What do you think?
Rate this book
Kensei #1
Kensei
Jamie Hattori's alter ego, the masked hero Kensei, has been doing pretty well protecting her neighborhood from petty villains with her martial arts skills, her father's katana, and a little help from the local spirits. But things get rough when the spirits start flaking out, the Goddess of Discord throws a few cursed apples, and an online gossip site sics an angry football player on her. Then there's her slipping grades, the vampire owls, and the cute roller derby chick looking for romance. And even worse, Jamie's hero-hating mom is starting to get suspicious. Can Jamie defeat her mysterious nemesis without tearing her family apart? And more importantly, will she score her first kiss?
- GenresYoung AdultManga
188 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2012
About the author
Jeremy Zimmerman
72 books44 followersJeremy Zimmerman is a teller of tales who dislikes cute euphemisms for writing like “teller of tales.” He is the author of the young adult superhero book, Kensei and its sequel, The Love of Danger. In his copious spare time he is the co-editor of Mad Scientist Journal. He lives in Seattle with a herd of cats and his lovely wife (and fellow author) Dawn Vogel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 19, 2016
I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. Roller derby, a bi-racial superhero who carries a samurai sword and talks to spirits, high school, cheerleaders.. it's pretty much a checklist of things that set my teeth grinding. And yet Zimmerman blends them masterfully. Kensei walks a tightrope between superhero and high school student, and isn't in it for the glory or the excuse to beat people up. In fact, she chooses diplomacy over violence as much as she can, samurai sword or no. The cheerleader she interacts with the most is a complex character who is doing her own balancing act. Kensei's parents are interesting and loving but have their own issues. The roller derby girls are supportive and kind but also sassy. And yet the book retains a light and fun tone that makes it easy to read and hard to put down.
November 30, 2014
I read this in the old Cobalt City Rookies edition, but my understanding is that the text here is essentially the same.
This was a very fun read. If you wanted to distill it down, it's something like "What if Buffy was a legacy superhero?" Put like that it sounds kind of pedestrian, but in reality it sparkles because Zimmerman makes all the details feel fresh and real.
All the main characters are well drawn. I've got to especially mention her parents, who are interesting, loving individuals, each of whom gets some things right and some things terribly wrong. The setting draws heavily from Zimmerman's knowledge of roller derby and Buddhism. And the story does a great job acknowledging the larger Cobalt City world, while not allowing the more established superheroes to take over Kensei's story.
In short, this is exactly what I'm looking for in a superhero story. This might well be my favorite new superhero tale since The Incredibles came out.
This was a very fun read. If you wanted to distill it down, it's something like "What if Buffy was a legacy superhero?" Put like that it sounds kind of pedestrian, but in reality it sparkles because Zimmerman makes all the details feel fresh and real.
All the main characters are well drawn. I've got to especially mention her parents, who are interesting, loving individuals, each of whom gets some things right and some things terribly wrong. The setting draws heavily from Zimmerman's knowledge of roller derby and Buddhism. And the story does a great job acknowledging the larger Cobalt City world, while not allowing the more established superheroes to take over Kensei's story.
In short, this is exactly what I'm looking for in a superhero story. This might well be my favorite new superhero tale since The Incredibles came out.
March 9, 2015
I'm not sure what more you could want in a YA superhero tale. You've got young romance, struggling to find your very complicated place in the world as a bi-racial lesbian superhero, you've got roller derby, and to top it off, freaking vampire owls!
I love how Zimmerman not only captures what it means to be a special youth in a city of superheroes, but also the deeper spiritual life of the city and the character of individual neighborhoods. His wit and humanity shine through and make this story of individual heroism something special. Bonus points for realizing that violence is not always the answer--even when you're carrying a samurai sword.
Jamie Hattori is a young hero with an amazing journey ahead of her, and I look forward to seeing where that journey takes her.
I love how Zimmerman not only captures what it means to be a special youth in a city of superheroes, but also the deeper spiritual life of the city and the character of individual neighborhoods. His wit and humanity shine through and make this story of individual heroism something special. Bonus points for realizing that violence is not always the answer--even when you're carrying a samurai sword.
Jamie Hattori is a young hero with an amazing journey ahead of her, and I look forward to seeing where that journey takes her.
March 14, 2015
This first novel is a charming young adult story that takes place in the shared-universe setting of Cobalt City. Cobalt City, somewhere vaguely on the northeast coast of the US, and previously detained in a number of short story collections, is the thriving home of many superheroes. In this novel, though, some recent events have caused many of the town's resident heroes to flee.
Enter the main character, Jamie Hattori, a half black, half Japanese, teen superhero, who defends her neighborhood from various threats with her father's samurai sword, plus her ability to see and talk with ghosts. This is not an origin story, though; it begins several years after Jamie's power began to manifest, and some indefinite time -- it seems like a few months -- after she took on her superhero guise, Kensei.
Jamie is a wonderfully different hero. In addition to her racial background, she's a nerd (although not a bookworm or computer geek), a lesbian, and a roller derby fan, none of which hits the traditional fantasy mainstream. I imagine that this must be tremendously exciting to read for people who are not straight white men, and who from what I've read don't get a lot of representation in the genre.
It's not much of a spoiler to say that there's more to Kensei and her powers than she realizes at first. And she is somewhat reluctant to embrace what she learns, and has to be figuratively dragged screaming into recognizing, then learning to embrace, her additional abilities. I found it a little disappointing that Jamie doesn't discover her other powers on her own, but needs to have them explained, and trained, by another hero. But that's a pretty minor quibble.
As the finale of the book approaches, it becomes very clear that there's a lot more going on than was initially apparent, and that there is a bigger picture yet unseen. Some questions are raised by the last couple chapters that do not get answered, so I'm really expecting that a sequel will appear one of these days; I'd love to read it, and learn more about all these characters and what the hell is going on in the larger world.
There are a few infelicitous phrases scattered around, which read awkwardly enough that they pulled me out of the story to wonder how the author could have said them better. But otherwise, this is a solid first novel, and I hope only the first of many.
Enter the main character, Jamie Hattori, a half black, half Japanese, teen superhero, who defends her neighborhood from various threats with her father's samurai sword, plus her ability to see and talk with ghosts. This is not an origin story, though; it begins several years after Jamie's power began to manifest, and some indefinite time -- it seems like a few months -- after she took on her superhero guise, Kensei.
Jamie is a wonderfully different hero. In addition to her racial background, she's a nerd (although not a bookworm or computer geek), a lesbian, and a roller derby fan, none of which hits the traditional fantasy mainstream. I imagine that this must be tremendously exciting to read for people who are not straight white men, and who from what I've read don't get a lot of representation in the genre.
It's not much of a spoiler to say that there's more to Kensei and her powers than she realizes at first. And she is somewhat reluctant to embrace what she learns, and has to be figuratively dragged screaming into recognizing, then learning to embrace, her additional abilities. I found it a little disappointing that Jamie doesn't discover her other powers on her own, but needs to have them explained, and trained, by another hero. But that's a pretty minor quibble.
As the finale of the book approaches, it becomes very clear that there's a lot more going on than was initially apparent, and that there is a bigger picture yet unseen. Some questions are raised by the last couple chapters that do not get answered, so I'm really expecting that a sequel will appear one of these days; I'd love to read it, and learn more about all these characters and what the hell is going on in the larger world.
There are a few infelicitous phrases scattered around, which read awkwardly enough that they pulled me out of the story to wonder how the author could have said them better. But otherwise, this is a solid first novel, and I hope only the first of many.
September 2, 2015
This was pretty good. I downloaded this through the Kickstarter page for the sequel, and I enjoyed it. I'm always a fan of diversity in fiction, so having a mixed-race (half-black/half-Japanese) lesbian main character was nice. She has an interesting power, and some of the later reveals about it are rather clever. The setting seems interesting, though it wasn't created by Zimmerman. I did like the lack of any Justice League pastiche - original superhero settings almost always seem to feel the need to include a Justice League pastiche. The story is fairly interesting, and as a fan of Greek mythology, it was certainly neat seeing Eris as an antagonist.
However, there are problems with the book. Zimmerman needs to work on his dialogue. There's a certain sameness to a lot of the characters' voices. It could use some more diversity in terms of personality types.
Nonetheless, this is probably the best superhero novel I've read. It's also the third superhero novel I've read, so, you know, not a lot of comparison. Still, I enjoyed it.
However, there are problems with the book. Zimmerman needs to work on his dialogue. There's a certain sameness to a lot of the characters' voices. It could use some more diversity in terms of personality types.
Nonetheless, this is probably the best superhero novel I've read. It's also the third superhero novel I've read, so, you know, not a lot of comparison. Still, I enjoyed it.
November 3, 2021
I stumbled across "Kensei" sort of by accident, and am so glad I did! I read half the book in one night, and the rest quickly followed.
Jamie "Kensei" Hattori is a great protagonist, equal parts budding superhero and young girl figuring out her own self and her own life. The world Zimmerman created is fantastic - it clearly has a history that plays into current events. And I love the way the spirit world is portrayed and how Jamie interacts with it. (Agyo may well be my favorite character, to be honest!)
The ending is well done, with a satisfying show-down between Jamie and her nemesis. And yet Zimmerman manages to leave just enough threads dangling to leave me wanting more, and excited for book two.
Jamie "Kensei" Hattori is a great protagonist, equal parts budding superhero and young girl figuring out her own self and her own life. The world Zimmerman created is fantastic - it clearly has a history that plays into current events. And I love the way the spirit world is portrayed and how Jamie interacts with it. (Agyo may well be my favorite character, to be honest!)
The ending is well done, with a satisfying show-down between Jamie and her nemesis. And yet Zimmerman manages to leave just enough threads dangling to leave me wanting more, and excited for book two.
March 29, 2015
Kensei by Zimmerman is a well-thought out book of a group of teenagers, all very different and yet bound by common threads. Kensei is a superhero who can talk to the spirits of buildings, cars, etc. One major one goes missing but other superheroes come to the rescue. Jamie/Kensei is a warts and all girl who goes along with what she believes in. Will she survive the onslaught of the baddies or not? What's with the apples? Are they keeping the doctor away? We are taken on a round of lesbians as well as gods but the common thread is Kensei. Is she really a superhero?
January 13, 2015
This is really good. Superheroes, animistic spirits, teenage love, roller derby. Pretty much everything you ever wanted out of a young adult book. Unless you're a major publisher, of course. Can't be doing with those bi-racial lesbian samurais if you're a major publisher. Honestly though, this short novel is better than %75 of the young adult books on the market. Gets my full recommendation.
November 23, 2015
A fun read with a group of young adults learning how to live and deciding who they will be in a dangerous world of villains, superheroes and students disappear from high school.
My copy was a gift from Goodreads First Reads.
My copy was a gift from Goodreads First Reads.
October 4, 2015
I was one of the lucky winners to receive this book in the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
This was quite an enjoyable read, although it is more suited to young adults. I shall be passing this book onto my eldest granddaughter, who I know will love it.
This was quite an enjoyable read, although it is more suited to young adults. I shall be passing this book onto my eldest granddaughter, who I know will love it.
April 25, 2016
Okay, this was a lot of fun. High school superhero, cute awkward lesbian romance, and an engaging little mystery to go along with everything. I'm definitely going to have to pick up the next one of these.
September 16, 2015
I liked it in general, there's a lot of good stuff in here... the "Mean Girls" aspects were a bit much for me, but sometimes that's what you get in YA stuff.
February 23, 2016
A good read with refreshingly diverse characters. I enjoyed the mix of comic book tropes and inventive new ideas. Looking forward to the next one!
November 7, 2017
A solid YA superhero story. The world feels real, and diverse. I was invested enough to care about the characters and didn't figure out the plot as soon as I thought I had. Most importantly, it left me wanting to know What Happens Next. I want to know more about the setting, about how Jamie's powers work, and the answers to some of the secrets hinted at.
September 25, 2018
A fun read, although it took me a while to get through and could've used a good editor. Definitely like the main character though and can't wait to read more!
March 22, 2025
Seriously cool! Jamie's a badass superhero teen, and it's hilarious. Action's awesome, and the mix of myth, teen drama, and humor is unique. Loved it!
June 20, 2020
I was really pleased with this book. There were lots of things that caught and held my interest: An interesting cast of characters, a welcome into the interesting world of roller derby, a queer relationship. It was a fun and light read.
Most interesting is that I'm really good at predicting the ends of books; however, I was nearly to the end of this book when I had to put the book down and think through the clues because I seriously had no idea who was behind it all. After some serious thinking, I figured it out and it was revealed that I was right. But it's rare when I have to stop reading to think through the clues like that. I found it impressive, because it meant that the mystery was challenging but still realistically solvable by the readers before the big reveal, and it was refreshing after reading so many predictable books.
I plan on rereading this book soon, because I recently got book 2.
Most interesting is that I'm really good at predicting the ends of books; however, I was nearly to the end of this book when I had to put the book down and think through the clues because I seriously had no idea who was behind it all. After some serious thinking, I figured it out and it was revealed that I was right. But it's rare when I have to stop reading to think through the clues like that. I found it impressive, because it meant that the mystery was challenging but still realistically solvable by the readers before the big reveal, and it was refreshing after reading so many predictable books.
I plan on rereading this book soon, because I recently got book 2.
June 13, 2016
Kensei, by Jeremy Zimmerman, is my one hundred and forty-fifth book that I have received and read from Goodreads. This is my first book that I have read from this author. This is the first book from the series.
This book is about a young girl, age 17, named Jamie Hattori. When she is in crime fighting mode her name is Kensei. She is a Japanese/black, she is a lesbian. She has the power to see and somewhat control the spirits around her. Kensei goes after baddies in Cobalt City. On top of all this, she has to deal with the problems with the family, school, and the relationship with another girl and the drama problems .
I will not tell you what happens in the story, only to say that it was a real fun read. I would recommend this book to middle school and up through adults. I would like to thank the author for books 1and 2, and for taking the time to sign my books.
This book is about a young girl, age 17, named Jamie Hattori. When she is in crime fighting mode her name is Kensei. She is a Japanese/black, she is a lesbian. She has the power to see and somewhat control the spirits around her. Kensei goes after baddies in Cobalt City. On top of all this, she has to deal with the problems with the family, school, and the relationship with another girl and the drama problems .
I will not tell you what happens in the story, only to say that it was a real fun read. I would recommend this book to middle school and up through adults. I would like to thank the author for books 1and 2, and for taking the time to sign my books.
July 12, 2017
I received this book in a goodreads giveaway. I look forward to reading and reviewing it. I liked all the fighting and super hero stuff. The mythology and spirits gave me some thoughts. Because of my biases, I felt some kind of way about the religious and sexual references. I felt the storyline was age appropriate with regards to Kensi and what real life was dealing her. Her mom’s fears were realistic but her reaction was over the top maybe? Given the fact that she knew her daughter was getting the "fight" Spirit from both sides of the family. Come on Gloria!
July 12, 2016
This is the new generation of superhero novels. Your protagonist is a superhero whose super power is talking, instead of flying or punching. The characters have layers and complex objectives, the writing is snappy and crisp, and if you're looking for diversity you'd be hard pressed to find a YA novel with better representation.
December 15, 2017
Enjoyable
High school is hard enough for average kids. Add superpowers, vindictive spirits and budding romance to the mix?
This is a fun read.
High school is hard enough for average kids. Add superpowers, vindictive spirits and budding romance to the mix?
This is a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews