Blue Fingers: A Ninja's Tale (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Koji peeked between the rain shutters of the thatched farmhouse and watched for his twin brother..." (more)
Key Phrases: shinobi shozoku, crane cloth, ninja arsenal, Dark Fire, Lord Udo, Crane Castle (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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.

From Booklist

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 Welch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (March 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618381392
• ISBN-13: 978-0618381395
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #110,804 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Ninjas Come Alive!, March 25, 2004

By A Customer

I read Blue Fingers with my 11 year old son and we both loved it. He zeroed in on action scenes and the details about how real life 15th century ninjas lived and trained (rather than how the modern media depicts them). I enjoyed the ninja philosophy, depth of relationships and rich atmosphere.

I also appreciated the balancing act the author does in portraying the ninja-warrior society without turning to unnecessary violence. Danger is always there, lurking... But not so that young readers will be too scared to read on.

One emphasis is on the ninjas' honor code. Also, Koji's personal experience as a farm boy training to become a ninja. My son was riveted to the book as Koji goes on missions to the nearby samurai's castle, using ninja tricks and techniques to help rid the valley of guns. (The book is set in 1545, 2 years after guns were first imported into Japan.) An all around good read for kids who love action but want more depth--and their parents will enjoy the unusual world depicted, too! Five stars!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A familiar story in an unusual setting, March 15, 2005

By	Lani Hardage-Vergeer (Laytonville, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What I didn't know about ninjas would fill a book, and this is the one to read. The author manages to cover the plight of the peasants in feudal Japan, the roles of samurai and ninja in society, religious beliefs, superstitions about twins and demons, customs regarding death, diet, poisons, weapons, and more, without sounding didactic. The story weaves all of these elements naturally into a gripping mystery and drama. The book reads well out loud, too.

Blue Fingers is a coming of age story in an exotic historical setting. The young hero is clumsy, lazy, and unhappy with himself. Under the discipline of ninjutsu he becomes brave, resourceful, compassionate, and self-assured yet mindful of his weaknesses.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well thought out, fun, and definately moving. BRAVO!, April 29, 2004

By	maninblue "maninblue" (Cudahy, WI United States) - See all my reviews

What an exciting look into the ancient world of a Samurai lord-ruled Japan! When peasants toiled under the hot sun all day just to hand over their rice to their fattened lords. This tale is about a boy who is for the most part normal except he is an identical twin that has been chosen to apprentice with a local dye maker for kimonos. As the tale unfolds itself, you will find yourself on the edge of your seat so to speak as you eagerly flip the pages to find out more about our young protagonist and the delightful world about him. The young man is beset with jealousy and family troubles that cause the brash young man to run away from home and into a legendary way of life. The book identifies with the boy's difficulty as a captive in a group of tribal ninjas and his later eagerness to be re-united with his family. You will feel young again as you feel cast in the boys sandals.
The book will have you turning each delicious page from the intriguing cover art to the last line in a few short days. This wonderful book is a must have for anyone interested in the mysterious ways of the ninja or ancient Japan. The book is suitable for all ages. This book has a very little violence factor so I would recommend it for any age group. Prepare for some great story-telling, well written characters you can love and hate, and a feeling of being there that is so important in a book read for leisure. Let's see more from this author!