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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Adventure Story,
By
This review is from: Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior (Hardcover)
I'm a long way from this book's demographic - yet I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
It is well written, fast moving, with a solid plot and plenty of period detail about life in Japan in the early 1600's. One historical writer wrote the key is not what the author puts into the book - it's what the author leaves out. It's very easy for a historical novel to be overwhelmed with detail. This book does not suffer from that. There is enough about the times - large and small facts, Japanese words, etc. - to give one a feel for the times. There isn't too much to get in the way of the story. Although the main character is a young man, there is a strong female character, as well. Brave, strong, wise - she doesn't depend on the young man to be successful. I think girls as well as boys will enjoy this novel. And I look forward to the author's next one!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Solid read if you're into Japanese culture and history,
By Dave Bly (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior (Hardcover)
Overall, a solid read.
First, the cons: The book isn't very imaginative. The plot is nothing special; half the plot points seem to come from The Last Samurai. A lot of narrative, which can be seen as a con because it slows the pace of the read. The pros - I, however, loved the vivid descriptions, no matter how long they were. Descriptions of Tokaido Road and the cherry blossom garden and the ivory sword of legend. The author does an excellent job of conveying the serene beauty of ancient Japan. The biggest strength of the story? Its authenticity. Bradford is clearly very familiar with Japanese culture and history. As a student of world history and of Japanese culture myself, I was able to appreciate the little details (small cultural customs) Bradford included, that would have escaped me had I read it several years ago. Everything is authentic; the mannerisms, history (the Portugese in Japan), customs (from the concept of forgiveness to the noisy slurping of noodles), the language - everything. The martial arts details are also authentic. The fight scenes are solid, but in an unusual way. They are not breathtaking and gripping, true, but they are enjoyable nonetheless for any samurai buff. Akiko and Matsumoto are flat characters, but Jack and Yamato are more interesting in their development. By far my favorite character was Sensei Yamada (brought Mr. Miyagi to mind), but I still felt the author could have done more with him. His "pearls of wisdom" were hilarious, I wish there had been more of them. Overall, nothing extraordinary, and perhaps for those uninterested in Japanese culture or history, this won't make for a great read. Basically, just go in with the right expectations and you'll enjoy it. It's not a thriller with deep, intricate characters. It's a simple yet authentic glimpse into samurai-age Japan filled with samurai vs ninja battles, katanas and wakazashis, martial arts, etc. If you like Japan and its culture/history and don't mind an average book in terms of storytelling/plot, then this might be a good read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent choice for LYRC!,
This review is from: Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior (Hardcover)
Know what the best thing about this "Young Samurai" series is? "The Way of the Warrior, Book 1" is two years old--meaning that there are two more books already in print--meaning that the reader doesn't have to wait for the next book to be published! "Young Samurai" is a fantastic read in the middle school category! (Please note that the YA designation does not preclude adults from enjoying the series!)
Jack Fletcher. No need to write this name--it's one the reader will remember. Akiko. Yamato. Masamoto. Dokugan Ryu. Key characters in Book 1: The Way of the Warrior. At twelve Jack is a rigging monkey on board his father's ship, a job that will prepare him for an important scene much later. Alas, when the ship and crew finally reach the Japans, the ninja Dokugan Ryu and his gang slip aboard the ship in the dead of night and kill everyone on board except Jack. He escapes with his life--barely--because Daimyo Masamoto, the local lord, and his samurai chase off the ninjas and rescue Jack. Although Jack loses his father, he does save his father's rutter, the only book of its kind on the seven seas, a map of the oceans. And that was what Dokugan Ryu was seeking. The rest of the novel is fraught with several encounters between Jack and this evil ninja intent on taking that rutter. Let the reader not focus on just this amazing boy, who is adopted by Masamoto to the consternation of his own son, Yamato. Yamato's older, highly respected brother was killed by Dokugan Ryu and now Yamato lives in his shadow. There's also Akiko, a beautiful young girl, also twelve, also a samurai in training. This is 17th century Japan, the period of the samurai, a period parallel with an earlier Medieval Europe and knights. But the customs differ, of course. Instead of eggs and bacon for breakfast, Jack gets a bowl of rice and pickled vegetables. Saving face is very important to the Japanese. This Jack learns the hard way and makes an enemy of Yamato, the daimyo's son. The story digs in when Masamoto invites Jack, Akiko, and Yamato to train at his samurai school in Kyoto. Bushido--the Way of the Warrior with its emphasis on courage, loyalty, honesty, benevolence, self-control, sincerity, and honor becomes the whole-life policy for Jack to learn and inculcate into his being. He meets derision and opposition initially because he is blonde-haired and blue-eyed, a stand-out physically in homogeneous Japan. "Gaijin" (foreigner) is the word he must obliterate through his actions and following of the code. I loved this book for several reasons. Jack Fletcher reminded me of Alex Rider, another marvel-making main character of another series. Instead of a secret agent, Jack is becoming a samurai. Another reason is its setting. Japan becomes integral to the story, not just as a physical setting but a cultural one. Readers, especially young adults, will get an idea of food, culture, language, a mindset that is Japanese and thus broaden their horizons and world view. A third reason is the empowerment of girls. One of the primary characters, Akiko, is not only Jack's friend and cultural teacher, but a fellow samurai-in-training. I love that! "Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior" is one of the nominees for the Louisiana Young Readers Choice Awards for 2012. Each state has its own nominees, although there are often commonalities. Books are promoted from the time of announcement until voting in late February (2012). "Young Samurai" is part of the list for Grades 6-8.
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