Usagi Yojimbo (1987), Volume 23

October 15, 2009
Grades 5-8 No library serving tween boys should be without an ample supply of Sakais venerable and highly accessible comic-book series, recently celebrating its hundredth consecutive Dark Horse issue (it has been carried by various publishers since 1984). That issue is included among others in this collection, which tells the thrilling tale of the League of Assassins' attempt to exact revenge from the good old rabbit samurai. While the stories are often hung on relatively simple hooks, the focus on Japanese historical culture and Usagis penchant for examining the moral repercussions of actions gives the Kurosawa-inspired swordplay another dimension. A standout volume in a superior series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)