Owl Ninja (Samurai Kids Series #2)

by Sandy Fussell

Overview

The uniquely talented samurai kids are back -- and ready to join forces with a ninja clan! -- as the fast-paced martial arts series continues.

(Ages 9-14)

Across the valley, a drumbeat echoes. For ten days, the drum will call the mountain ryus to war, including the samurai kids from the Cockroach Ryu. Only Japan’s feudal emperor can stop the war, so Niya and Sensei Ki-Yaga set off on a grueling journey with all the Cockroaches, whose firm friendship and unusual skills must be put to the test in order to beg the Emperor to maintain peace. Sensei Ki-Yaga is respected and wise, but unfortunately, the last time he encountered the Emperor, the Emperor threatened to cut off his head. All seems hopeless until Ki-Yaga guides the Cockroaches to meet with the Owl Ninja clan. Samurai and ninja are supposed to be enemies, but can these two groups somehow work together to save the sensei and stop the battle in time?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763654511
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	02/22/2011
Series:	Samurai Kids Series , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Lexile:	600L (what's this?)
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sandy Fussell lives in Australia, works in information technology, and loves history. The Samurai Kids series is her first literary venture.

Rhian Nest James has illustrated more than sixty children’s books, including Samurai Kids: White Crane. Born in Wales, she now lives in Australia.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 5–7—The Cockroach Ryu, a band of physically challenged samurai trainees, are now on a journey to persuade the emperor to prevent a war in feudal Japan. Tension is heightened when the young people learn that the emperor has reason to kill their beloved sensei on sight, so they train with the Owl Ninja Clan to increase their chances of succeeding in their quest. Continuing with the series' theme of teamwork and accepting differences, the ninja, ordinarily considered to be an enemy of the samurai, teach the Cockroach Ryu students to approach obstacles in new ways. The text is structured in short, simple sentences, making it accessible to reluctant readers, and the adventure is sprinkled with gentle humor, adding to its general appeal. Lively black-and-white brush paintings mark the beginning of each chapter and illustrate scenes from the text, providing visual interest. On the other hand, the large cast of characters can be difficult to keep straight, and the bland characterizations and dialogue don't help in this regard. Furthermore, the book's cultural and historical authenticity is unbalanced; a description of the traditional tea ceremony is accurate and beautifully written, but in another scene, the characters are shown to eat egg rolls, which are more commonly attributed to China rather than Japan. Although this book is not for the strict historian, it will find its audience among fans of lighthearted adventure and martial arts stories.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

School Library Journal