Review: Heart of a Samurai, by Margi Preus

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HEART OF A SAMURAI
Margi Preus
Amulet Books,  
August 27, 2012
HC, 304 pp, $15.95
978-0-810989818










HEART OF A SAMURAI  is as close to a Perfect Storm adventure for the YA audience as you can get. The Newbery Honor novel is based on the life of Manjiro, a shipwrecked and stranded fourteen year old boy who lived in Japan in the 19th century. In the story, Manjiro and four companions are stranded on an island off the coast of Japan. Desperate, scared and faced with a vague and tenuous fate, the serendipitous passing of the whaling ship, the John Howland renders their rescue possible. There is no chance that the ship will take them back home. In 1841 Japan is a closed country, the borders are sealed to all coming and going. No foreigners were allowed to enter, and returning countrymen could face harsh repercussions, imprisonment and possibly death. The boys fear the sailors are barbarians as they have never encountered western people and their behavior often shocks them. Ironically, the Americans view the Japanese boys with equal mistrust and fear. Fortunately for Manjiro, he is befriended by the captain. When Captain Whitfield witnesses the boy’s keen, savvy and quick response to an emergency, he decides to teach him the whaling trade. Upon their return to Massachusetts, he is adopted by the captain and his future looks bright. He embraces the dangerous life whaling as he journeys the high seas, but his dream of becoming a samurai appears beyond his reach. How could a fisherman’s son ever hope to be one of the chosen samurai? HEART OF A SAMURAI is full of adventure, mystery, historical facts and page turning drama. The character’s personalities are genuine, warm with a few crusty edged sailors thrown in. Preus provides historical facts, glossary and extensive bibliography for further reading. The reader becomes witness to whaling scenes including the Nantucket Sleighride guaranteed to be memorable and heart stopping. Manjiro told his story in four books that were published in 1852, a valuable resource for Margi Preus when writing her book. HEART OF A SAMURAI is a whopping whale of a tale, wrapped around the history of Japanese and American world trade and cultural relations. Suitable for upper elementary, middle school and above.


Wisteria Leigh
January 6, 2013

DISCLOSURE: THE COPY OF HEART OF A SAMURAI WAS PURCHASED BY WISTERIA. THE REVIEW IS THE REVIEWERS CANDID OPINION.


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2013].

Review: The Bloodletter's Daughter, by Linda Lafferty

 

THE BLOODLETTER'S DAUGHTER : A NOVEL OF OLD BOHEMIA
by Linday Lafferty
Amazon PublishingAmazon Publishing
978161218465
512 pages-pp. 
September 4, 2012
$14.95

 




Born to King Rudolf’s mistress, young Giuglio believes his mother a whore. If he had been born to the queen, he would one day inherit the Hapsburg Empire. In deep contemplation at Prazsky Hrad, the royal castle in Prague, he tries to decipher the Coded Book of Wonder. It is a miserably cold day in February of 1599, but his gaze on the bare-breasted bathmaids offers warmth, for he knows they hold the secret to many mysteries and quiet the voices in his head. The king would do anything for his son. It soon becomes evident that Giuglio, called Don Julius, is mentally disturbed, frightfully so. When his father learns of his son’s continued sexually deviant and violent behavior, he is exiled to a part of Bohemia in order to protect the Hapsburg Empire from public gossip and secure his son’s safety.
Rudolf II sends for the bloodletter to treat his son. The bloodletter’s daughter, Marketa, accompanies her father, as it is her wish to become a surgeon. Her presence calms Don Julius, who refuses to allow anyone else to apply the blood-sucking leeches to his skin. Marketa’s life is in serious jeopardy when she fails to see the danger of his erratic lunacy.
Linda Lafferty writes as if she were creating a movie screenplay. She captures the essence of Don Julius’ demonic sociopathic behavior with precision and detail. He is a disturbing character; the reader will shudder while experiencing his depravity. Marketa, on the other hand, trusting and virginally pure, is the polar opposite. Based on the life of Don Julius, this debut novel by Linda Lafferty will offer readers suspenseful drama.  Highly recommended-five star rating.

DISCLOSURE: I was sent a free copy of this book from HNR to review for their publication. The review submitted above is my unbiased honest evaluation. This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Society periodical Issue 62, November 2012. 
http://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-bloodletters-daughter-a-novel-of-old-bohemia/
 


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2013].

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

OWL BABIES
Written by Martin Waddell
Illustrated by Patrick Benson
Candlewick Press
2002
Picture Book: Age 2-8, Pre K-Grade 3
9780763617103

Themes: family, caring, feelings



Owl Babies is one of my favorite children's books to read aloud.  I teach special needs students and ELL students who have responded with enthusiasm when they hear this story.  As a media specialist I teach technology skills and information literacy skills and often use technology with the students after they have listened to a story. With Owl Babies, students have created their own Pixie slides as they recall a favorite part of the story.  Where the author uses speech bubbles, the students are able to relate the visual to the text dialogue.  I was so thrilled to discover this video slideshow that will have an even greater impact on their comprehension.  The illustrations by Patrick Benson are so vivid, they capture the adorable expressions of the three babies, most especially Little Percy.  This will be a real treat for my students. Take a look.....



Disclosure:  I own a copy of this book that I purchased.

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2013].

2013 Reading Challenge

 

 

Bookworms Dinner will participate this year in.......

War Through the Generations 2013 Reading Challenge

hosted by Anna and Serena

 

 

This year the challenge theme is the American Revolution.  What a fascinating period of history. I can't wait to share some of the books I read throughout the year. I hope to read a broad and diverse selection of genre related to this war. My reviews will be listed here and posted on War Through the Generations as well. Anna and Serena have provided a recommended reading list for anyone who may want to reference their annotated bibliography. 

New Year 2013

 

 

With All My Best Wishes For An Amazingly 

Happy New Year!!!

 

Thank you all for visiting my blog, reading, commenting and your continued blogger friendship and support. 

All my best to the phenomenal authors who write books that inspire me.

Happy New Year to all the publishers who send me so many wonderful books to feed my passion.   

 

  With gratitude and thanks.....I am truly blessed!

 

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2013].

 

THIS IS NOT MY HAT, by Jon Klassen

  

THIS IS NOT MY HAT
by Jon Klassen
Candlewick Press, 
October 9, 2012
978-0763655990
40 pages, Age: 4+




 





Another winner from Jon Klassen has delighted my classes.  THIS IS NOT MY HAT, is a eye catching picture book about a little fish takes a perfectly sized hat for his own head from a rather larger sleeping fish.   Swimming around as he tries to escape,  the little fish believes he has the perfect solution to hide from the big fish.  Does he keep his little hat? Readers will be on edge trying to figure out what happens at the end. The story provides a perfect opportunity to ponder a moral question. 


Jon Klassen won a Geisel Honor Award from the ALA in 2012, and the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award for I WANT MY HAT BACK.  Even before Klassen's awards were announced my students wanted to share I WANT MY HAT BACK over and over. They were enchanted by bear, little rabbit and friends in this story.  

I was therefore, overjoyed to receive a copy of THIS IS NOT MY HAT by the publisher.  I knew immediately it would be well received. At storytime, my students lit up when they saw the cover, with obvious recall to his first book.  You will find that children want to read these two books over and over. They act it out and are able to recall details with little prompting. 

THIS IS NOT MY HAT is adorable and children love how the little fish boldly takes what doesn't belong to him, even though it appears to be an ideal fit.  His seemingly careless attitude will end with a comical chuckle.  THIS IS NOT MY HAT stole the hearts of my listeners and the reader as well.  Don't miss it!!

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2012].
  

Happy Holidays 2012

 

December 24th Candles for Sandy Hook Event

 

 Those of you on Facebook may have already seen this page. The link is here

http://www.facebook.com/events/528473403829415/ 

I hope you will join me and the thousands already who have accepted to participate in this memorial for the victims and families of Sandy Hook, Newtown, CT.   Peace and Love, Wisteria

 
© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2012].

The Last Runaway, by Tracy Chevalier

The Last Runaway 
Tracy Chevalier 
Dutton Adult (2013),  
Hardcover ISBN 0525952993 
320 pages 
$26.95/$28.50CAN








Tracy Chevalier is a familiar author to me.  Girl With a Pearl Earring still stands out as one of my favorite historical fiction selections. The Last Runaway takes place prior to the American Civil War in the border state of Ohio. Honor Bright left her homeland of England to travel with her sister Grace to America.  Shortly after their arrival Grace dies leaving Honor in a tenuous position regarding her future. Honor Bright is a Quaker and  holds dear the tenets of her religion. She values honesty and abhors slavery.  She marries Jack Haymaker, a dairy farmer and moves in with him, along with his sister and mother. Honor finds herself in a perfect position to help runaways who travel along the Underground Railroad. The Haymaker family pretend not to notice Honor's small contributions of assistance until one day they forbid her to continue. Honor Bright is forced to make difficult decisions that cause great internal conflict and reflection.

The character of Honor Bright is eerily familiar as if this writer were in her shoes in a previous life. Belle, a milliner is spunky and frank and her friendship with Honor is genuine. More than once she manages to surprise Honor with her prowess with a shotgun.  The importance of quilting and hatting in America, women's roles, Quakers and The Underground Railroad, particularly the ramifications of the Fugitive Slave Act in Ohio provided Chevalier with background to write this beautiful and inspiring novel. An author's note of interest Ms. Chevalier learned to quilt in order to write The Last Runaway.  I’m sure a gratifying perk she had not anticipated. 

Disclosure: A copy of this book was received as an ARC from the publisher. This review is my candid and unbiased opinion. 


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2012].  




 
 

The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan..Countdown to Release

 

My endorsement....

Cathy Marie is the author of When the Falls Stood Still, a remarkably memorable and haunting novel that still resonates with me today. Now The Painted Girls will be released in the US on 1/10/13.  It was released this week in Canada. Preorder your copy. 
A definite choice to fulfill your holiday wish lists with those newly acquired gift certificates. :)

The Painted Girls-Press Release

A heartrending, gripping novel set in belle époque Paris and inspired by the real-life model for Degas’s Little Dancer Aged 14 and by the era's most famous criminal trials. Following their father’s sudden death, the Van Goethem sisters find their lives upended. Without his wages, and with the small amount their laundress mother earns disappearing into the absinthe bottle, eviction seems imminent. With few options for work, Marie is dispatched to the Paris Opéra, where she will be trained to enter the famous Ballet and meet Edgar Degas. Her older sister, Antoinette, finds employment—and the love of a dangerous young man—as an extra in a stage adaptation of Émile Zola’s Naturalist masterpiece L’Assommoir. Set at a moment of profound artistic, cultural, and societal change,The Painted Girls is a tale of two remarkable sisters rendered uniquely vulnerable to the darker impulses of “civilized society.” Learn more.

Cathy's Home Page







© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2012]. 

Destiny, Rewritten, by Kathyrn Fitzmaurice

So excited to share this trailer about the book Destiny Rewritten by one of my favorite children's authors.... Kathyrn Fitzmaurice. The book is due out in March, so keep an eye out for it.  Visit her homepage at: http://kathrynfitzmaurice.com/books/

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2012]. 

 

Honoring Sandy Hook's Angels

 

 

Honoring Sandy Hook's Angels