The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice [Paperback]

Allen Say (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1996

Living on his own in postwar Japan, a determined young boy from an aristocratic family apprentices himself to one of Japan's foremost cartoonists, in an autobiographical novel by the Caldecott Medalist for Grandfather's Journey. Reprint. AB.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Caldecott Medalist draws on his boyhood in postwar Tokyo for this autobiographical novel about a talented boy's artistic education. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A warm, sensitive portrait of growing up in post-war Japan." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review

"The Caldecott Medalist draws on his boyhood in postwar Tokyo for this autobiographical novel about a talented boy's artistic education." Publishers Weekly

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 149 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014037826X
• ISBN-13: 978-0140378269
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,078,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Allen Say was born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1937. He dreamed of becoming a cartoonist from the age of six, and, at age twelve, apprenticed himself to his favorite cartoonist, Noro Shinpei. For the next four years, Say learned to draw and paint under the direction of Noro, who has remained Say's mentor. Say illustrated his first children's book -- published in 1972 -- in a photo studio between shooting assignments. For years, Say continued writing and illustrating children's books on a part-time basis. But in 1987, while illustrating THE BOY OF THE THREE-YEAR NAP (Caldecott Honor Medal), he recaptured the joy he had known as a boy working in his master's studio. It was then that Say decided to make a full commitment to doing what he loves best: writing and illustrating children's books. Since then, he has written and illustrated many books, including TREE OF CRANES and GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY, winner of the 1994 Caldecott Medal. He is a full-time writer and illustrator living in Portland, Oregon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful book - but be prepared, March 15, 2003

By 

NCTejana (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice (Paperback)

At first when I saw that someone had given this book two stars, I was amazed ... then I read the whole review and saw the person gave very appropriate reasons. This book is excellent reading for a wide variety of people; the author had a highly unusual childhood, essentially becoming unofficially "emancipated" from his parents and living on his own from early adolescence. We learn a great deal about the thoughts and experiences of a talented author and writer who saw into a number of unfamiliar and intriguing worlds.

At the same time, I know what the reviewer means when she says there are a number of places in the story where events are scary or off-putting to many readers. The author isn't trying to write a shocker or a gross-out book, but he tries hard to be honest about his youthful life, and along with the delightful experiences he had in developing his artistic talents, there were some disturbing events that left him confused and hurt at the time. People who know his wonderful children's picture books might not be prepared for this one, in which not everything is "sweetness and light." So the lone "two-star" reviewer has done an important favor in cautioning you what to expect.

Nonetheless, young people looking for books that reflect some of the hard realities of life -- or who at least can read about them without being too discouraged -- can gain a lot from reading this powerfully account of the good and the bad in the life of a very unusual boy who grew into a very unusual man.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a high ranked book on my shelf!, March 25, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice (Paperback)

The beginning of this book is a nice, calm, peaceful story about a boy interested in cartooning. But then the story changes and is suddenly about a boy growing up, and going through adolescence. I thought some chapters were very gross, and other chapters were just really scary and frightful. I am reading this book when I am eleven, and I think that it is too old for me to read. It is about 13-15 year olds, and the problems and things people of that age group face scare me, or don't interest me. I don't really no whether to suggest or not to suggest this book, but I can say you should be older than 13 to read it, and you should be ready for a big change in plot in the middle of the book.-Katharine Manning, American School In Japan, 6th grade.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Simply Put, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice (Hardcover)

This is the best because the japanese culture is a whole new unexplored area for us 'Americans', we hardly know anything about anything in countries like Japan or China and this book displays almost the whole life of an average kid in Japan. I myself know because I used to live there. I studied there for years and I had hobbies like reading their great manga and watching their anime and this story relates to a kid like me. I love this so please if you want a great reading experiance get this and if you do read it, really read it it is truly great.