Preus, M. (2010). Heart of a samurai. New York: Amulet Books.
Summary
Manjiro is only 14 years old when a terrible storm washes him and his four companions onto a tiny island after a simple fishing expedition. They are eventually rescued by an American whaling ship but both groups distrust one another. The captain, William Whitfield, forges a bond with Manjiro and when he asks him to come along, Manjiro gives up everything that he knows and sets sail for America making him the first Japanese person to reach America.
Review
What can I say? I am a sucker for a great adventure at sea. This is a great book for tweens to read about the first person from Japan to visit America in 1843. They will become motivated as they read about someone who started with nothing and took a chance that changed his life and the history of the world.
Genre
Historical Fiction
Reading Age/Interest Level
10-13 years/Tween
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