Product Description

The Royal Diaries proudly presents two-time Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep, whose stunning diary of sixteen-year-old Lady of Ch¹iao Kuo takes readers on a remarkable adventure to Southern China in the sixth century A.D., where Ch¹iao Kuo, a born leader called Red Bird, is courageous and keenly intelligent.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51934 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 300 pages

Amazon.com Review
Princess Red Bird, 16-year-old daughter of the Hsien king in 6th century Southern China, has been born into a world of dispute and violence. When she is sent to a Chinese colony to be educated, she must contend with the disdainful attitudes of her hosts, who consider the Hsien to be savages, even as both the Chinese and the Hsien are at constant risk of attack from the truly savage neighboring people, the Dog Heads. In reality, the princess is a fair and wise leader, even at a young age, with a brilliant mind for military stratagems. Her leadership skills are put to the test when war breaks out and the Dog Heads begin to move in.

Prolific Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep (Dragon's Gate) contributes a remarkable tale to the Royal Diaries series. This fictionalized account of the real-life princess will introduce young readers to a long-ago land with a fascinating culture and edge-of-seat adventures, and will certainly inspire some to delve deeper into Chinese history. As in all the titles in the series, a section in the back provides context and historical background. (Ages 8 to 14) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal
Gr 5-8 This entry in the series covers four months in the life of Princess Redbird, a member of the royal family of the Hsien people. Decades before, China had invaded their land and now the Hsien live in an uneasy peace with the invaders. With an eye to the future of his people, Redbird's father sends the 16-year-old to a Chinese school to learn the language and the customs of the Chinese, and also to be a representative of her people. Once there she also learns the joy of reading while studying under Master Chen. Her schooling is interrupted when a neighboring tribe, the Dog Heads, begins attacks on both the Hsien and the Chinese. The attacks escalate and all Princess Redbird's knowledge is required to help set up an alliance between the two to defeat the invaders. Before the Hsien forces triumph, many are killed, including Master Chen and Redbird's father. She, however, has discovered a talent for diplomacy and the foresight and practicality to look ahead for the good of her people. Characters are well drawn, especially Redbird and Master Chen. Historical notes are appended describing China of the sixth century and the real Lady of Ch'iao Kuo (a title bestowed years later by the Chinese). This worthy addition to this series features a feisty heroine who must take on adult responsibilities too soon.

Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. This solid addition to the Royal Diaries series takes readers to volatile southern China in the fifth century A.D., where the king of the Hsien tribe keeps a wary eye on the nearby Chinese colonists. When he is invited to send a royal child to the Chinese school, he sends his 15-year-old daughter. "Princess Red Bird," as she is called by the Chinese, learns to appreciate Chinese culture and comes to realize that if her people are to survive they must adopt many of the new Chinese ways. When war breaks out and her father is killed, the girl must work to save both peoples. An authentic sense of place, lively characters, and a fast-moving plot make this enjoyable reading, but it's the princess herself, bright, brave, and funny, who lifts the book to a higher level. She asks questions that resound even today: How can we become civilized? How do we punish the wicked? How do we create a lasting peace? A good story with lots to think about. Jean Franklin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Long but interesting
When I first got this book I expected bamboo, chopsticks, honorable monks and all that other stereotype Chinese stuff. But I saw that life in sixth century China was not that way. The Chinese were beyond bamboo but the Hsien people to the south weren't. The Hsien who lived in Southern China at the time lived a peaceful life in the forests until the jealous Dog Heads (who I think were from India or Vietnam) came and the Chinese help them. The Hsien send their Princess Red Bird to become a liasion and makes a clever plan to defeat the Dog Head Elephants. This Clever Book-loving Princess records in Five Scrolls her life living with her Father the king and then later her brother King Little Tiger who was a royal pain like this other Chinese rich colonist girl who ends up living with Red Bird. But I think lot's of kids who love books can relate to Princess Red Bird. I hope you like it as much as I have.

A must for the Royal Diaries collection and Laurence Yep fan
The year is 531 A.D., southern China. A sixteen year old Princess Red Bird (later Lady of Ch'iao Kuo) of the Hsien people is living through a time when China is slowly gaining back power and where land is always fought over. Red Bird is an educated princess as she is sent often to learn chinese and academics from a chinese colonist family lead by Master Chen. As she is the only one in her family who can speak and understand chinese, she is imperative for diaplomatic missions as an interpreter. As the Dog Heads, an enemy people of the Hsien and Chinese, start attacking, Princess Red Bird must help her people survive. She wants to join two cultures in an alliance, the Hsien and the Chinese. With her effort and wise, natural leadership skills she will shape her people.

I might be biased when I say I love this book as I am from Southern Asian descent. However, Laurence Yep gives his smooth historical fiction effort as usual and if you have a penchant for his books, it's a definite read. For everyone and the Royal Diaries fan, this shouldn't be a miss. It is far more longer than most of the other Diaries and has more plot incidents than many of the others. A very educational read for anyone interested in asian history. It's a definite recommended read. Go for it!

A fantastic addition to the Royal Diary series!!!
Princess Redbird is a 15 year old princess of the Hsien tribe. The Hsiens are thought as 'savages' among all the other tribes in China. They are constantly at war and Redbird misses her father who so often cancels special occasions for his wars throughout China with his opponent 'The Dog Heads' an evil militia. The time is A.D. 531 and Redbird wants to become part of her father's royal council as her brother has. Instead, her parents set her up at the chinese colony, away from her precious home at Kingfisher Hill. Princess Redbird writes about her times at Kingfisher Hill, celebrations she's celebrated and how one day she hopes to inherit the Hsien throne. A gift that has never been casted down on a woman. Redbird lives a sleepy and lazt life until she learns that her school has set aflame with all the people inside it! Redbird must rise to the challenge and prove herself the true warrior of the south.