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.

            

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

 

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Historical Fiction, Adventure

Age – 10-13

Grade – 5-8

336 pages, hardcover

c. 2015

           A Night Divided, set in Berlin in 1961, is the story of then 8 year- old Gerta and her family waking up to find a barbed wired wall dividing their city. Her father and older brother Dominic are on the other side of the wall and cannot come back. Most of the story occurs four years later when Gerta, now 12, notices her father on the viewing platform of the wall making motions from an old song he used to sing to her involving digging. She concludes that he is asking her and her brother Fritz to tunnel under the wall.

            Attempting to escape Soviet controlled East Germany is extremely dangerous. Her best friend’s brother had tried to escape in the trunk of a car but was found and killed at the border. Now the whole family was under suspicion and being closely watched. Gerta’s mother has not the courage to do this and even her brother Fritz thinks her idea is crazy. However, Gerta is more like her father, who was involved in the resistance, and is determined to try. Eventually her brother joins her in this nearly impossible effort.  

            Nielsen does an excellent job of portraying the fear and resignation of many of the East Germans. Anyone could be a spy and trusting the wrong person could have disastrous results. Gerta and Fritz realize after a while that their apartment is bugged. Because of their father’s past political activity their family is being watched. To make matters worse it is almost time for Fritz to report for mandatory military duty. Tension continues to build throughout the story and since Gerta is the narrator the reader is drawn right into the action.

            This is a story about courage, perseverance, and the will to survive but it also a story of strong family dynamics. Even when they disagree about things, they are fiercely loyal to one another. Their mother is very against any attempt to try and escape to the west but when she realizes what Gerta and Fritz have accomplished she joins wholeheartedly in the effort. When Gerta or Fritz are exhausted, discouraged, or fearful the other one is there to support, encourage or do some of their work. Their love for one another is evident throughout the story and so is their desire to help their friends. In the end their hope, courage, and determination inspire others. In detailing a lesser known period of history, A Night Divided is also a story of true friendship, kindness, generosity, sacrifice, and regrets

The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander

 

 

The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander

Fantasy, Adventure

ages - 9-12

grades -4-7

206 pages, paperback

c. 1966

              The Castle of Llyr is a change of pace from the dramatic tension that ended The Black Cauldron. It deals with Princess Eilonwy’s background, introduces some new characters, and continues to show Taran’s growing maturity and self-awareness.  

            The story begins as Eilonwy is reluctantly preparing to travel to the Island of Mona to be trained as a proper princess by the king and queen there. Unbeknown to Eilonwy they also expect her to marry their son, prince Rhun. Taran is unhappy about her departure as he begins to realize how much he cares for her. Shortly after her arrival she is kidnapped with the help of the evil Chief Steward Magg and delivered into the hands of the evil enchantress Achren. Eilonwy is from the ancient and powerful house of Llyr whose women were powerful sorceresses. Achren hopes to use her powers to restore herself to a position of power.

            Much of the book describes the attempts of Taran, Gurgi, Fflewddur, Gwydion, and Prince Rhun to rescue Eilonwy. Prince Rhun is an interesting combination of a cheerful, good natured person and clumsy and naïve bungler who is often the cause of more problems. Taran’s relationship with him is further complicated by the fact that he is jealous of his potential relationship with Eilonwy and has promised his father, the king, to look after him and bring him back safely.  During their adventures the companions, except Gwydion, are trapped in a hut by a gigantic cat, Llyan, who has a great liking for Fflewddur’s harp playing and in a cave occupied by a depressed giant named Glew. When they finally reach Eilonwy they discover she is under an enchantment and does not recognize any of them.

            Though there is plenty of adventure I feel the real focus of the book is the growth of the characters Rhun, Taran and Eilonwy. Through his adventures, failures, and successes Rhun grows in self awareness and in the end is capable of great love and self - sacrifice. As Taran sees this he can put aside his jealousy and impatience with Rhun and accept him as a friend and companion. Perhaps the greatest change occurs in Eilonwy. At the start of the story she is the same strong willed, opinionated girl who likes getting her own way. At the end she is still strong willed but is using her will to save herself, her friends, and all Prydain at great personal cost. Again, without being didactic, Lloyd Alexander shows the superiority of humble self-sacrifice over the quest for power and glory.

           

 

            

Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Fantasy, Adventure

grade 6-8

ages 11-13

320 pages, hardcover

c.2020

       

            Race to the Sun is similar in tone to Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson Series in which mythological characters and contemporary culture are combined. Nizhoni Begay is a 7^th grade Navajo girl with a burning desire to be famous and popular. Unfortunately, the only way she has been noticed lately is for her mistakes, such as missing the basketball being thrown to her at a critical time in the game and having it hit her in the face. The distraction was caused by her newly awaken power of recognizing monsters in human form. Mr. Charles, the businessman in the stands, and potentially her dad’s new boss, is a monster. He is extremely interested in Nizhoni and her slightly younger brother Mac. He has plans to use Mac’s power over water to help his oil and gas company in fracking and to kill Nizhoni, who is a monster-slayer, so he can release all the monsters who have been imprisoned in the past. Nizhoni slowly becomes aware of Mr. Charles plans, especially when her stuffed horned toad, Mr. Yazzie, comes alive and begins to tell her more about her ancestry. Mr. Yazzie tells Nazhoni that she and her brother Mac are the Hero Twins of Navajo legend and it is their destiny to fight these monsters. This will require them to travel to the sacred land of the Navajo and find four sacred objects that must then be presented to Spider Woman. She, in turn, will help them journey to the home of the Sun. They will ask the Sun for the weapons they will need to fight the monsters. They will also have to pass four trials on their way to the Sun. Nazhoni’s best friend, Davery, accompanies them on the quest.

            Race to the Sun is an exciting, fast moving story. It is narrated by Nizhoni which allows you to see her transformation from an insecure, self-centered girl with anger management issues to a brave, self-sacrificing girl who has a healthy appreciation of both her strengths and weaknesses. The book also deals with the importance of family and cultural identity, forgiveness, friendship, and the hard work and sacrifices necessary to be a real hero. Nizhoni learns to face and conquer her fears during the trials and learns the importance of working together with others during the great battle with the monsters. She also learns the truth about her mother’s departure when she was an infant and that forgiveness can heal many old wounds. Elements of Navajo culture, such as respect for elders and appreciation of the natural world are also illustrated. References to the four sacred mountains and their guardians as well as the mention of other holy people could inspire further research into Navajo mythology.

     Race to the Sun is part of the Rick Riordan Presents series of books that seeks to find authors of minority cultures that can tell stories reflecting their cultures. Race to the Sun is an action, adventure fantasy that uses Navajo mythology as its backdrop. However, as I looked at reviews of the book, I discovered that some traditional Navajo people did not like the book. Their objections included some distortions of the traditional myths and some trivializing of the sacred figures in the myths. A further discussion of this can be found at https://americanindiansinchildrenslit. Roanhorse is a Native American but not a Navajo. However, she is married to a Navajo and wrote this book for her daughter. In the Author’s Notes she states that she wanted to share the beauty of the Navajo culture with both Navajo and non -Navajo kids and to show heroes that Navajo kids could relate to. She also identifies herself as a fantasy writer, not a cultural expert.

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Historical Fiction, Adventure

ages 11-14

grades 6-9

336 pages, hardcover

c. 2019

            Words on Fire is a thought- provoking story about a little- known period in Lithuanian history. Russia occupied Lithuania from 1795-1918. After an uprising in 1863 – 1864 there was a 40-year ban on the Lithuanian language, press and books. This was the Tsar’s attempt to make the people adopt a Russian identity, but the people resisted. Some of the most courageous people were the book smugglers who risked their lives to bring people books in their own language and about their culture.

            This story begins in 1893 when 12-year-old Audra’s peaceful and sheltered life on the family farm is violently disrupted by the arrival of Cossack soldiers who arrest her parents. She barely manages to escape to the forest with a package her mother begged her to bring to a lady in a near-by village. Audra, whose name means storm, has chosen not to learn to read or write and is deeply troubled to learn that both her parents have chosen to risk their lives to smuggle books. She decides to deliver the book but has no plans to become involved in book smuggling. However, as she meets the individual book smugglers and does learn how to read and write, she becomes an enthusiastic, and skillful book smuggler.

            The story is told from Audra’s perspective and it is interesting to watch how her thought processing changes over time. At the beginning of the book she describes herself as “the girl who watched life from afar but rarely participated.” After she has learned to read and begins to understand the importance of the books in preserving the identity and culture of her people, she looks at herself differently. “I’d seen a glimpse of myself as I wished to be, a reflection of who I might become if I allowed courage to enter my heart, or ideas to enter my head…. When I imagined the girl I wanted to be, it was the girl who smuggled books.” This transition requires a lot of painful decisions. She desperately wishes to save her parents from being sent to the labor camps in Siberia and is given the opportunity if she will betray her new friend Lukas to Officer Rusakov.

            Lukas, another young book smuggler, Milda, the woman Audra brings the first book to, and Ben, an older book smuggler, are well drawn, courageous and self-sacrificing characters. Shortly after Lukas meets Audra he tells her a version of a Lithuanian folktale involving a brave girl and an evil snake trying to steal her family farm. While telling the story Lukas comments, “we’re all at risk of becoming the snake one day. The moment we start to choose what’s easy or safe, instead of what’s right, we start to become the snake.” This is the challenge the book smugglers face every day.

            This is a book that illustrates the importance of ideas and ideals and the sacrifices that are often necessary to protect them. It shows the importance of loyalty in friendship and the costly personal sacrifices that are sometimes required to keep them. There is also a moment of humor as Audra uses magic tricks, she learned from her father to trick Cossack soldiers. An inspiring, thought provoking, beautifully written book that I would recommend.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Fantasy, Magic, Witches, Friendship, Courage, Newbery Medal

Age 11-14

Grade 6-9

400 pages

c. 2016

Each year the people of the Protectorate leave the youngest baby born in the forest to appease the wicked witch who lives there. This has happened for so long that the people have become resigned to it. However as the story opens this year’s young mother is willing to fight to keep her baby. In the end she loses the fight and becomes quite distraught.

            The truth is there is a wicked witch around but she is not in the forest. Xan, who lives in the forest, is a witch but she is gentle and kind and has been rescuing these babies for many years. She brings them to families on the other side of the forest. She feeds the babies starlight as they travel, but this time she accidently feeds the baby girl moonlight which fills her with extraordinary magic. Xan has been strangely attracted to the baby and now that she had been filled with magic Xan decided she needed to keep her. She named her Luna.

            Luna’s magic is truly extraordinary so Xan decides to lock it up inside her until she reaches the age of 13. Unfortunately Xan is not around when that happens but many other things are converging to make a very dangerous situation.

            This is an extremely well written book with many unusual and well developed characters. Xan lives with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a tiny Dragon named Fyrian who believes he is quite large. The characters from the Protectorate are also well drawn, some noble and good and some quite evil and wicked, but even the most wicked ones are shown to have some redeeming qualities, at least at one time in their history. There are interesting plot twist and much to think about in the different themes presented in the book. There are some potentially disquieting moments that deal with grief and death but not in a morbid or hopeless way and there is much humor sprinkled through the book as well.

            An especially interesting character is Sister Ignatia.

 Spoiler Alert: She is head of the sisterhood that spends their time learning many things but she is also the wicked witch who feeds off the sorrows of other people. She is the one who originated the story of a wicked witch in the forest who demanded the sacrifice of a newborn baby each year. She was not always this way. After losing her mother, father, sisters and brothers, her village and all her friends, all she had left was her sorrow and memories of sorrow. To cope she allowed her heart to turn hard and she became the “Sorrow Eater.” The book describes it this way, “there in the space where the Sorrow Eater’s heart should have been, was a tiny sphere, hard, shiny and cold. Over the years she had walled off her heart, again and again, making it smooth and bright and unfeeling.” …..”It was so hard and heavy and dense that it bent the light around it. It sucked everything inside, sorrow sucking sorrow. She turned hungry for it (sorrow). And the more she fed on it, the more she needed it.” Eventually she learned to turn her sorrow into magic. To keep her magic she continually needed to feed on other people’s sorrow. That is why she wanted to have a baby sacrificed each year. The people in the community lived under a fog of sorrow.

I don’t think the author intended this but it made me think about how some extremely pro-choice women may be dealing with their own pain from past abortions.