanhood.
i will be presented
with other girls,
all elegible to marry.
before i marry,
i want to hunt with
father.
one time.
but he hardly notices.
He has a Daughter.
Apr 24, 2011
Kaito
rated it:
Love these stories because they give me a sense of history and culture from another land, but also the thoughts and feelings of a person that lived there in that time. Love this one because she, wanting to be like a boy and a warrior, is like me who isn't a girly girl but one of the guys.
Jan 02, 2012
Tria
rated it:
I LOVED this book. Believe it or not, I read this book while i was in middle school. It was kind if difficult for me to understans because it had many words that were in the Afican language,but i did understand that she was a true warrior.
Dec 26, 2011
Patrice
rated it:
I really liked this extraordinary tale of a warrior queen who recognized the real threat of European slave trading and organized the most significant movement to defend against. She is amazing.
Sep 08, 2011
Emily
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She's brave. I doubt anybody who read the same material would argue about this. I have nothing to praise about the plot, most of it were about slavery, man-dominance and fixed marriages.
Mar 12, 2011
Tiffany
rated it:
This was my least favorite Royal Diaries book so far. The story ended so abruptly; it seemed like the author just got tired of writing the book so she stopped.
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Nov 11, 2010
☛Posie♥
rated it:
My mom handed me this book to read for school, and it was great! A quick read, but well written. I loved the descriptions, and the characters are great.
Jun 02, 2011
Cinward
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Would have liked a bit more depth and fleshing out of the story, like her describing the hunt with her father and such. Otherwise it was quite good.
May 08, 2008
Katey
rated it:
CIP/Summary:Presents the diary of 13 year old Nzingha, a sixteenth century West African princess who loves to hunt and hopes one day to lead her people against the Portugese slave traders.
Part of the Royal Diaries series, Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba, offers the reader a look into the culture and history of Angola through a very relatable first person account of events. Though some elements of Nzingha's story have been fictionalized, readers ages 10-13 will find the princess's More...
Part of the Royal Diaries series, Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba, offers the reader a look into the culture and history of Angola through a very relatable first person account of events. Though some elements of Nzingha's story have been fictionalized, readers ages 10-13 will find the princess's More...
Jun 12, 2009
Madeline
rated it:
Interesting idea, but it is really hard to make an interesting book in the form of a diary; this one is no exception.
Aug 03, 2011
Rojo
rated it:
This was a good story even though I couldn't pronounce some of the names!
Mar 22, 2011
Add
rated it:
I liked it a lot, don't really know why but I did...
Read it in one day...
Read it in one day...
Jun 23, 2008
Seven
rated it:
Warrior Queen and General of her people in Angola, This is set in 1595. This is a wonderful book of history we all should know about. Reading this book made me do more research on Nzingha and how she fought the Portuguese in taking her people as slaves to Brazil and the Caribbean islands along to South Carolina many years later. She was not joke she not only was a queen but a general also. This is a must read to woman, and all people of color.
Oct 10, 2008
Heather
rated it:
I really liked this book (so it should be a 4 star) but I felt like they ended it too soon. It was almost over before it started. This is one of a series of fictional stories based on real women in history. They are juvenile fiction and told as if from a diary. The book includes factual timelines, pictures, and family trees in the back. This is the first one I've read. I will definitely try others.
Mar 26, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
Interesting topic, but needed to be longer and have more detail. The characters were very underdeveloped and the book was very short, less than half the length of the average Royal Diaries book. Disappointing since it covers such a little-known period in history.
Sep 16, 2008
Chris
rated it:
GREAT children's book. Interesting way to learn about the history of the country that is now Angola. I'd recommend it... but I'm not giving more than two stars because hey, it's not award winning literature. Although it could be for the 7-12 age range...
May 27, 2011
Shannon
rated it:
If not the shortest, one of the shortest in the RPD series. I liked how she was a warrior and a royal. She was a but more obsecure than many of the europen princesses and not much is truely know about her. I liked this one though.
