From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9--An adventure set in 16th-century Japan. Because twins are believed to be bad luck, Kojiro and Taro's parents have always tried to conceal the fact that they have two sons, not one. After Taro saves the life of a master dye maker, the man wants to reward his rescuer with an apprenticeship. The boys' parents send Koji instead, hoping the dyer will not notice the difference, but the artisan soon grows impatient with Koji's clumsy ways and sends him home. Shamed, Koji runs away and is captured in the forest by people who call themselves "grass," but who are, as he soon realizes, ninja--a mysterious group with impressive skills who have set themselves up against the ruling samurai. Under the demanding tutorial of his captor, a boy only slightly older, and other instructors, Koji grows beyond his fears and self-pity, develops a more accurate vision of himself and his society as well as a strong body, and finally becomes the ninja Blue Fingers. The author throws light on Koji's sense of failure, as well as the historical roots of the ninja and their true--rather than pop culture--goals. The plot is filled with twists and turns involving hidden identity, warfare, and the ways in which a warlord's superstitions can be used against him. Both rousing and thoughtful, this novel opens an unfamiliar time to most readers and offers an accurate look at these secretive warriors.
--Coop Renner, Fairmeadows Elementary, Duncanville, TX Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Gr. 5-8. Twelve-year-old Koji's life is transformed when he is captured in a forest and forced to attend a mysterious ninja training camp high in the mountains near his home. At first he mistrusts and is mistrusted, but soon he becomes a fully trained "blade of grass" and takes part in dangerous raids against a corrupt lord. The most engaging passages of the novel describe these raids and the warriors' sometimes brutal training regime: infants' joints are temporarily unhinged to accustom them to pain, increase their overall agility, and allow them to hide in unlikely places. Whitesel includes a lot for readers who like action stories, but she also delivers enough
ninjutsu philosophy to give older middle-graders something to think about. An author's note provides interesting insight into the mystery surrounding ninjas and explains their evolution from fighting farmers to dark-garbed terrors in the night. A glossary of Japanese terms and a bibliography of further readings are appended.
Cindy WelchCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
