Samurai Kids 2

April 1, 2011

Gr 5-7-The Cockroach Ryu, a band of physically challenged samurai trainees, are now on a journey to persuade the emperor to prevent a war in feudal Japan. Tension is heightened when the young people learn that the emperor has reason to kill their beloved sensei on sight, so they train with the Owl Ninja Clan to increase their chances of succeeding in their quest. Continuing with the series' theme of teamwork and accepting differences, the ninja, ordinarily considered to be an enemy of the samurai, teach the Cockroach Ryu students to approach obstacles in new ways. The text is structured in short, simple sentences, making it accessible to reluctant readers, and the adventure is sprinkled with gentle humor, adding to its general appeal. Lively black-and-white brush paintings mark the beginning of each chapter and illustrate scenes from the text, providing visual interest. On the other hand, the large cast of characters can be difficult to keep straight, and the bland characterizations and dialogue don't help in this regard. Furthermore, the book's cultural and historical authenticity is unbalanced; a description of the traditional tea ceremony is accurate and beautifully written, but in another scene, the characters are shown to eat egg rolls, which are more commonly attributed to China rather than Japan. Although this book is not for the strict historian, it will find its audience among fans of lighthearted adventure and martial arts stories.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2011

Whereas the first of the Samurai Kids series had a lagging pace, the sophomore installment's rhythm has improved, much like the martial-arts skills of its characters. Coming off their dark-horse victory at the Samurai Trainee Games, the Cockroach Ryu, consisting of six outcasts with physical anomalies from blindness to albinism, find themselves in a climate of uncertainty as they embark on the noble and frightening mission to beg the emperor for peace in a time of war--but not without help from the elusive ninja. Their voyage, narrated by the Ryu's increasingly prudent Niya, who has only one leg and must navigate the world with a crutch, is delicately crafted, creating a poetic formula that makes the tale a smoothly transitioned tableau of action and humor. Charming kernels of wisdom woven throughout are invaluable to anyone feeling on the wrong side of fortunate: "Friends make the best crutches." Authentically rendered illustrations enhance the heartfelt story, which ends with what's-in-store expectations. An illustrated character guide is generously included for those moments of wondering who's who. (Historical adventure. 10-15)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

February 1, 2011
Grades 5-8 In this sequel to White Crane (2010), the handicapped but talented students of the Cockroach Ryu school set out with their ancient samurai master, Ki-Yaga, in hopes of persuading the emperor himself to put a halt to an impending war. Along the way, they encounter a ghost, train as ninjas in a secret school, and once again make the arrogant, blustering master of the rival Dragon Ryu look like a fool. As before, theres plenty of horseplay, significant instruction in traditional samurai values, a little Zen, a bit of suspense, and a generous number of evocative, accomplished illustrations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)