Journey centuries back to the West African City of Angola, where Portuguese slave traders are beginning to invade the land. Readers meet Nzingha, daughter of the powerful King Kiluanji. Although she is but a young girl, Nzingha may have the wisdom to help her father and lead a troubled nation.

		First Month of Mbangala The Season When the Grass is Burned So here I am in the garden writing...If these words have magic, then I will use them to plot and plan a way to drive the Portugues from our land. And maybe one day my pages will tell others that I, Nzingha, first daughter of Kiluanji, was a Mbundu, a powerful people, who are free and unafraid to fight for our homeland of Ndongo in the Kwanza River Valley. Later that same evening My sisters have found me. Kifunji cannot resist teasing. She gives a big laugh. "Writing is good for you, sister. To see you sitting quietly is such a rare pleasure. Isn't it better than hurling a spear, or wrestling some boy to the ground?"...I am accused of being independent. It is true, I suppose. For I would rather be kept in an open basket instead of a lukata — a box.