I completely understand why this is - Kaiulani is not only losing her birthright as a princess with the annexation, but her people are losing control of their country and their way of life without their consent. Losing the full five stars perhaps isn't its fault - it's just that the last 40 or so pages and the epilogue/historical note are SUCH a downer deluge. The first 2/3 were pretty stellar as far as this series goes. The author also makes Kaiulani's voice engaging and interesting. I especially loved that Kaiulani was real-life friends with Robert Louis Stevenson, and enjoyed his portrayal here very much. This entry in the Royal Diaries series is extremely rich in detail, both in the day-to-day activities of Princess Kaiulani's life and in the historical information regarding the overthrow of the monarchy and the annexation of Hawaii by the United States.
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