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Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune
Child exile. Teenage runaway. Military genius. Immortal hero.
Yoshitsune had little going for him. Exiled to a monastery, he had no money, no allies, and no martial training. He wasn't big or strong or good-looking. His only assets were brains, ambition, and a dream. But childhood dreams can change history.
At the age of fifteen, Yoshitsune escaped. Blow by painful blow, he learned the art of the sword. Fall after bruising fall, he mastered mounted archery. He joined his half brother Yoritomo in an uprising against the most powerful samurai in Japan.
This is a story of insane courage and daring feats, bitter rivalry and fatal love. Based on one of the great works of Japanese history and literature, SAMURAI RISING takes a clear-eyed, very modern look at the way of the samurai--and at the man who became the most famous samurai of all.
Yoshitsune had little going for him. Exiled to a monastery, he had no money, no allies, and no martial training. He wasn't big or strong or good-looking. His only assets were brains, ambition, and a dream. But childhood dreams can change history.
At the age of fifteen, Yoshitsune escaped. Blow by painful blow, he learned the art of the sword. Fall after bruising fall, he mastered mounted archery. He joined his half brother Yoritomo in an uprising against the most powerful samurai in Japan.
This is a story of insane courage and daring feats, bitter rivalry and fatal love. Based on one of the great works of Japanese history and literature, SAMURAI RISING takes a clear-eyed, very modern look at the way of the samurai--and at the man who became the most famous samurai of all.
236 pages, Hardcover
First published February 2, 2016
272 people are currently reading
1961 people want to read
About the author
Pamela S. Turner
13 books47 followers Pamela S. Turner has an abiding fascination with science, animals, evolution, and a special interest in Japanese history. She is the author of award-winning books for young readers, including HOW TO BUILD A HUMAN: IN SEVEN EVOLUTIONARY STEPS, an ALA Notable Book, SAMURAI RISING, a YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award finalist, as well as CROW SMARTS and THE FROG SCIENTIST, both winners of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books. Her newest book, COMET CHASER, is the true Cinderella story of Caroline Herschel, the first professional woman astronomer.
When not writing, she practices kendo (Japanese sword fighting) and volunteers as a wildlife rehabilitator specializing in crows and ravens.
Visit her website and sign up for her newsletter at www.pamelasturner.com, follow her on Instagram at @pamela.s.turner, Twitter @psturnerbooks, and Facebook /psturnerbooks/.
When not writing, she practices kendo (Japanese sword fighting) and volunteers as a wildlife rehabilitator specializing in crows and ravens.
Visit her website and sign up for her newsletter at www.pamelasturner.com, follow her on Instagram at @pamela.s.turner, Twitter @psturnerbooks, and Facebook /psturnerbooks/.
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April 20, 2016
When you read enough children’s books published in a single year, folks tend to believe that you’ve an ability to spot trends in the general literature. Trend-spotting is easy enough when you’re dealing with picture books (hot in 2016: Bears rampaging through picnics and blobfish!) but books written for older readers are trickier. I think I’ve hit on at least one incredibly popular trend for the current year, however: Overwhelming depression and sadness. Whether it’s baby foxes are getting their legs blown off in landmines, dads being deadbeat, or girls falling down wells, 2016 is officially The Year of the Hankie. So you can imagine the glee with which I devoured Samurai Rising. “A samurai fights for honor and survival in a real-life Game of Thrones,” reads the blurb for the book (minus the torture and nudity, of course). In producing a fantastic look at the true story behind Japan’s most famous samurai, Turner doesn’t just cheer up an otherwise depressed literary year. She highlights a figure too long ignored in America. Say goodbye to boredom. Say hello to crazy-eyed heroics and an anti-hero for the young masses.
On the book’s title page is written a small alert. “WARNING: Very few people in this story die of natural causes.” No lie, just fact. This is the story of Minamoto Yoshitsune. A boy who “could not yet walk when his father left him a lost war, a shattered family, and a bitter enemy.” Yoshitsune’s father (not the brightest samurai of all time) throws away his family’s comfortable existence protecting Japan’s Retired Emperor when he decides to kidnap the guy instead. Swiftly defeated by his rival Taira Kiyomori, the man's son, little Yoshitsune, is spared but eventually sent to train as a monk. Determined to win back his family’s honor, the boy runs away and with the help of a friendly lord becomes a full fledged samurai. Not a moment too soon either. Forces are brewing and Yoshitsune’s older brother Yoritomo needs his brother's help to revolt against Kiyomori’s reign. Through it all, Yoshitsune doesn’t just show the heart of a warrior. He shows he has the guts and brains to carry out even the craziest campaign. But with trouble brewing at home, it may be his own family that proves the deadliest enemy of all. Author’s Notes, Time Lines, a Glossary, Chapter Notes, and a Bibliography appear as well.
I was at a conference recently where the terms “creative nonfiction” and “narrative nonfiction” got tossed about like so many ping-pong balls. These terms are generally produced when someone writes a work of nonfiction that reads like a novel. In order to do this and yet still retain even a modicum of historical accuracy, the author in question must bend over backwards to get everything right. Fifty-whopping-two pages, or so, at the back of the book are dedicated to Turner’s chapter notes alone. Here you’ll find every quotation and historical detail cited (Turner also writes an intro to these notes, marking this as the first time I’ve ever seen an author sell the reader on reading them, since who could resist trying to figure out, “why Yoritomo didn’t use ninjas”?). As for Turner’s writing, you forget almost instantly that this is a work of nonfiction. This is both a good and bad thing. Good, because it proves to young readers that there’s more to nonfiction than what you’ll find in a textbook. Bad because life, unlike fiction, doesn’t always adhere to our understanding of narrative rise and fall. When Minamoto’s enemy Kiyomori died without ever having confronted Yoshitsune, I was momentarily baffled. Of course Turner, skillful as she is, is able to naturally call upon Yoshitsune’s older brother as the new enemy, and it’s done with slow, exquisite care.
When you’re watching a musical, the songs have to serve the story. You can’t just have characters burst into a melody without a reason. Likewise, a nonfiction book can be laden with facts, but only if they serve the narrative to its best advantage. Turner has all kinds of tricks up her sleeves, and integrating facts into the story is one of her greater strengths. She can move from the story of Yoshitsune learning how to be a samurai to a description of the brilliant work of engineering that is a samurai’s armor or sword with aplomb.
Even with all this, Turner’s working at a natural disadvantage. Her story is set in the 12th century. Source material from that time? Not exactly copious. So she relies upon informed speculation, i.e. what a character may have seen or may have considered in one scene or another. A number of years ago I read a book called Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron which was a true history of a child who lived in the wild and was brought back to “civilization” near the end of the French Revolution. The author leaned heavily on a plethora of “probablys” which is no crime. Honestly, it informs the reader as to what they do or do not know. Still, it can prove distracting if too many are clustered in one spot. The only time I found myself irked in a similar way here was around the beginning of the book when Minamoto and a gold merchant were avoiding the samurai. From “the homey smell of wood smoke probably drew the weary travelers to wayside inns” to “The teenage runaway probably watched, mouth agape, as entertainers performed the popular tales of his time”, I found my willingness to go along with Turner’s speculations stretched, if never quite broken. Fortunately it’s the only time in the book I found Turner’s reliance on probability too overt. For the most part, she does a fine job of keeping everything copacetic.
I was also taken with the humor of the book. Judicious use of it in any nonfiction title is a delicate art. Here, the author has the advantage of time (no one’s going to read about the beheadings of the 1100s and think “Too soon!”). So when she pulls out lines like “News of severed heads travels fast,” you can’t but help but admire the wordplay’s moxie. Ditto, “If things went badly, Kiso had the usual samurai backup plan: kidnap the Retired Emperor” (this line works better after you see how many times the poor guy gets kidnapped in the course of his life – a calming retirement it is not).
The inclusion of Gareth Hinds’ art in the book was good planning on someone’s part (mostly likely Art Director Susan Sherman, according to Turner's Acknowledgements). Though he’s illustrated the occasional title for other authors (Gifts from the Gods) generally Gareth sticks to his own graphic novel adaptations of classics like The Odyssey or Beowulf or King Lear. A meticulous hand, Hinds’ interstitial art keeps the narrative moving without distracting from it. And while it did have the odd personal problem of making me really want a Minamoto Yoshitsune graphic novel (ahem ahem!), for the most part I think it’ll be of greatest use to those students that need a little visual stimulation with their descriptive texts.
Here’s a pretty basic question for the book: Is Minamoto a hero? The comparison to Game of Thrones on the book’s blurb isn’t all that wrong. Things get pretty ethically dicey in the midst of power plays and wars. Honestly, coming out of this book I had particular sympathy for two people in particular and neither one of them was Minamoto. Minamoto’s heroism in terms of bravery cannot be called into question, but if we’re trying to figure out why he comes across as sympathetic, a lot of that can be attributed to our innate sense of fairness, or lack thereof. He starts off clawing his way up, already at a disadvantage thanks to dear old dad, and then just when everything seems to be working out for him his own brother stabs him in the back (figuratively and nearly literally). He deals decently at times, establishing law and order at critical moments. Then again, he’s not against lighting the occasional peasant village on fire like some insane 12th century version of streetlights. And so I say to teachers and the leaders of bookgroups, if you are doing this book with a group of kids and you need a topic of discussion, just ask this: What is a hero? You’re bound to get some pretty interesting answers after the kids read this book.
As I write this review, the hottest musical on Broadway right now is Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It seems to me that we’re seeing a lot of narratives right now that discuss scrappy youngsters, eager to make their mark on the world, no matter the cost to themselves or others. So hey, if you need an idea for a new musical, have I got a book for you! Bringing to the attention of American kids new historical heroes from cultures they may not have any familiarity with is a difficult proposition. Turner and Hinds tackle the challenge with a kind of manic glee. The end result is infinitely readable and downright fun. So pile on the other tear-drenched novels for the kiddos. As long as I have a plucky samurai kid not throwing away his shot I’ll be satisfied. More fun than it deserves to be and a great read.
For ages 10 and up.
On the book’s title page is written a small alert. “WARNING: Very few people in this story die of natural causes.” No lie, just fact. This is the story of Minamoto Yoshitsune. A boy who “could not yet walk when his father left him a lost war, a shattered family, and a bitter enemy.” Yoshitsune’s father (not the brightest samurai of all time) throws away his family’s comfortable existence protecting Japan’s Retired Emperor when he decides to kidnap the guy instead. Swiftly defeated by his rival Taira Kiyomori, the man's son, little Yoshitsune, is spared but eventually sent to train as a monk. Determined to win back his family’s honor, the boy runs away and with the help of a friendly lord becomes a full fledged samurai. Not a moment too soon either. Forces are brewing and Yoshitsune’s older brother Yoritomo needs his brother's help to revolt against Kiyomori’s reign. Through it all, Yoshitsune doesn’t just show the heart of a warrior. He shows he has the guts and brains to carry out even the craziest campaign. But with trouble brewing at home, it may be his own family that proves the deadliest enemy of all. Author’s Notes, Time Lines, a Glossary, Chapter Notes, and a Bibliography appear as well.
I was at a conference recently where the terms “creative nonfiction” and “narrative nonfiction” got tossed about like so many ping-pong balls. These terms are generally produced when someone writes a work of nonfiction that reads like a novel. In order to do this and yet still retain even a modicum of historical accuracy, the author in question must bend over backwards to get everything right. Fifty-whopping-two pages, or so, at the back of the book are dedicated to Turner’s chapter notes alone. Here you’ll find every quotation and historical detail cited (Turner also writes an intro to these notes, marking this as the first time I’ve ever seen an author sell the reader on reading them, since who could resist trying to figure out, “why Yoritomo didn’t use ninjas”?). As for Turner’s writing, you forget almost instantly that this is a work of nonfiction. This is both a good and bad thing. Good, because it proves to young readers that there’s more to nonfiction than what you’ll find in a textbook. Bad because life, unlike fiction, doesn’t always adhere to our understanding of narrative rise and fall. When Minamoto’s enemy Kiyomori died without ever having confronted Yoshitsune, I was momentarily baffled. Of course Turner, skillful as she is, is able to naturally call upon Yoshitsune’s older brother as the new enemy, and it’s done with slow, exquisite care.
When you’re watching a musical, the songs have to serve the story. You can’t just have characters burst into a melody without a reason. Likewise, a nonfiction book can be laden with facts, but only if they serve the narrative to its best advantage. Turner has all kinds of tricks up her sleeves, and integrating facts into the story is one of her greater strengths. She can move from the story of Yoshitsune learning how to be a samurai to a description of the brilliant work of engineering that is a samurai’s armor or sword with aplomb.
Even with all this, Turner’s working at a natural disadvantage. Her story is set in the 12th century. Source material from that time? Not exactly copious. So she relies upon informed speculation, i.e. what a character may have seen or may have considered in one scene or another. A number of years ago I read a book called Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron which was a true history of a child who lived in the wild and was brought back to “civilization” near the end of the French Revolution. The author leaned heavily on a plethora of “probablys” which is no crime. Honestly, it informs the reader as to what they do or do not know. Still, it can prove distracting if too many are clustered in one spot. The only time I found myself irked in a similar way here was around the beginning of the book when Minamoto and a gold merchant were avoiding the samurai. From “the homey smell of wood smoke probably drew the weary travelers to wayside inns” to “The teenage runaway probably watched, mouth agape, as entertainers performed the popular tales of his time”, I found my willingness to go along with Turner’s speculations stretched, if never quite broken. Fortunately it’s the only time in the book I found Turner’s reliance on probability too overt. For the most part, she does a fine job of keeping everything copacetic.
I was also taken with the humor of the book. Judicious use of it in any nonfiction title is a delicate art. Here, the author has the advantage of time (no one’s going to read about the beheadings of the 1100s and think “Too soon!”). So when she pulls out lines like “News of severed heads travels fast,” you can’t but help but admire the wordplay’s moxie. Ditto, “If things went badly, Kiso had the usual samurai backup plan: kidnap the Retired Emperor” (this line works better after you see how many times the poor guy gets kidnapped in the course of his life – a calming retirement it is not).
The inclusion of Gareth Hinds’ art in the book was good planning on someone’s part (mostly likely Art Director Susan Sherman, according to Turner's Acknowledgements). Though he’s illustrated the occasional title for other authors (Gifts from the Gods) generally Gareth sticks to his own graphic novel adaptations of classics like The Odyssey or Beowulf or King Lear. A meticulous hand, Hinds’ interstitial art keeps the narrative moving without distracting from it. And while it did have the odd personal problem of making me really want a Minamoto Yoshitsune graphic novel (ahem ahem!), for the most part I think it’ll be of greatest use to those students that need a little visual stimulation with their descriptive texts.
Here’s a pretty basic question for the book: Is Minamoto a hero? The comparison to Game of Thrones on the book’s blurb isn’t all that wrong. Things get pretty ethically dicey in the midst of power plays and wars. Honestly, coming out of this book I had particular sympathy for two people in particular and neither one of them was Minamoto. Minamoto’s heroism in terms of bravery cannot be called into question, but if we’re trying to figure out why he comes across as sympathetic, a lot of that can be attributed to our innate sense of fairness, or lack thereof. He starts off clawing his way up, already at a disadvantage thanks to dear old dad, and then just when everything seems to be working out for him his own brother stabs him in the back (figuratively and nearly literally). He deals decently at times, establishing law and order at critical moments. Then again, he’s not against lighting the occasional peasant village on fire like some insane 12th century version of streetlights. And so I say to teachers and the leaders of bookgroups, if you are doing this book with a group of kids and you need a topic of discussion, just ask this: What is a hero? You’re bound to get some pretty interesting answers after the kids read this book.
As I write this review, the hottest musical on Broadway right now is Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It seems to me that we’re seeing a lot of narratives right now that discuss scrappy youngsters, eager to make their mark on the world, no matter the cost to themselves or others. So hey, if you need an idea for a new musical, have I got a book for you! Bringing to the attention of American kids new historical heroes from cultures they may not have any familiarity with is a difficult proposition. Turner and Hinds tackle the challenge with a kind of manic glee. The end result is infinitely readable and downright fun. So pile on the other tear-drenched novels for the kiddos. As long as I have a plucky samurai kid not throwing away his shot I’ll be satisfied. More fun than it deserves to be and a great read.
For ages 10 and up.
March 31, 2016
My interest to date in samurai has been close to zero, my tolerance for violence and gore minimal (Game of Thrones had me running in the opposite direction), and being a pacifist I usually find books with endless descriptions of battles and war plans tedious. Yet all of this went out the window when I started Pamela S. Turner's
Samurai Rising
. Immediately I was besotted, eager to return to it when I was forced to put it down to do other things, fascinated by the topic, taken by the exciting storytelling, appreciative of Turner's way of addressing the issues of research; all in all it was a riveting read.
The very real story of a famous Japanese samurai,Yoshitsune, Samurai Rising is also Turner's journey as she sifts through all the stories to see what is true and what is not; it is the story of pride and vengeance, of politics; it is one view of Japan in the late twelfth century. Turner does a remarkable job making a complicated story accessible to young readers (not to mention much older ones like myself). Aware of just what will be confusing, she works to help distinguish similar-sounding names, provides the bricolage of setting, elegantly slipping in "surely" and "probably" when necessary to both show there is no way to know for sure and to still provide the story of small tidbits of information to help the reader imagine what things actually looked like and felt like.
One of the many things I liked about the book was Turner's way of slipping in wry and pithy comments here and there to clarify. Say on Page 19 when after a paragraph culminating in a quote describing the military brilliance of Yoshitsune's great-grandfather, she had a short one sentence paragraph: "No pressure, Yoshitsune." Or how about on Page 127 when she writes, "You know strife has gone on too long when even the samurai are sick of violence."
The end notes are fascinating as Turner uses them to not only indicate her sources, but to add in more information that she couldn't squeeze into the main narrative. There's a lengthy bibliography and even more information on Turner's website, including some very interesting videos for those that want to get a sense of kendo and the dance done by Yoshitsune's lover as described by storytellers and then Turner in the book. There are maps throughout the book to help readers get a spatial sense of what is happening, a helpful cast of characters at the beginning, and an index. Finally there are Gareth Hinds' dark and brooding illustrations, capturing the movement and drama and ominous nature of the history being told.
One of my favorite books of 2016 so far, I recommend it highly.
The very real story of a famous Japanese samurai,Yoshitsune, Samurai Rising is also Turner's journey as she sifts through all the stories to see what is true and what is not; it is the story of pride and vengeance, of politics; it is one view of Japan in the late twelfth century. Turner does a remarkable job making a complicated story accessible to young readers (not to mention much older ones like myself). Aware of just what will be confusing, she works to help distinguish similar-sounding names, provides the bricolage of setting, elegantly slipping in "surely" and "probably" when necessary to both show there is no way to know for sure and to still provide the story of small tidbits of information to help the reader imagine what things actually looked like and felt like.
One of the many things I liked about the book was Turner's way of slipping in wry and pithy comments here and there to clarify. Say on Page 19 when after a paragraph culminating in a quote describing the military brilliance of Yoshitsune's great-grandfather, she had a short one sentence paragraph: "No pressure, Yoshitsune." Or how about on Page 127 when she writes, "You know strife has gone on too long when even the samurai are sick of violence."
The end notes are fascinating as Turner uses them to not only indicate her sources, but to add in more information that she couldn't squeeze into the main narrative. There's a lengthy bibliography and even more information on Turner's website, including some very interesting videos for those that want to get a sense of kendo and the dance done by Yoshitsune's lover as described by storytellers and then Turner in the book. There are maps throughout the book to help readers get a spatial sense of what is happening, a helpful cast of characters at the beginning, and an index. Finally there are Gareth Hinds' dark and brooding illustrations, capturing the movement and drama and ominous nature of the history being told.
One of my favorite books of 2016 so far, I recommend it highly.
January 23, 2022
Due to my Japanese classes, I wanted to look deeper into the Japanese culture. So I picked this book.
Starting with the cover, It was clearly that this book is very Japanese style. Each chapter had a black-white fanart, representing a scene from the respective chapter. The book doesn’t have dialogues, which was a bit weird at first, but comfortable in the end. Pamela wrote this book very well, making me want to read more Japanese culture books.
This book is really worth it for those who love Japanese culture, the samurais. I recommend it with my whole heart.
Starting with the cover, It was clearly that this book is very Japanese style. Each chapter had a black-white fanart, representing a scene from the respective chapter. The book doesn’t have dialogues, which was a bit weird at first, but comfortable in the end. Pamela wrote this book very well, making me want to read more Japanese culture books.
This book is really worth it for those who love Japanese culture, the samurais. I recommend it with my whole heart.
August 21, 2016
A regressive book: a book that adopts elements of the "noble savage" (with a direct comparison to "fiercely independent Comanches" - just look at that cover), a book that glamorizes horrific slaughter and suicide (Yoshitsune is called a "superstar"), a book that smacks of history written by winners (what really make the Minamoto any more deserving of reader sympathy than the Taira?), a "great man" history feting someone whose only notable quality seemed to have been a talent for violence. Two pages after we find the sentence, "Heroes always seem to need sidekicks to help with their quests," (attempting to connect Yoshitsune and his buddies to mythical archetypes), our "hero" orders, not for the only time, the torching of commoners' houses. This is followed by the author's unconvincing apologetic, "Yoshitsune was unusually civilized in his dealings with common people," because his warriors apparently did not thieve or bully -- so what's a little arson and the destruction of homes and lives? After all, "a peasant had no more 'rights' than an ox." I would have thought modern history writing was done admiring the likes of Napoleon or Robert E. Lee or the Crusaders, who Turner seems to take a poke at, writing they "traveled a very long way to pick a fight." Well as appalling as the Crusades were, I think they were far more justified than anything that seem to motivate the samurai in Turner's book. And at least the Crusades helped pull Western civilization out of the Dark Ages while the events described in Turner's book directly ended a period of "cultural heights" beginning centuries of rule by warlords. (The way Turner puts this is, "the world they created endured.") Turner mentions a city of "painters, calligraphers, sculptors, lacquerers, and metalsmiths. Lavish temples. . . gardens of heavenly perfection." Where is the book celebrating that? Should a book that seems to subscribe to the old notion that history is properly about the (callous and destructive) lives of rulers and military men be any more acceptable because its setting is non-Western? (Sadly, what is historiographically "modern" about this book is the tiresome use of words like "probably" and "no doubt.") Turner compares The Tale of the Heike to tales of King Arthur. I love King Arthur, but because the myth that grew around him was one of the fragility of civilization and the tragedy of violence, not machismo, not narrow tribal loyalty. Turner's history is Zack Snyder history, and this we do not need. Show our kids Seven Samurai instead -- all the excitement is there, but Kurosawa's masterpiece doesn't peddle the lie that slaughter and death is anything but terrible.
March 15, 2017
Lively and all-too-brief biography of Minamoto Yoshitsune.
As a child, I was obsessed with Katherine Paterson's Of Nightingales That Weep, which tells of the Heike conflict from the other side, so I recognized a lot of the names and major events, and was fascinated by Yoshitsune's strange and amazing life. I wish she had gone into greater detail, but she would have had to fictionalize it in order to do so, so I will just appreciate what is here. Also, excellent art by Gareth Hinds, who did the graphic novel of Beowulf a couple of years ago.
Make sure you read the WHOLE book. The notes at the end, about the world timeline and the role of women, etc, were equally fascinating!
As a child, I was obsessed with Katherine Paterson's Of Nightingales That Weep, which tells of the Heike conflict from the other side, so I recognized a lot of the names and major events, and was fascinated by Yoshitsune's strange and amazing life. I wish she had gone into greater detail, but she would have had to fictionalize it in order to do so, so I will just appreciate what is here. Also, excellent art by Gareth Hinds, who did the graphic novel of Beowulf a couple of years ago.
Make sure you read the WHOLE book. The notes at the end, about the world timeline and the role of women, etc, were equally fascinating!
August 30, 2023
Minamoto Yoshitsune is a rather famous Samurai in Japanese history. Though not as well known in the West, Yoshitsune's tale is a famous one.
In 1160, the Samurai were beginning to find their niche. Thus the fighting style is significantly different than in later periods. At this time the Samurai were mostly armed with bows. Though they did have swords, they were not the curved-bladed Katans of later times.
Yoshitsune's rise from a lowly Samurai to a famous one is detailed in this story. His life is truly an adventure novel, as Yoshitsune is embroiled in the Minamoto vs The Taira clan wars that are part and parcel of this time period.
While Yoshitsune does deserve praise for his actions and bravery, his legacy is a dark one. It is Yoshitsune's relatives who made it "fashionable" to commit seppuku, the ritual disembowelment that Samurai used to kill themselves for dishonorable acts.
A well written and fun read. It reads like an adventure novel and is very entertaining. If you like a good historical story about a famous Samurai then you will enjoy this book.
In 1160, the Samurai were beginning to find their niche. Thus the fighting style is significantly different than in later periods. At this time the Samurai were mostly armed with bows. Though they did have swords, they were not the curved-bladed Katans of later times.
Yoshitsune's rise from a lowly Samurai to a famous one is detailed in this story. His life is truly an adventure novel, as Yoshitsune is embroiled in the Minamoto vs The Taira clan wars that are part and parcel of this time period.
While Yoshitsune does deserve praise for his actions and bravery, his legacy is a dark one. It is Yoshitsune's relatives who made it "fashionable" to commit seppuku, the ritual disembowelment that Samurai used to kill themselves for dishonorable acts.
A well written and fun read. It reads like an adventure novel and is very entertaining. If you like a good historical story about a famous Samurai then you will enjoy this book.
May 25, 2016
I made the mistake of reading this book thinking it was fiction, but it is historical nonfiction. Because it takes place in the 12th century there is not much dialogue. Sixty pages of footnotes including the dialogue the author show the difficulty of mixing fact with legend, but Turner handles it well. She adds her own humor making this adventure story hard to put down. I'll be surprised if she doesn't win some nonfiction award.
I got lost in the story once I stopped looking for a fiction narrative. The story begins during the time of Japanese history when the samurai took control of the government from the Emperor, making the royal family more of a figurehead than the controls. Two samurai clans, the Taira and Minamoto, fought for control with the Taira taking the emperor hostage and brutally chopping down rivals. They let the baby Yoshitsune survive who lived with the monks before running away as a teenager to become a samurai warrior. His legendary, reckless military tactics helped his brother overthrow the government in a civil war that lasted five years. Yoshitsune was a brilliant strategist and won some critical battles defeating the Taira clan, but he was arrogant, headstrong, and politically ignorant alienating top commanders. His brother,Yoritomo, felt threatened by his popularity and other commanders fed his suspicions.
The legend plays out like a tragedy with the brother, Yoritomo, gaining complete power and sending assassins to kill Yoshitsune who ironically was the reason he had so much power. Yoritomo's suspicious nature and fear of losing power led to him killing off almost all of his loyal followers throughout the years leaving his family and relatives unprotected after his death and easily killed by rivals. This reminds me of Stalin who killed off those closest to him and any who questioned his policies. Yoritomo was an excellent politician who gave into his fears once he became all-powerful.
Yoshitsune was critical to winning several battles as a hit-and-run commander. He'd lead small bands and cause chaos among the enemy. He was a skillful horsemen and had good fortune on the sea driven by confidence. However, his lack of naval experience later in life caused him to make a critical mistake at sea that cost him the chance to rise up against Yoritomo. Throughout his life, Yoshitsune's impulsive, arrogant attitude made him fearless in war but showed he did not have the political experience or foresight to determine possible moves by his enemies. He didn't seem take notice of who he angered or slighted as his superiors and in the end this cost him his life.
History shows different definitions of heroes in cultures. The Vikings hero was a loyal, courageous, aggressive, and scornful of death. They dominated in military strategy on the seas. The samurai were courageous, not afraid to die, and excellent swordsmen. However, the Taira clan was best at sea and the Minamoto clan was best on land with horses. Yoshitsune used this to his advantage in warfare. Samurai were not loyal and would switch sides easily. The society had stratified classes with the commoners at the mercy of those in authority over them. They did not have rights and the samurai, wealthy, and elite had no problem killing commoners in their way in their quests for power. Students will like this book with its focus on martial arts, warfare, heroes, and conquest.
I got lost in the story once I stopped looking for a fiction narrative. The story begins during the time of Japanese history when the samurai took control of the government from the Emperor, making the royal family more of a figurehead than the controls. Two samurai clans, the Taira and Minamoto, fought for control with the Taira taking the emperor hostage and brutally chopping down rivals. They let the baby Yoshitsune survive who lived with the monks before running away as a teenager to become a samurai warrior. His legendary, reckless military tactics helped his brother overthrow the government in a civil war that lasted five years. Yoshitsune was a brilliant strategist and won some critical battles defeating the Taira clan, but he was arrogant, headstrong, and politically ignorant alienating top commanders. His brother,Yoritomo, felt threatened by his popularity and other commanders fed his suspicions.
The legend plays out like a tragedy with the brother, Yoritomo, gaining complete power and sending assassins to kill Yoshitsune who ironically was the reason he had so much power. Yoritomo's suspicious nature and fear of losing power led to him killing off almost all of his loyal followers throughout the years leaving his family and relatives unprotected after his death and easily killed by rivals. This reminds me of Stalin who killed off those closest to him and any who questioned his policies. Yoritomo was an excellent politician who gave into his fears once he became all-powerful.
Yoshitsune was critical to winning several battles as a hit-and-run commander. He'd lead small bands and cause chaos among the enemy. He was a skillful horsemen and had good fortune on the sea driven by confidence. However, his lack of naval experience later in life caused him to make a critical mistake at sea that cost him the chance to rise up against Yoritomo. Throughout his life, Yoshitsune's impulsive, arrogant attitude made him fearless in war but showed he did not have the political experience or foresight to determine possible moves by his enemies. He didn't seem take notice of who he angered or slighted as his superiors and in the end this cost him his life.
History shows different definitions of heroes in cultures. The Vikings hero was a loyal, courageous, aggressive, and scornful of death. They dominated in military strategy on the seas. The samurai were courageous, not afraid to die, and excellent swordsmen. However, the Taira clan was best at sea and the Minamoto clan was best on land with horses. Yoshitsune used this to his advantage in warfare. Samurai were not loyal and would switch sides easily. The society had stratified classes with the commoners at the mercy of those in authority over them. They did not have rights and the samurai, wealthy, and elite had no problem killing commoners in their way in their quests for power. Students will like this book with its focus on martial arts, warfare, heroes, and conquest.
December 18, 2016
Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune by Pamela S. Turner is a children's nonfiction but it is written so well that it could be for anyone at all. I learned so much and didn't feel it was talking down to me. Through this book you could feel the social life, the strange customs, and the barbaric life it was back then. The role of the warrior and power and family was very powerful things. This books takes you into the background that leads up to Yoshitsune being a samurai, his childhood and on. Very wonderful work! Thanks NetGalley for suggesting this book! Truly an amazing book!
January 12, 2016
The gripping, epic true story of Minamoto Yoshitsune, the greatest samurai in Japanese history. A rousing, action-packed saga set in 12th century Japan, superbly illustrated by Gareth Hinds, about warriors and bravery, fierce combat, loyalty and treachery, rebellion and revenge. Turner's passion for her subject is apparent and her painstaking research on the subject is obvious from the extensive end matter. A thrilling story and an insightful look into an exotic and dangerous ancient world.
May 4, 2016
The book is about a person who first starts off with nothing but then becomes a strong samurai and learns valuable lesons.
March 30, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Yoshitsune's only assets were brains, ambition, and a dream. But childhood dreams can change history."
I absolutely adore books where I learn something new about history. This does not disappoint in bringing to life a charismatic, intriguing character and shining a light on the rise of samurai as political figures in Japan. The style of writing is somewhere between middle grade and YA so expect a simplified prose with plenty of modern similes and metaphors. I was also struck by the wearying nature of political and actual battles of the time period - the dizzying amount of bloodshed and disloyalty to family had my head spinning. Meticulously researched (the notes were almost as long as the book), the author's love and fascination for this time period and subject matter leap off the pages. I can only imagine how challenging it must be to write about a figure and time period where very little in the way of a written record exists but I could have done with a slightly less amount of "probably" and "it is said" conjecture.
Favorite quote: "'Every mother, high or low, wanders in darkness for love of her children ....'"
"Yoshitsune's only assets were brains, ambition, and a dream. But childhood dreams can change history."
I absolutely adore books where I learn something new about history. This does not disappoint in bringing to life a charismatic, intriguing character and shining a light on the rise of samurai as political figures in Japan. The style of writing is somewhere between middle grade and YA so expect a simplified prose with plenty of modern similes and metaphors. I was also struck by the wearying nature of political and actual battles of the time period - the dizzying amount of bloodshed and disloyalty to family had my head spinning. Meticulously researched (the notes were almost as long as the book), the author's love and fascination for this time period and subject matter leap off the pages. I can only imagine how challenging it must be to write about a figure and time period where very little in the way of a written record exists but I could have done with a slightly less amount of "probably" and "it is said" conjecture.
Favorite quote: "'Every mother, high or low, wanders in darkness for love of her children ....'"
September 30, 2020
حمل بر ریسیزم نشه ولی اسامی بهم آرتروز و پیرچشمی دادن.
داستان حقیقی و بسیار باصفاست. حس میکنم هر وقت دکتر هو اومد منو با خودش ببره گردش، باید حتماً این دوره از زمان رو انتخاب کنم. البته اگه بخت منه که همون شب اول زیر سم ستوران له میشم کف جاده.
رفتارشون با امپراطور از همون خط اول کتاب جذابترینه.
داستان حقیقی و بسیار باصفاست. حس میکنم هر وقت دکتر هو اومد منو با خودش ببره گردش، باید حتماً این دوره از زمان رو انتخاب کنم. البته اگه بخت منه که همون شب اول زیر سم ستوران له میشم کف جاده.
رفتارشون با امپراطور از همون خط اول کتاب جذابترینه.
November 14, 2020
for history class
June 17, 2017
Disappointed. Interesting subject matter but dry reading. Good research and documentation. The modern slang and references became irritating. She also tried (unsuccessfully) to inject humor. She probably did these things to help the YA audience connect to the story. It became tiresome and patronizing. The first few pages I thought she was writing from an old oral storyteller's point of view, which would have made the book amazing. (But alas, it was not to be.) The modern jargon and colloquialisms detracted from what could have been a great book. The artwork was superb. The cover is eye-catching so many boys will choose this for summer reading projects and will be very frustrated.
July 4, 2016
I would've found history fascinating had I read books like this in school. Incredibly researched and written in a style that makes it accessible and interesting to its audience, this book is one that I can't wait to share with older students. Author notes, chapter notes and bibliography are ideal for showing students how nonfiction authors research & use the information in their writing.
January 26, 2018
This is an excellent work of narrative non-fiction. I love seeing non-fiction for teens that explore a non-western aspect of history or culture. The author uses an underlying tone that is sly, subversive, and snarky adding just the right amount of humor to the story. This is essential because there is a lot of death, dying, and battles over and over again.
September 7, 2024
To my shame I know very little about Japanese history and culture. This young adult biography about Minamito Yoshitsune was informative. It details the beginning of the Samurai way of life in all its gory glory. With historic references to sake, ritual suicide, adultery, polygamy, and murder this true story is sure to delight the boys in your life. It's also a story of courage and loyalty with court diaries and war chronicles as source materials for the biography.
April 6, 2023
Soooooo good!!!!!!
March 2, 2023
I thought this book was an interesting take on history. This story was not shy in telling the story from an incomplete standpoint. If there was not enough information about a specific aspect of the story the author would simply state that there is not enough to tell. The author would also put their own spin on what the characters felt during the battles. They would slightly exaggerate the emotions of the characters in order for them to feel more real and less like a history textbook. From the beginning to the end this book was wonderful and I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn a little more about the struggles of war.
February 17, 2017
Now this is the way to write history! It reads like a bloodthirsty fictional account of samurai doing what samurai do best: fight in creative and bloody ways. Do hand this to any kid in the library who thinks reading is boring and useless, that is, if they like martial arts. Or maybe even if they don't. I'm not a particular fan of the martial arts and found this fascinating. A lot of it was the language. At one point the author said that one person was trying to keep on another person's good side. Unfortunately, that person didn't have a good side. Now, isn't that the way to get kids involved in a story? The author kept all the not so interesting part in end of the book footnotes. I rather wished she had indicated when she had a footnote in the main text, but her way meant a much smoother, exciting story. She realized the questions people would likely ask and answered a lot of them in her footnote section. The samurai weren't shown ever drinking tea because that hadn't started yet in Japanese history. etc. This is superb writing! If history were habitually written this way, we'd have a nation of history lovers, not history haters. I'm off to text my adult son and recommend the book to him!
February 11, 2017
An epic life with history behind you and history before you, Turner does an awe-inspiring job of detailing the "epic life of Minamoto Yoshitune" and how samurais became what we know of them today. It is about honor, battle, war and it features severed heads and treachery against your half siblings. No one was really safe including new babies, especially if they were boys and especially if they were the children of hated/feared/loved samurai like Yoshitune.
Each chapter has a black and white illustration and it moves chronologically through his life detailing the battles that were fought throughout his life but also adds in details that aren't written about as often in YA literature. I learned about the horses. I learned about their armor and how it was put together and put on. I learned about what the training is like for a samurai but also a monk. And it was just so darn easy to read. Turner demonstrates her command over the topic through research and editing.
"mono no aware: the poignant awareness of beauty that cannot last."
Each chapter has a black and white illustration and it moves chronologically through his life detailing the battles that were fought throughout his life but also adds in details that aren't written about as often in YA literature. I learned about the horses. I learned about their armor and how it was put together and put on. I learned about what the training is like for a samurai but also a monk. And it was just so darn easy to read. Turner demonstrates her command over the topic through research and editing.
"mono no aware: the poignant awareness of beauty that cannot last."
May 20, 2016
I think I'm with Leonard on this one. His review is definitely worth a read.
I didn't finish this because it felt awfully breezy for the violent subject matter. Do I sound like I'm against nonfiction being fun? I'm really not. I like fun! But a light tone when talking about atrocity is more appropriate for adults who, presumably, get how serious it truly is, even when the violence took place hundreds of years ago. Booklist called this book "pure excitement" and I'm just SMH that senseless violence is so thrilling to so many.
Ever since I had a baby I can't stomach violence like I used to. I can't watch Game of Thrones anymore. I even have trouble watching the NFL because I feel bad for the mothers of the players getting their brains smashed for entertainment. I'm not the right reader for this book right now.
I didn't finish this because it felt awfully breezy for the violent subject matter. Do I sound like I'm against nonfiction being fun? I'm really not. I like fun! But a light tone when talking about atrocity is more appropriate for adults who, presumably, get how serious it truly is, even when the violence took place hundreds of years ago. Booklist called this book "pure excitement" and I'm just SMH that senseless violence is so thrilling to so many.
Ever since I had a baby I can't stomach violence like I used to. I can't watch Game of Thrones anymore. I even have trouble watching the NFL because I feel bad for the mothers of the players getting their brains smashed for entertainment. I'm not the right reader for this book right now.
August 7, 2016
Perfect to pair this gripping nonfiction account of real samurai with the fantasy historical novel Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi featuring a female samurai. Loved the backup material in Turner's book -- maps, glossary, pronunciation guides, timelines, extensive endnotes, etc. On her website, the author also has a PDF discussion guide to download.
Read
November 21, 2016This was well written, fast-paced, compelling, and falls squarely into the category of "not at all for me." I personally found the fight scenes boring, but I know there are teen readers who love these sorts of legends of history, especially about samurai, who will eat this up. Excellent backmatter and the illustrations throughout add a nice touch.
December 21, 2016
I am sorry it took so long and several tries to get through this bloody, brutal tale. Epic and brilliant, meticulously researched, this earned plenty of starred reviews, made quite a few "best" lists. I fully anticipate awards come January. I was able to stick with the story through audio. The Japanese narrator read beautifully and his native pronunciations of names was helpful.
June 9, 2015
this is a great book detailing the life of the samurai. easily accessible by all
February 7, 2017
I'm a little disappointed. This had great reviews when I ordered it for the library, but I really didn't like the writing style.
January 14, 2019
The book “Samurai Rising” follows several groups of samurai along with the main character Yoshitsune who is a samurai and a natural born leader. It tells of Yoshitsune as he is taken from birth and rises through the ranks as he plans his revenge on his abductors. He trains from a young age to rejoin with his family to push their enemy, the Tiara out of the capitol, Kyoto, and hopefully out of power for good. Yoshitsune leads several successful campaigns and even travels abroad to seek help in his fights and efforts. Along with this at one point in the book he is considered an enemy of the state by both his family and the Tiara and goes on the run with a few of his friends and travels great distances through the land and mountains receiving help from monks and temples who give them shelter, food and protection from the people after them. It then describes, after the death of Yoshitsune, the sad downfall of his family as they become corrupt and weak through weak leaders and are eventually overpowered and overthrown.
“Samurai Rising” was written well with good background and detail which made the characters seem as real and detailed as they would’ve been so long ago in real life. My favorite part of the book would have to be when Yoshitsune leads his army across the sea and despite the disadvantage they have in experience on water they are able to push back and defeat the Tiara just with the change of the tide. One part I really like in the book was when Yoshitsune and a small army take on and are able to defeat the Tiaras stronghold which was thought to be impenetrable but Yoshitsune was able to defeat it with some planning, risk, and good leadership. At the end Yoshitsune was surrounded and the description of his death and his family was written really detailed and brought out genuine sorrow as he begged his wife to run with his child to safety but she doesn't want to leave him to die alone and stays with him and is put to death by seppuku along with their child so she can be with them in the afterlife along with how they set fire to the house so they wont get his head but they get him before he burns and hang his head at the capitol like a criminal and enemy. I also like the fact that even though Yoshitsunes family, the Minamoto, are overthrown and are put out of power and disapear they are still a famous family and known especially Yoshitsune because of his powerful and great leadership through out the book and his struggles.
Though the book was good, one thing I didn't like was that it was so short as it only really covered the battles and journeys he took within his like, saying that I wish it covered more of Yoshitsunes self conflicts and his life in between the pages of the story such as self hardships, relationships with others, and his training. And, though it had a good heroic ending for Yoshitsune and his family and friends in which they hold out and fight till their death I wish the story would’ve ended more in the favor of Yoshitsune and his family and friends, or other wise said, I wish it had a more positive ending, but, sadly you cannot rewrite history in your favor. One other thing I wasn’t fond of was that the majority of the book Yoshitsune was either hated or the enemy of someone even of his family at one point, there was a never really a time of peace or freindship between Yoshitsune and everyone else which was quite unfortunate.
Overall it was a really interesting, good, and a well put together book for when it is based off of, as it is a story account from 1160 and is still able to capture so much detail and parts of his life that some other books try to get but just cant. Out of five stars I would give it a four and recommend it as a good book to read if you are into a good action book, or, if you like a good book of a heroic leader in his fight for his life and justice, or, if you just love a good read. Though I also love the book for how deep and detailed it is able to get with Yoshitsune and the others around him. This creates a sense of realism and some understanding or imagery between the reader and the book which makes it enjoyable to read.
“Samurai Rising” was written well with good background and detail which made the characters seem as real and detailed as they would’ve been so long ago in real life. My favorite part of the book would have to be when Yoshitsune leads his army across the sea and despite the disadvantage they have in experience on water they are able to push back and defeat the Tiara just with the change of the tide. One part I really like in the book was when Yoshitsune and a small army take on and are able to defeat the Tiaras stronghold which was thought to be impenetrable but Yoshitsune was able to defeat it with some planning, risk, and good leadership. At the end Yoshitsune was surrounded and the description of his death and his family was written really detailed and brought out genuine sorrow as he begged his wife to run with his child to safety but she doesn't want to leave him to die alone and stays with him and is put to death by seppuku along with their child so she can be with them in the afterlife along with how they set fire to the house so they wont get his head but they get him before he burns and hang his head at the capitol like a criminal and enemy. I also like the fact that even though Yoshitsunes family, the Minamoto, are overthrown and are put out of power and disapear they are still a famous family and known especially Yoshitsune because of his powerful and great leadership through out the book and his struggles.
Though the book was good, one thing I didn't like was that it was so short as it only really covered the battles and journeys he took within his like, saying that I wish it covered more of Yoshitsunes self conflicts and his life in between the pages of the story such as self hardships, relationships with others, and his training. And, though it had a good heroic ending for Yoshitsune and his family and friends in which they hold out and fight till their death I wish the story would’ve ended more in the favor of Yoshitsune and his family and friends, or other wise said, I wish it had a more positive ending, but, sadly you cannot rewrite history in your favor. One other thing I wasn’t fond of was that the majority of the book Yoshitsune was either hated or the enemy of someone even of his family at one point, there was a never really a time of peace or freindship between Yoshitsune and everyone else which was quite unfortunate.
Overall it was a really interesting, good, and a well put together book for when it is based off of, as it is a story account from 1160 and is still able to capture so much detail and parts of his life that some other books try to get but just cant. Out of five stars I would give it a four and recommend it as a good book to read if you are into a good action book, or, if you like a good book of a heroic leader in his fight for his life and justice, or, if you just love a good read. Though I also love the book for how deep and detailed it is able to get with Yoshitsune and the others around him. This creates a sense of realism and some understanding or imagery between the reader and the book which makes it enjoyable to read.
February 25, 2018
Fascinating narrative nonfiction! I dreaded reading this required book, totally turned off by the subject matter, the cover, and, especially, the complicated "Characters and Places" page that greeted me at the start. I almost cheated on this book--would my students REALLY know if I skipped it? I'm glad I am honest and have integrity--this book was by far the best nonfiction I've read in at least 10 years. Totally accessible, intriguing, beautifully written with a good amount of sass. More Pamela Turner, please.
If you want to know what was so awesome about this and why you need to recommend this to middle school students looking for a nonfiction title (usually begrudgingly), here it is. Turner provides a narrative about this civil war in Japan in the 1100's with just the right amount of graphic illustrations (only at just the right times to illustrate a concept such as the route two troops are taking, how the tide worked in a particular battle, etc.), the the right balance of cultural background/explanation of context/action/gore/humor, and just the right amount of higher level vocabulary juxtaposed with comparisons and phrases that will totally work for modern tweens. And I learned SO MUCH about things I never thought to care about!
Just look at this paragraph in which Turner explains class contrast in Kyoto:
"Post-famine, post-war Kyoto was full of beggars, ruined houses, and filthy ditches. Yet behind the tile-roofed walls of their compounds, the famillies of the elite enjoyed graceful mansions set in idyllic gardens filled with artifical streams and lakes, horse-racing tracks, dance stages, and fishing pavilions. Within this rarified world, a nobleman or nobelwoman's reputation hinged on his or her ability to compose soulful poetry inked with an elegant hand. Even casual notes betweeen friends were written in poetic style. Attention was lavished on the shade and scent of the paper, the fresh flower tied to the note, and the dress of the servant who delivered it. In this refined society, the poet's status was further enhanced if each of these elements subtly expressed a poignant appreciation of the passing of time and a deep sensitivity to nature.
In Yoshitsune's world, status involved severed heads" (78-79). I love this writer.
I paused at times and read lines aloud. I smiled, gasped, chuckled. I love how she used the words puking, wildly sexy, superstar warrior, and compared elements of ancient society to today's t.v. commercials, social media, and other relatable phenomena.
A few human truths I take away from this fascinating history is that "Trash talk, it seems, is not a modern invention," and "When pride arrives, logic takes a hike." :)
I recommend this to adults, teens, and especially middle school students who are decent readers and have a 7th grade vocabulary (according to Oxford Sadlier). Three of my book club students (two boys, one girl) loved it and are the ones who forced me to read it. Bless them.
If you want to know what was so awesome about this and why you need to recommend this to middle school students looking for a nonfiction title (usually begrudgingly), here it is. Turner provides a narrative about this civil war in Japan in the 1100's with just the right amount of graphic illustrations (only at just the right times to illustrate a concept such as the route two troops are taking, how the tide worked in a particular battle, etc.), the the right balance of cultural background/explanation of context/action/gore/humor, and just the right amount of higher level vocabulary juxtaposed with comparisons and phrases that will totally work for modern tweens. And I learned SO MUCH about things I never thought to care about!
Just look at this paragraph in which Turner explains class contrast in Kyoto:
"Post-famine, post-war Kyoto was full of beggars, ruined houses, and filthy ditches. Yet behind the tile-roofed walls of their compounds, the famillies of the elite enjoyed graceful mansions set in idyllic gardens filled with artifical streams and lakes, horse-racing tracks, dance stages, and fishing pavilions. Within this rarified world, a nobleman or nobelwoman's reputation hinged on his or her ability to compose soulful poetry inked with an elegant hand. Even casual notes betweeen friends were written in poetic style. Attention was lavished on the shade and scent of the paper, the fresh flower tied to the note, and the dress of the servant who delivered it. In this refined society, the poet's status was further enhanced if each of these elements subtly expressed a poignant appreciation of the passing of time and a deep sensitivity to nature.
In Yoshitsune's world, status involved severed heads" (78-79). I love this writer.
I paused at times and read lines aloud. I smiled, gasped, chuckled. I love how she used the words puking, wildly sexy, superstar warrior, and compared elements of ancient society to today's t.v. commercials, social media, and other relatable phenomena.
A few human truths I take away from this fascinating history is that "Trash talk, it seems, is not a modern invention," and "When pride arrives, logic takes a hike." :)
I recommend this to adults, teens, and especially middle school students who are decent readers and have a 7th grade vocabulary (according to Oxford Sadlier). Three of my book club students (two boys, one girl) loved it and are the ones who forced me to read it. Bless them.
May 21, 2018
This book was in the "we recommend" section at my local library. I'd never heard of it, but, on a whim, I grabbed it on my way out.
I would first like the compliment the author's supreme writing. Plenty of YA books I've read seem to talk down to their readers. Not this one, not at all. If anything, I was positively charmed by her outreach language:
“… the Kyoto nobility would consider themselves the cool kids. They thought of the samurai as dumb jocks.” (pg. 13)
“Along the way, Yoshitsune probably heard a few stories about his own famous family… No pressure, Yoshistune.” (pg. 19)
I also enjoyed when she was talking about the singing, drum-beating female entertainers of the time, noting, "...twelfth century Japanese men found this incredibly sexy." Or when she notes how the travelling minstrels and epic poem recitals were the, "social media of its time."
I also really appreciated her description of life in the Heian period. Like a lot of my peers, my knowledge of Japanese history begins and ends with the Modern period, when the samurai and their culture already reigned supreme. This book got me to take a closer look at Classical Japan, which is absolutely fascinating - a world of flowers and silk, of poetry and archery contests.
Overall a delightful find (on my part, I'm sure this book is well-known in its own right).
I would first like the compliment the author's supreme writing. Plenty of YA books I've read seem to talk down to their readers. Not this one, not at all. If anything, I was positively charmed by her outreach language:
“… the Kyoto nobility would consider themselves the cool kids. They thought of the samurai as dumb jocks.” (pg. 13)
“Along the way, Yoshitsune probably heard a few stories about his own famous family… No pressure, Yoshistune.” (pg. 19)
I also enjoyed when she was talking about the singing, drum-beating female entertainers of the time, noting, "...twelfth century Japanese men found this incredibly sexy." Or when she notes how the travelling minstrels and epic poem recitals were the, "social media of its time."
I also really appreciated her description of life in the Heian period. Like a lot of my peers, my knowledge of Japanese history begins and ends with the Modern period, when the samurai and their culture already reigned supreme. This book got me to take a closer look at Classical Japan, which is absolutely fascinating - a world of flowers and silk, of poetry and archery contests.
Overall a delightful find (on my part, I'm sure this book is well-known in its own right).
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