THINK LIKE A SAMURAI

If you’re headed to the Lethal Beauty: Samurai Weapons and Armor exhibit  at the Birmingham Museum of Art, this book will whet the appetite of your middle grade boy readers. Girls, too.  It’ a riveting book, museum trip or not.

WHITE CRAIN by Sandy Fussell, illustrated by Rhian Nest James, Candlewick Press, 2010.

 

Niya Moto, narrator, is a 14 year old boy whose father was a samurai. However, Niya can’t attend his father’s school for training because he has only one leg.

Along with five fellow students who have their own obstacles to overcome, Niya studies with sensei Ki-Yaga, an ancient but legendary warrior. Ki-Yaga teaches them not only physical skills, but mental and spiritual ones.

The humor is sly and subtle. Chapter titles like “Bad Breath and Big Feet” are gigglers.

The learning process is deep and gentle. A glossary of useful words and the 7 virtues of Bushido (samurai code) ground the story.

The kids are well defined personalities and even though they encounter great cruelties because of their lack of physical perfection, disability is only a small part of what tags each one. Sensei leads, guides, prods them into greater perspectives. Their spirit totems reveal character while friendship, loyalty, and using one’s head to think a problem through create triumphant outcomes.

This is Sandy Fussell’s debut novel. Illustrator Rhian Nest James has illustrated more than 60 children’s books. Both live in Australia.  

 

 

Escape to Another World!

If you’re snowed in, I hope this book is already in your house. Both boys and girls will enjoy the adventure. A family read in?

MIRRORSCAPE by Mike Wilks, Egmont, 2009

This is a book to get lost in, both words and pictures. The House of Thrones, The House of Mysteries, The House of Spirits. These are detailed black and white drawings of places inhabited by unusual creatures--also pictured--born in the artist/author’s imagination and let out to prowl the world the author also creates.

Mel is a bored 13 year old who is not looking forward to his life as a village weaver. He has a rare artistic talent and a boundless imagination. Both are underappreciated in a village where tasks and chores must always come before art. Then Mel is apprenticed to a master painter and his life changes forever. In the alternative world of Mirrorscape, Mel must match wits with unusual and diabolical characters to unravel secrets and escape the villains that would destroy him and his painting master.

Boys who love to turn pages quickly to stay in the midst of the action will find this book hard to put down. It’s just as much fun for girls to read. The author has created a character girls can identify with even as they cheer for Mel to overcome and paint his way into triumph.


This is a trilogy. The award winning artist and best selling author is at work on the next book, MIRRORSTORM, which will be out in the fall. I can't wait.