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rebecca191 recommends Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven, Japan 1858 (Royal Diaries) by Kathryn Lasky

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▾Member reviews

At first I thought the writing was a little stilted, but the story drew me in. This would make a GREAT manga. In Heian Japan (around 1100,) Mitsuko’s family is separated by violence, and she fears her sister’s soul has followed that of her murdered husband. Aided by a bird-like tengu (demon,) she searches this world and the next. An exciting adventure with humor! A glossary and short author’s note give historical background. There is a sequel, called The Heavenward Path, which SLJ says is “even more interesting.”

colvin | Jan 23, 2009 |

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▾Common Knowledge

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Series (with order)

Mitsuko (1)

Canonical Title

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Important events

Related movies

Awards and honors

Utah Children's Book Award (Young Adult Book, Little Sister, 1999-2000)

Epigraph

Dedication

First words

My name is Fujiwara no Mitsuko and I am the little sister of Amaiko.

Quotations

Last words

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

▾Book descriptions

Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 0140386319, Paperback)

As a girl in the Japanese imperial court of the 1200s, Mitsuko is shielded from reality. But when her brother-in-law is murdered, and her family taken away by a warlord, she summons the courage to venture into the netherworld. The spirit of Mitsuko's beloved sister, still devastated by the loss of her husband, wanders between Life and Death. In order to bring her sister back, Mitsuko, with the help of Goranu, a shape-shifter, must battle the merciless spirits--to the death. Mitsuko will win readers over with her determination and the forthright way she faces the powers of heaven and hell. --Kirkus Reviews, pointer review

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:57:55 -0400)

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