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Heart Of A SamuraiStock informationGeneral Fields
Special Fields
DescriptionIn 1841 a Japanese fishing vessel sinks. Its crew is forced to swim to a small, unknown island, where they are rescued by a passing American ship. Japan#146;s borders remain closed to all Western nations, so the crew sets off to America, learning English on the way. *STARRED REVIEW* "It#146;s a classic fish-out-of-water story (although this fish goes into the water repeatedly), and it#146;s precisely this classic structure that gives the novel the sturdy bones of a timeless tale. Backeted by gritty seafaring episodessalty and bloody enough to assure us that Preus has done her researchthe book#146;s heart is its middle section, in which Manjiro, allegedly the first Japanese to set foot in America, deals with the prejudice and promise of a new world. By Japanese tradition, Manjiro was destined to be no more than a humble fisherman, but when his 10-year saga ends, he has become so much more." --Booklist, starred review *STARRED REVIEW* "Illustrated with Manjiro#146;s own pencil drawings in addition to other archival material and original art from Tamaki, this is a captivating fictionalized (although notably faithful) retelling of the boy#146;s adventures. Capturing his wonder, remarkable willingness to learn, the prejudice he encountered and the way he eventually influenced officials in Japan to open the country, this highly entertaining page-turner." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
AwardsShort-listed for Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award (Grades 6-8) 2015. Author descriptionMargi Preus is the author of The Peace Bell and two forthcoming books for young people as well as co-author of The Legend of the Ladyslipper and A Book of Grace. She also writes and co-writes plays, sketches, adaptations, comic operas and theatrical titbits for a variety of children's and adult theatre companies. |