Jet Black and the Ninja Wind

Gr 8 Up—At her mother's insistence, Rika Kuroi, nicknamed Jet Black, has spent her young life training in the art of combat and ninja techniques-with no idea why. Her mother dies before explaining, and when Jet travels to her family's village in Japan to lay her mother's ashes to rest, she is plunged into a complicated web of ancient mysteries and family secrets. She learns that the women of her family guard a treasure passed down through generations and sought by ruthless enemies. Action-driven and rich in history, this novel is akin to a teen Da Vinci Code with ninjas; the high-stakes plot is woven with layers of mythology, intrigue, and romance. Jet's adventures take readers through a variety of lushly described settings, from the deserts of New Mexico to the verdant mountains of northern Japan and the crowded streets of Tokyo. In its quieter moments, between breathless combat and narrow escapes, the narrative carries a strong message about the rights of indigenous peoples to protect their cultures and beliefs, drawing parallels between Native Americans and the Emishi, one of Japan's Native groups, and explores the sacred feminine as Jet awakens to her role as female ninja. Though the cinematic plot will hook readers, the third-person omniscient point of view is somewhat distancing, and a lackluster forbidden romance subplot could easily have been omitted. Jet's journey of self-discovery stands strong without a love interest. Give this book to anime fans or anyone seeking an engaging and thought-provoking read.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA