Heart of a Samurai : : Based on the True Story of Nakahama Manjiro
Book - 2010 R Newbery Honor 2011, Y Fiction / Preus, Margi, Kids Book / Fiction / Action & Adventure / Preus, Margi None on shelf 1 request on 4 copies
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Location & Checkout Length | Call Number | Checkout Length | Item Status |
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Downtown Kids Reference 0-week checkout |
R Newbery Honor 2011 | 0-week checkout | Library Use Only |
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout |
Y Fiction / Preus, Margi | 4-week checkout | On Hold Shelf |
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout |
Kids Book / Fiction / Action & Adventure / Preus, Margi | 4-week checkout | Due 05-09-2024 |
Pittsfield Kids Books 4-week checkout |
Kids Book / Fiction / Action & Adventure / Preus, Margi | 4-week checkout | Due 05-21-2024 |
In 1841, rescued by an American whaler after a terrible shipwreck leaves him and his four companions castaways on a remote island, fourteen-year-old Manjiro, who dreams of becoming a samurai, learns new laws and customs as he becomes the first Japanese person to set foot in the United States.
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COMMUNITY REVIEWS
True story submitted by steven123505 on June 18, 2012, 10:00am a nice story, it blows my mind that this book is true
based on a true story
submitted by camelsamba on June 24, 2014, 12:40pm
Based on a true story; large narrative arc is all based on true events but the day-to-day details and conflict are imagined.
I originally checked this out for my 13yo son, and he really enjoyed it. Then I read it to the 10yo, who also enjoyed it. There is challenge, adventure, exotic locales, but also ordinary life and a bit of drudgery.It started to drag at the end, especially after he left California - or maybe even before he went to California. I did have to explain terms and set some cultural context along the way, which I suspect the 13yo learned in middle school social studies. There is a glossary at the end, and we especially enjoyed the Sailor's Lingo (slang!), but I didn't even bother with the ship terminology - that would have benefitted from drawings.
Possible spoiler: So much of the story seems like foreshadowing for Manjiro's return to Japan, and his desire to build a bridge between cultures, but once he gets there, the book fizzles out. It even feels like the tone or writing style changes there - more a dry recitation than compelling narrative. You have to read the historical note at the end to learn what all Manjiro did in life - and he did accomplish some amazing feats!
Booring submitted by menmen on June 18, 2018, 4:45pm I really feel bored about this book and that's not that interesting as I'd expect.
SERIES
Newbery Honor book - 2011.
PUBLISHED
New York : Amulet Books, 2010.
Year Published: 2010
Description: 301 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.
Language: English
Format: Book
READING LEVEL
Lexile: 760
ISBN/STANDARD NUMBER
9780810989818
0810989816
SUBJECTS
Nakahama, Manjirō, -- 1827-1898 -- Fiction.
Japanese -- Fiction.
Japan -- Relations -- Fiction.
United States -- Relations -- Japan -- Fiction.