"Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior" by Chris Bradford

Bradford, Chris (2008). Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior. London, England: Puffin Books.

Book One of the Young Samurai Series.

It is the year 1611 and twelve-year-old Jack Fletcher is already a great seaman since he has sailed as part of the crew for two years with his father, the pilot of the ship Alexandria. His father carries with him the extremely valuable rutter, a leather bound collection complete with state of the art navigational charts and information.

Once they reach their destination called the Japans, they all encounter death by ninja hands. All except Jack who although wounded, manages to hold on to the rutter before plunging into the sea.

Jack then wakes after several days in danger of dying, and finds he is in the care of Masamoto Takeshi, a great samurai warrior and master of his own samurai school. It is in this school that Jack learns the samurai way and all about Japanese culture with the help of Akiko, Masamoto's niece. Jack's most challenging obstacle is not his lack of skills in the way of the warrior, but in the lack of respect by all others since he is a lowly gaijin, or foreigner. A new obstacle arises in the form of a master ninja named Dokugan Ryu (Dragon Eye) who is out to kill Jack and take the rutter.

Jack manages to outsmart and escape from Dokugan Ryu's clutches and keep the rutter, and he even manages to earn the respect of most of the Japanese around him as he becomes a great samurai student. However, the story leaves you needing to read book two to find out if Dokugan Ryu will return or if his friends and most of his acquaintances will continue to find honor in his character and continue to treat him as an equal.

I first met Chris Bradford at the ALA conference in Washington D.C. After speaking with him and seeing his entertaining and unique booktalk, I just had to buy and read his book!!! I was not disappointed!

I did not think I would really find it too engaging since I am not one for sports and fighting art forms, but Chris's wonderful use of understatement, dialog, and extremely precise vocabulary took me through the Japanese culture as if I had traveled there. I even learned some Japanese words and etiquette!! He also made me sit at the edge of my seat as Jack had his fighting challenges and his emotional ones too!