Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

 

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

Historical Fiction

Ages 10-12

Grades 5-7

301 pages – hardcover

c. 2010

            Heart of a Samurai is a novel based on the true story of Manjiro, a 14-year-old Japanese fisherman and his four companions whose boat was destroyed in a storm in 1841. They manage to swim to a deserted island and remain there for a long time. At the point of starvation, a whaling ship rescues them and offers to take them to America since Japan is closed to foreigners and natives who have left the islands. Manjiro is curious and eager to learn new things, often asking questions. He quickly learns English and catches the attention of Captain Whitfield, who eventually adopts him and brings him home to Massachusetts. Manjito continues to learn many new things, while also encountering the prejudice of many people. He eventually goes to San Francisco to pan for gold and get enough money to return to Japan. When he does return, he encounters suspicions of being a spy and is imprisoned for quite a while. Eventually he manages to convince the emperor of his innocence and to ease open the boundaries around Japan.

          While there are points of high adventure in the story, especially during the storm that destroys their boat, this is more a novel of historical fiction than an adventure story. The author includes extensive historical notes, a glossary of Japanese words, terms, and places, whaling terms and parts of a ship, and sailor’s lingo. There is also a bibliography and suggested reading as well as illustrations of Manjiro’s pencil drawings.

            The story is told from the perspective of 14-year-old Manjiro, who eventually takes the American name of John Mung. Though only a lowly fisherman Manjiro dreams of one day becoming a samurai, an impossibility in Japan. The five sections of the book begin with a quote from The Book of the Samurai. The quote that best describes Manjiro’s attitude toward life is, "Have your whole heart bent on a single purpose." This is how he approaches surviving life on the island, being a crew member on the whaling ship, dealing with the prejudices and hostility he meets in Massachusetts, the hardships of looking for gold out west and the imprisonments he endures in Japan. In the end Manjiro was united with his family and did achieve the rank of a Samurai. Heart of a Samurai is a 2011 Newbery Honor book.

            

Call of the Wraith by Kevin Sands

Call of the Wraith by Kevin Sands

Historical Fiction, Mystery, Adventure

Age - 11-14

Grade- 6-9

494 pages - hardcover

c. 2018

      

         The Call of the Wraith is the fourth book in the Blackstone Key Adventure Series. The author has indicated that there will be a fifth book and possibly more, but the fifth book is not out yet. In this book Christopher has been shipwrecked and separated from his friends Tom and Sally. He has been taken in by a kindly Devonshire farmer but has lost all his personal memories. He can remember facts but he doesn’t know who he is or anything about his past. He has been seriously ill for thirteen days and the villagers believe he has been possessed by an unseen evil. He regained consciousness only after being visited by the local witch. There are also dark, mysterious things happening in the area. Children have gone missing and the local people believe it is the White Lady, a ghost or wraith from local legend that has returned and is taking the children. A mysterious little girl, who will not speak, has also turned up in the village and is being cared for by the same kind farmer.

            Eventually Christopher is reunited with Tom and Sally, who managed to stay with the ship during the terrible storm which caused Christopher to be thrown overboard. Christopher believes that trying to find the missing children is connected to him receiving his memories. The three friends, together with the mysterious little girl they call Moppet, set out to solve the mystery. They believe that Moppet must have escaped from whoever is taking the children.

            Some dark topics, such as witches and witch trails and missing children, are explored in the book but they are balanced by themes of friendship, loyalty and humor. When Christopher, Tom and Sally are trapped inside an evil tower and Christopher explains his escape plan Tom replies, “The fact that we keep ending up in places where we need gunpowder is not something to be proud of.” There is also a very moving scene where Christopher and Tom are trapped atop a cliff facing an angry and dangerous band of Barbary pirates. Each one knows it is very likely that they will die but neither one is willing to abandon his friend. Moppet and Tom develop a very special friendship. He is the only one she trusts and she literally clings to him for much of the book. Tom, for his part, is extremely loving and gentle with her. He grew up with several little sisters who he loves dearly. Finally, throughout the entire series, there is a continuation of the warm and loving relationship between Master Benedict and Christopher. After Benedict’s death, which happens in the first book, there are times when Christopher is in danger or discouraged and he hears in his mind his master speaking words of guidance or comfort to him.

            There is plenty of action, plot twists and excitement in this book. There are less codes and puzzles to solve but the mystery of the missing children takes a lot careful thinking to unravel. The historic elements of the witch trials and the Barbary pirates are well done and add realism and interest. The Raven, mentioned in book three, is mentioned briefly in the beginning and at the end of the book, but it looks like we will have to wait until book five to find out more about him. Keep reading.

Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson

Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson

Realistic Fiction

age - 11-13

grade 6-8

300 pages, hardcover

c. 2016

         Ms. Bixby’s Last Day is the kind of book that can make you both laugh and cry, sometimes almost at the same time. It is the story of an extraordinary 6^th grade teacher, described by her students as “one of the good ones," and her relationship with three of her students. These three students, Topher, Brand and Steve, are quite different from each other yet they are close friends. The story is told from each of their perspectives in alternating chapters. In this way you begin to understand what Ms. Bixby means to each of them and what they mean to each other.

            Near the end of the school year Ms. Bixby announces to her class that she will not be able to finish out the school year. She is sick with pancreatic cancer. However, a final class party will be planned for her last day. Unfortunately, she is unable to come back for it. Topher, Steve, and especially Brand are devastated by this news and come up with a daring plan to give her an unforgettable day, complete with all the special things she shared with the class that she would like to have if she knew when her last day on earth would be. This was a writing prompt for the class. Her list included a special and expensive white-chocolate raspberry supreme cheesecake, French fries from McDonald’s, wine, a picnic on a grassy hill with friends and music from Tchaikovsky or Beethoven. Topher also decides they need a copy of The Hobbit so Ms. Bixby can finish reading the book to them.

            The way the three boys manage to acquire almost all these things is like 

 watching a slapstick comedy routine along with several heartbreaking moments. There are the descriptions of the cheesecake after it has spent the day in Steve’s backpack, “now looks like a giant, heaping turd of white and red Play-Doh mixed together. I’m guessing the heat and the running caused it to soften and then be repeatedly smashed into the sides of the box, taking a beating with every step. It’s a deformed monster of a dessert now. The hunchback of cheesecakes.” There are chase scenes, the stand off in the alley with the man who ran off with their money and tense moments between the friends. In the end, however, they band together and support each other and arrive at the hospital to complete their mission.

            How and why Ms. Bixby is so special to each of the boys is slowly revealed. She happened to see Brand one snowy day struggling with bags of groceries to bring home to his disabled father so there would be food in the house. She became his weekly ride to the grocery store. Topher noticed her one afternoon after school retrieving his artwork out of the trash because she appreciated his talent, something his over busy parents failed to notice. Ms. Bixby stands up for Steve during a conference with his over achievement-oriented father. She encourages Steve to be himself, enjoys his nerdiness and celebrates his achievements.

            This is a book about friendship and loyalty, about learning to identify one’s strengths and appreciate the different strengths of others. It is also about the love and gratitude shown to an incredibly special teacher. This book is, in my opinion, “one of the good ones.”

            A few final thoughts. I think the portrayal of the three boys was done exceptionally well. They are well developed with all their strengths and weakness in a realistic way. They can be generous and self -sacrificing and can do incredibly stupid and sometimes dangerous things, typical of middle school students. For this reason, as well as the fact that Topher reveals the Tooth Fairy is a fake, I would not recommend this book for younger students.