The Sign of the Chrysanthemum: From a Newbery Medalist – A Boy's Dangerous Quest for His Samurai Father in 12th-Century Japan for Kids (Ages 8-12)

by Katherine Paterson, Peter Landa (Illustrator)

In the Newbery Medalist's first book, Muna searches for his father, a samurai warrior, in 12th-century Japan. Muna has never known his father—a samurai, a noble warrior. But Muna's mother has told Muna how he will know him one   by the sign of the chrysanthemum. When his mother dies, Muna travels to the capital of twelfth-century Japan, a bewildering city on the verge of revolution. He finds a haven there, as servant to the great swordsmith, Fukuji. But Muna cannot forget his He must find his father. Only then will he have power and a name to be reckoned with. His desperate search for the father he has never seen leads thirteen-year-old Muna to danger and adventure in the crowded, colorful capital city of twelfth-century Japan. But where should he look for him? And how will he recognize him? His father left before Muna was born—and his mother is now dead. All that the boy knows of his father is that he is a great warrior, a samurai...and that he bears on his shoulder a chrysanthemum tattoo. Wars between two powerful clans divide the city, making his search more difficult and dangerous. Muna is torn between his respect for Fukuji, the brilliant swordsmith who takes him into his home, and his loyalty to Takanobu, a former samurai who is now an outlaw. Tempered by fire and sword, Muna finally discovers who he really is.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Japan, Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Historical, Asia

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Katherine Womeldorf Paterson is an American writer best known for children's novels, including Bridge to Terabithia. For four different books published 1975–1980, she won two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards. She is one of four people to win the two major international awards; for "lasting contribution to children's literature" she won the biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing in 1998 and for her career contribution to "children's and young adult literature in the broadest sense" she won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from the Swedish Arts Council in 2006, the biggest monetary prize in children's literature. Also for her body of work she was awarded the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature in 2007 and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal from the American Library Association in 2013. She was the second US National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, serving 2010 and 2011.

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another homeless apprentice learns responsibility, as he works with a master craftsman in Japan during the time of the samurais.(Do I sense a pattern in the books I've been reading lately?) Unfortunately for young Muna (which means No Name), his allegiance is divided between the kind swordsmith and an outlaw rogue, who seems to come nearer to fulfilling his dream of a role model. Eventually he repudiates the dark side of life and comes to an understanding of his identity, but not in the way he had hoped.

I was surprised that this book was placed in the juvenile department. The character is older, and the emotions and conflicts that he experiences are more complex. A sad loose end: the girl he likes is sold to a house of ill repute in what we might call the "red light district". Surely Muna would be able to effect her release, I thought--but after one try, he is beaten, and she is never seen again. Her contribution to the story is that now "he knew what happened to beautiful girls who were orphaned."

[gabrielle darnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, Katherine Paterson has written a story that speaks truly about the human heart. In her story about a bastard boy looking for his samurai father in feudal Japan, she shows that no matter the time, culture, or country, humans long for the same things -- identity, family, and honor. At the same time, The Sign of the Chrysanthemum is rich with detail about the unique characteristics of Japanese culture. This is not like the many corny Japanese samurai stories that have been written recently for young adults. Patterson draws on her experiences of growing up in Asia to make this a novel of depth, historical accuracy, and truth.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another win in the historical fiction shelf. This book is a slow going stream compared to the books I normally read, slow but not unpleasant I enjoyed this book through and through.

[Nikita · Rating 4 out of 5]

didnt clearly understand the ending

[Kellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thirteen-year-old hero of this story, Mura, seeks to remove the stigma of his birth and his name. Mura means “No Name” and was given to Mura because his father deserted his unmarried mother before Mura was born.

After Mura’s mother dies Mura travels to the capital of Japan to look for his father, a reputed samurai warrior.

Paterson describes the culture, beauty and harshness of 12th century Japan. Mura faces many challenges and ethical dilemmas which Paterson resolves in surprising ways.

[Hadiqa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand the book is little confusing in some places and lacks dialogue. It was quiet boring in the beginning but when Muna grew up the story takes a different turn and becomes a little more interesting. The ending will make you like the book.. It's worth a try!

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have strong memories of hating this book when I read it in 5th grade. It was most likely because I couldn't relate to the main character, but I remember being really bored. Probably warrants another go, but this rating is based on my memory of my 5th grade self.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite children's book. I read this so many times in the libraries growing up that I just about wore out the pages! Ms. Paterson brings Asian culture to life in this book.

[Leexi · Rating 2 out of 5]

i liked this book, though i still wonder what would have happened if muna had found his father...

[Williamproctor · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was ok it wasnt that great and it was born.

[Rayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel Sign of the Chrysanthemum depicts how growing up and always being an outcast for having the name Muna, later results in him searching for himself. The story shows how an outcast from society stows away on a ship to find his Father on the main island. We see how Muna is torn apart from the rogue Takunobu who was his first friend, versus the swordsmith Fukuji who took him in when he lost everything. The major characteristic of Tokanobu is how Muna finds out there was a fire and he thought that he died, however, he is alive and now wants Muna back by saying that he is his father.
We see how Muna is torn apart from seeing the father he always wanted, as opposed to the Father he thinks is his. As the book goes on we eventually see how the turmoil between two major power groups leads to a massive fight and eventually, Tokanobu dies, for his debt owed. The book then leaves openly with how Muna returns to Fukuji to be his apprentice, after stealing a sword which he used to fight within the battle. This book uses literary devices of symbolism and allegory, we see this through how the chrysanthemum tattoo represents optimism and a chance to find his father, as that was the only identifying object. We also see imagery though how the author expresses the underlying allegory of how you can be whoever you want. These devices help the plot by giving dramatic irony that his father may be dead and how Muna has to make a name for himself.
Overall the book was good and was truly how much you put into it you got out. It had a lot of details and if you did not pay attention you may be lost very fast. It also poses a question upon yourself of how are you who you want to be or are you who people tell you to be. It was a solid read and I recommend to read it even though it isn't the best written, for its message and deep picture it paints.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I would not recommend it for elementary school age. It's better for middle school and above due to adult themes (human trafficking, prostitution, possible murder or accidental death, theft, war). I liked the ending very much. It's a good life lesson. Life isn't all roses and sunshine. It is what you make of it.

I love the cover art. The interior illustrations are sketches. They were fine with me. I like sketches.

The following lyric is a spoiler if you think about it. If I were to explain it, then it would definitely need a spoiler alert. So I won't explain it. As the Rolling Stones sang, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need."

Muna allows the insults of others to affect how he feels about himself. His bruised ego leads him on a quest to try to obtain a sense of honor by finding his father and attaching his ego to what his father has earned in life. Little does he know that he can obtain honor by being his best self. Off he goes on his quest and meets people whom he puts his trust in, but who are [SPOILER ALERT FOR THE REST OF THIS REVIEW] not good mentors. Aligning himself with them diminishes his honor. Finally, he does his best at what he is able to do and gains his own honor from others and from himself.

[Lana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. Este libro me lo regalaron hace muchos años y en realidad creo que ya se me había pasado la época de leerlo, porque es de estos "para más de 12 años" que se ve claramente que están pensados para niños o preadolescentes. Pero bueno, lo tenía en la estantería de libros sin leer y he querido empezar a vaciar esa estantería antes de seguir comprando y acumulando. Sabía que iba a ser una lectura rápida y que no perdía nada leyéndolo. La historia la verdad es que no me ha fascinado ni enganchado, pero está bien contada y es muy visual, puedes imaginarlo todo. Es el viaje del héroe, un cuento sobre la búsqueda de uno mismo y el regreso a casa, temas que en realidad son importantes para todas las edades. Es cierto que creo que podría haber disfrutado más con otra edad, pero a fin de cuentas ha sido una lectura bonita.

[Sóley Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Þessi bók er falinn gimsteinn. Bókin gerist í Japan á 12 öld og fjallar um strák sem kallaður er Muna (hinn nafnlausi). Móðir hans sagði honum að faðir hans væri mikill samúræji og því heldur hann til borgarinnar, Kyoto í leit að föður sínum, eftir að móðir hans deyr. Í borginni er hinsvegar mikil togstreita á milli tveggja stríðandi ætta samúræja og er stríð yfirvofandi.

Bókin nær að fanga á raunsæjan hátt menningu Japana, hugsunarhátt þeirra og umhverfi þessa tíma. Mjög áhugaverð, spennandi og góð bók fyrir eldri börn, unglinga og fullorðna.

[Joänna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent narrative driven by a flawed but searching character. Although classified as 3rd-7th grade it addresses themes more commonly associated with teens in our culture (search for identity, belonging, career, love, societal respect). It also used vocabulary far beyond these grades. My 4th grader could not relate to anything, and most of it required extensive discussion to understand.

On the other hand, it was beautifully written, and swallows you deeply into a time and place that is not our own. I thought it was wonderful! Simply put, more appropriate for 8th grade and up.

[Larinmtz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, quick read, but don't be fooled by the size of the book: It's definitely a YA read, due to subject matter, rather than for the younger set. Other reviewers have mentioned the hopelessness they see in the book, and while there is a strong vein of hopelessness running through it, ultimately there is resolution (although I'm not going to give more detail, because spoilers and all that). Paterson does a good job of bringing the setting to life. Enjoyable.

[Dianeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting story taking place many years ago in Japan. I especially liked it for 2 reasons. The first because I thought I figured out what would happen to Muna
in his search for his father. But I had it all wrong! And I’m glad because I don’t think every story should have a perfect, happy ending. Second, I liked the ending that Paterson wrote very much.

[Camie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it simultaneously with my sixth grade son. This was an school assignment. I think I read this story years ago because the storyline was familiar as it unfolded. Overall, an enjoyable read. Seemed rushed at the end. Not my favorite book by this author.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a simple story meant for kids in upper elementary, but I enjoyed it. I liked the cultural and historical tidbits mixed in to teach without making it feel like being taught. The story didn't pan out the way I'd expected, but it's nice when a story isn't so predictable.

[Iris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Educational, but boring and tedious, with flat and dull characters. The timelines of the book also felt very mixed up and confusing, with parts being rushed and others being dragged on forever, giving the story as a whole a sloppy and monotonous je ne sais quoi.

[Anjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of harsh reality and it was a tear jerker for me. Great story. The name of his father the importance it was to him.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

By author of "bridge to terabithia ," well written about a japanese boy looking for his father.

[Angelika Miria Miria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written, and the story was quite the journey, however, certain things should have been revealed that weren’t in the end, and the action was a little slow, but very well written.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exciting story. It feels authentic. I just don't like that the girl doesn't get a happy ending too.

[Sara Nagy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Egyebkent egesz jo volt a sztori. Felbaszott hogy nem tudjuk meg vegul, ki volt az apja. Tudom thats the point de attol még idegesit

[Rain Misoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oi... my head... not to say that this book is horrible. It was an okay read. However, what I don't like about a lot of Paterson's novels is the lack of hope. Basically, this novel was no different. I wanted to read this book because, even though I've read other books of hers and I noticed the recurring theme, I thought since this was her first novel and it was about Japan (my favorite country) it was going to be different. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

I usually find that I have no problems with the writing style of authors. That's not the case with Katherine Paterson. Though having a nice grasp of putting words together to paint a beautiful scene, she lacks transitions. She would start off in one area of the setting and then, before you know it, you're somewhere else entirely. There were parts in the book where you had to re-read a paragraph in order to know that the scene had change. The same thing could be said about the mood. There's one particular scene where one of the characters was being forceful and smug then, without much notice, that same character was being cowardly the next sentence over without any reason. It was far too confusing and not very well explained for any reader to follow or even care.

Story-wise... the book was poor. It follows a boy trying to locate his father so he can make a name for himself. It might have worked if only there was actual searching going on. No, nothing happens. The boy decides to make excuses for what's going on and then, enter hopeless message here. It dragged on to get absolutely no where and just made me want to slap someone out of shere annoyance. The only part I liked about the story was the Japanese aspect of it. You get to learn a lot about the Heian era in Japan from little snippets of court life to how women where changed into geisha and even what happened with beggars. There's even mention about the war between the Genji and the Heike. However, these come in small amounts and not enough detail so even this part of the book is lacking. (Not to mention there are various typoes on Japanese names.) -_-"

Not all the characters are horrible. Muna, the main character, was a very sweet boy. His name means "No Name" and it is one of the many reasons why he decides to find his father to make a name for himself. I do sympathize with him even though he makes a lot of stupid decisions. He is easily manipulated and has issues with making decisions for himself. It makes me upset that by the end of the book, you feel that he came to a decision that Paterson gives to all her characters. That being "Life sucks. Deal with it." There's this other character called Takanobu. He was Muna's first friend when he arrives in the city and I adored him! He's fun, quirky, free-spirited; he had all the qualities I like in my characters. But Paterson destroyed him! He had so much promise and then you see him get slowly corrupted. It makes me sad.

There's a bunch of side characters that suffer a similar fate. Kawaki, Akiko, even Fukuji, though not a side character, gets betrayed and all you want is to hold him to your bosom and say, "All this will be fine. I'll love you!" Although, to be fair to Paterson, I did feel that Fukuji, this kind elderly swordsmith, was the only one to find a happy ending. He was the only one I felt was able to find peace with what his position brought about him. I wish the same could be said about the other characters.

Put briefly, the novel was okay. The message in it is dull and non-inventive but there's some parts of it that was good enough to keep one reading until the very end. You feel bad for a lot of the characters and there's not much of a story... and it's down right depressing in some areas. However, you do get some of the Japanese history and not all the characters suffer a tremendous loss so it's not all tears. I wouldn't recommend children reading this. There was some adult themes, though well hidden, that appear in this book. (Prostitution being one of them) My suggestion is that you check this one out of the library first before you decide to buy it. It'll save you a few dollars that can be spent on donuts. *Nods*

[Sheila Decosse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written with an immersion in the ancient culture of the samurai's, the book is a probably unique and gripping story of a yonug teen, who , a peasant, loses his mother and has an unknown father who, his mother told him had a chrysanthemum tattooed on his shoulder and was a samuarai. THe boy hides on a ship to Kyoto where he meets a rough street man protector< Takanobo. In Kyoto, MANU, the boy starves and struggles and is helped by some. At the age of 15, he feels he should be treated as a man, but goes forth and makes ethical and stupid mistakes. Eventually, mostly through the kindness of poor people and the aide of one craftsman,, he matures to a strong, humorous young person.
As a writer myself, I noticed both the fine character readings and also, inconsistencies in the plot.
Learned later, this was the first novel of this fine novelist.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Young, Muna, a.k.a., no name, had borded a boat to find his father. he had gotten off the boat, at the Capital after making a friend, Takanobu. They would always meet at the Red Dog, along with some of Takanobu's friends. One night, while Muna was out, a fire was uproared while Takanobu was there. Muna had thought everyone had died, so he went in the smoking building to try and find them. He came out and the next thing he new, he was in a swordmakers shop. He began his life there with out Takanobu. He would once in a while do jobs for Fukuji, and visit his old friends, Kawaki and Akaki. One time he went there, he realized that Kawaki had gotten ill and Akaki was taking care of him. When he was leaving one day, some man started following Muna. He stopped his tracks and turned to look at the man. It was Takanobu. He is alive.

Compare: Text to World: The S of C is about a boy trying to find his dad, and losing friends along the way. Some people these days are trying to find themselves, or family members, in order to be happy. Many people lose people close to them, like the victims of 9/11. Muna finds a friend to stay with, so he can continue his journey to find his dad. He wants to find his dad, so he can have a parent to be with, and so he can fill in the blanks of his life. Many people are in search of life and things that can help them. The S of C is just like our world.

I read from page 54-72 and I read 105 pages of the Daughters.

[Eugenie · Rating 4 out of 5]

NY, Harper and Row, 1973
Katherine Paterson writes of a teenager coming to know himself through contacts with social ills and political unrest while searching for his father in Japan's capital, centuries ago. She does a wonderful job of developing the boy's character as the story unfolds. It is suspenseful and a bit heart wretching as the reader learns of the social injustices that occur. It is fraught with many of the harsh realities of that time but it also includes beauty and excitement. This would be a wonderful selection to use in teaching a multicultural unit. Many facets of Japanese culture are mentioned and some are shown in the pen and ink illustrations. There are themes that could be explored: honor, identity, family, trust, friendship, etc. Overall, I enjoyed this book and was drawn in to the story.

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good. Some of the book was kind of was really boring. I dont want to say why because I dont want to ruin it for anyone. But it was kind of confusing because the names in the book are in Japenesse. So i couldnt pronounce some of the words.

In the beginnig Muna the main character's mother dies. And to him thats his chance to finally go out and try to find his father the Samurai. So Muna goes and hides on a cargo hip. Once the boat stops he heads to the Capital......
(a lot of chapters later)
Muna steals the sword for Fukuji and attempts to give it to Takanobu because he said he was Munas father. But when he gives it to him, Takanobu laughes at Muna.
(a few chapters later)
The End