Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting:
- Japan, the United States, Hawaii,
- Whaling Ships
- 1841-1852
AR BL: 5.4
AR Points: 8.0
Awards: Newbery Honor Book
"We can never go back to Japan, you know, " Goemon said, staring across the sea.
"Why not?"
The law says, "Any person who leaves the country and later returns will be put to death."
They brooded on this in silence.
Finally, Manjiro said, "But why?"
"Because, if we were to encounter any of the foreign devils, we would be poisoned by them."
"Poisoned!" Manjiro said.
"Maybe not our bodies, but they would poison our minds with their way of thinking. That's why no fisherman are allowed to go very far from the coast -- they say contamination lies beyond the reach of the tides. The barbarians would fill our heads with wrong thoughts!"
Heart of a Samurai is a great historical adventure book, based upon a TRUE story. Manjiro is a young Japanese boy who must help provide for his family as a fisherman. When a violent storm destroys the fishing boat, Manjiro and his friends find themselves stranded on a deserted island with little food and water, but that is only the beginning of Manjiro's story. An American whaling ship rescues Manjiro and the rest of the crew from the fishing boat. Manjiro and his mates do not know what to make of the strange looking men who they have always considered "barbarians."
Unable to return home to Japan because of the strict laws isolating Japan from the rest of the world in the late 1800s, but not sure of what the "barbarians" might do to them, Manjiro and his mates must make the best of their lives. Manjiro, always curious, asks lots of questions, begins to learn English, and soon joins the whaling ship crew on a whale hunt. As Manjiro continues to ask questions and learn, he catches the eye of the whaling ship captain. The Captain soon makes Manijro an interesting offer. What will Manjiro do? Should he take the captain's offer or should he stick with the other Japanese fishermen?
This book is full of the exciting history and fascinating information about the early whaling industry, the U.S., Japan and Hawaii in the late 1800s (Hawaii was not a state then), and the true story of a young Japanese fisherman who dreamed of being a Samarai. The illustrations in the book are reproductions of drawings actually created by Manjiro. Also included is a glossary to help readers understand unfamiliar sailing and whaling terms and a bibliography for further reading for those interested.
Overall the book moves at a quick pace, although some may find some small sections drag a bit. Stick with it, the pace picks back up again fairly quickly.
This website also offers more information about Manjiro's adventures.
