The Boy and the Samurai [Paperback]

Erik C. Haugaard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2000

Saru, a street urchin in sixteenth-century Japan, learns to survive by his wits in a city torn by war.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Saru ("monkey") lives by begging in feudal Japan. Orphaned and abandoned, Saru watches the constant battling of the warlords and their hired samurai with disgust. He recalls his adventures as a street urchin--he runs afoul of a band of thieves, then sees them massacred; he spends the winter alone living under the shrine of a minor deity, and makes a true friend in Priest Jogen. It is with Jogen that Saru has his greatest adventure. Despite his prejudice against samurai, the boy concocts a plot to rescue the imprisoned wife of the samurai Murakami. Offering a vivid look at an unusual place and time, Haugaard ( The Samurai's Tale ) has created a character that will linger in the reader's memory. Saru's story is drawn with a verisimilitude that overcomes a potentially alien setting, and makes his reminiscences immediate and sympathetic. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up-- In feudal Japan, orphan Saru lives by his wits in a city still threatened by the conflict of rival warlords. He spends winter nights under a little-used shrine, with only a stray cat for warmth; eventually, he makes a few friends who change his life. Saru is likable, the other characters interesting, and the story often moving--the little cat is an excellent touch--but this book does not deliver. The plot moves slowly, with repetition of philosophical ideas and devices. The promised Samurai of the title shows up two thirds into the story, while other apparently major characters are set up, and then do not play large roles. The viewpoint is that of the adult looking back, and is sometimes overly mature. While Saru's insights into the plight of women in his society are laudable, they are also anachronistic. The preface is slow-moving and remote, and may alienate readers. The setting, however, is beautifully realized. Haugaard subtly conveys the foolishness of the feuding warlords, and how their behavior affects the common people; he is realistic about poverty without dwelling too much on the lurid details. The philosophy of the Samurai is introduced easily, as are the beliefs of Buddhism. The language unselfconsciously evokes the patterns of Japanese speech. Fantasy readers, primed to enjoy other cultures, may like this, as may those who have enjoyed the works of Katherine Paterson set in Japan, and Lensey Namioka's tales. --Annette Curtis Klause, Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries, MD
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (September 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618070397
• ISBN-13: 978-0618070398
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,797,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Boy and the Samurai, December 19, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Boy and the Samurai (Paperback)

Immerse yourself in this thrilling and thought provoking tale by Erik Christian Haugaard, the Boy and the Samurai. Erik Christian Haugaard is a renowned author that grew up in Denmark but later moved to other countries like the United States, Italy, Spain, and Japan - the reasons for his unique style of writing and interesting ideas. This colorful background has made him the sensational author he is.

Saru, which means monkey, is a smart young boy. He is agile, able to think on his feet, and comprehensive, three traits that aren't seen often enough. Saru is placed in the care of a wet nurse after his mother dies. His father dies later in the troubling times of 16th century Japan in a great battle. A great fire comes destroying the village, leaving Saru completely alone. He lives as a beggar in a little shrine on whatever scraps he can find. His cleverness also helps him know the ways of the world and the people around him. His many adventures lead him up to the greatest one where he helps a desperate samurai save his wife from the crazy emperor.

This book has filled me with much thoughts and interest about the Japanese culture and has prompted me to read more historical books such as this. I think that anyone who enjoys the book, The Phantom Tollbooth will enjoy this book as well.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Allow's you to truelly appreciate Japeneace culture..., September 22, 2001

By 

"bdelconin" (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy and the Samurai (Paperback)

I read the book because I had to for school. I wasn't expecting much from it; I had yet to be impressed with their "core literature" selection which included books like "Shadow Spinner," "The Golden Goblet," and "Catherine Called Birdy."

This book is better of any of the preceding. It follows an orphaned boy, "Saru," through the times of the warring states in Japan, from the 15 humdreds to 16 hundreds. Durring that time warlords had divided the states in civil war, so we find charactor's avoiding and entering battle. The first section of the book describes Japan, a place with winter's as cold as the hearts of the Samerai, and summer's as warm as the hearts of the priests.

As the book moves onward we meet a disgraced Samerai who wishes to free his wife. The book describes most of the Samerai as col blooded murderers, so it is very interesting to see how Saru slowly begins to trust the other man.

Despite its predictable outcome and rushed ending I give the book four stars for some very creative writing by Haugaard.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Set in Feudal Japan, May 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boy and the Samurai (Paperback)

A Review by Brock
This was story of a boy name Saru, who was an orphan of war. His father was killed in battle and mother died when he was born. He lived alone, under a small shrine, after his foster mother died in a fire. He later lived with a Priest at the temple in his town. When he was there, he met a samurai who told him about his wife, who was being held hostage at the kings castle. Saru then devises a plan to get her out and escape that town to the ocean.

The story overall was really good. It's basically a fictional auto-biography. The main character is telling the story as if it were from his past. The plot was really good because there wasn't a main plot; it was just what happened to Saru during his life. For example, Saru was sleeping under a small shrine one day, and the next day he ends up meeting someone who will pay him to run an errand, then it tells about that he stopped an inn from being robbed. When you're reading it, you want to find out what's going to happen to him. Also, the main character is very realistic for that period of time. The book was set in feudal Japan, so Saru, a orphan who is very poor, is a very believable character. To illustrate, Saru must bow and stop every time he sees a Samurai, because if he doesn't than he mad e be kicked or even killed. So, overall, it was a really good book.

I would recommend this to most readers, however it needs to be someone who actually likes to read, otherwise they would probably get really bored. It's also good for people who are either interested in medieval times, or Japan in general.