Samurai Awakening

Gr 6–9—A 13-year-old American exchange student is unwittingly tied to a mystical samurai legacy in this contemporary fantasy that draws on Japanese myth and history. Staying with a host family of sword makers near the city of Himeji, David thinks his toughest challenges will be overcoming the language barrier and holding his own in school sports. He never expected to be possessed by a god and made to bear the responsibility of protecting the country from evil. Due to the author's firsthand experience as an American living in Japan, David's feelings of isolation as he attempts to adjust to new surroundings ring true, as do the details of school life. Dialogue printed in Japanese characters adds a pleasing note of authenticity, and the novel's rural setting will appeal to readers who seek to know Japan beyond Tokyo. The premise is intriguing, filled with sword fighting and legends, but the meandering plot may test readers' patience. The large cast of characters is underdeveloped, and the writing is riddled with copyediting errors. This book is likely to attract Japanophiles or martial-arts enthusiasts, but it is not polished enough to capture a general audience.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA