From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6–ShahnaK'in Yaxchel Pacal, "Princess Green Jay on the Wall," is the daughter of King Hanaab Pacal of Lakamha City (now Palenque). She will become a "xoc," or reader and accountant, to her royal husband, as her mother was before her. Princess Green Jay is betrothed to K'ak Yipyaj Chan K'awil, "King Fire Keeper," in Xukpi (modern Copan). This alliance allows the author to discuss the varying terrains and political situations in Mesoamerica in A.D. 749, as Princess Green Jay and her entourage travel across the Mayan empire to her new home. However, the protagonist's diary entries provide only the briefest look into this culture and history; and many things, such as their intricate dating system, go unexplained. Also, because the characters are called by many names and parts of names, it's difficult to find a specific entry in the glossary, and there are no pronunciation guides.–Lynda S. Poling, Long Beach Public Library, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 6-9. This entry in the Royal Diaries series takes readers to 749 C.E. Mesoamerica. Thirteen-year-old princess ShahnaK'in Yaxchel Pacal is chosen to marry the King of Xuchpi. First, though, the spoiled princess faces a long journey to her new home, which, as it turns out, brings her face to face with everything from natural disasters to human enemies. The text is dense, and Kirwan's descriptive prose has an archaic flavor; readers may struggle with the vocabulary and transliterated names (the appended glossary lacks pronunciations). What readers will like best is ShahnaK'in herself, an animated, independent character, whose commentary incorporates interesting details of Mayan culture (including descriptions of shrunken heads and body piercing that may make some readers shudder) as well as a sense of universal issues--from homesickness to developing self-reliance. Supporting materials include historical background, a family tree, and notes; illustrative material was not available in the galley. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
A political marriage is arranged between the thirty-three-year-old king of Xukpip and Princess Green Jay, the thirteen-year-old daughter of the king of Lakamha. The two are paired because of similar horoscopes -- and Green Jay possesses skills that will be valuable to her husband-to-be: She can read and write. Author Anna Kirwan relates fascinating aspects of ancient Mayan culture as she shares the young princess's physical and emotional state from the betrothal, with its distressing rituals, through her arduous journey to a foreign land and people, and a husband who is a complete stranger.

ANNOTATION

In 749, the Maya princess Green Jay, of the Kingdom of Bacal, writes in her diary about her arduous journey to Xukpip to meet King Fire Keeper, her future husband.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Bestselling author Anna Kirwan transports readers to the realm of Bacal, where the thirteen-year-old daughter of King Hanaab Pacal embarks on a gripping and pivotal journey. Kirwan's lyrical entries track the lady of Palenque as she starts out on her quest to meet her husband-to-be, who is a stranger to her. A keen observer and storyteller, the princess records her own steps into adulthood, as she faces countless obstacles along the way.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Heidi Hauser Green

Step into the world of Mesoamerica in the year 749 A.D. in this addition to the "Royal Diaries" series. Thirteen-year-old ShahnaK'in Taxchel Pacal, also known as "Princess Green Jay on the Wall," has recently lost her mother. Now, her father, the King of Palenque, is sending her to marry. She is betrothed to 33-year-old K'ak Yipyaj Chan K'awil, called "Fire Keeper," and he is ascending to the throne once occupied by his father who has died. And so the story begins. Princess Green Jay is on a trip from her childhood home in Lakamha City to her future home in Xukpi. Her diary chronicles her travels and concerns as she goes to meet her new husband. It provides vivid, textual pictures of the green, growing land, while at the same time exploring the difficulties of the journey, including the death of a traveling companion. Anna Kirwan strives to provide a detailed first-person account of the history and culture of the people, and her characters are based on an actual royal family that existed. She also provides a detailed historical note. However, this book may be less accessible to readers than other works in the series. Characters are often referred to by several names, including shortened forms of their names, and this can make the story difficult to follow. Furthermore, the lengthy descriptions of the scenery distract the reader from the story and its characters. Historical materials included are a map of the Mayan empire, pictures of sculptures and scenery, the family tree of the Bacal lord, and a glossary. 2004, Scholastic, Ages 9 to 14.

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