HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

Heart of a Samurai (2010)

by Margi Preus

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
9584521,659 (4.03)30
In 1841, rescued by an American whaler after a terrible shipwreck leaves him and his four companions castaways on a remote island, fourteen-year-old Manjiro, who dreams of becoming a samurai, learns new laws and customs as he becomes the first Japanese person to set foot in the United States.
  1. 00
    East of Eden by John Steinbeck (Steve.Gourley)
    Steve.Gourley: This is another work of fiction set in the same period of history as Heart of a Samurai...and features a lot of the same Asian/American relations featured in this book.
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 30 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 45 (next | show all)
Fascinating story of a young, Japanese sailor rescued from a shipwreck and adopted by a whaling ship in the late 1800s.
SPL Global Reading Challenge 2016 ( )
  jennybeast | Apr 14, 2022 |
Manjiro and four companions are stranded on a desert island when their fishing boat is shipwrecked there. When they are finally rescued, it is by an American-based whaling ship. Eventually, Manjiro's companions are put ashore at Honolulu, but Manjiro has gotten a taste for life at sea, and he has befriended the captain of the whaling ship, who invites him to stay on as a member of the crew. When the ship returns to Boston, Manjiro makes many new friends, although he experiences prejudice as well. But will he ever return to Japan?

This Newbery Honor book is based on a true story. I enjoyed the historical elements, though I felt somewhat distanced from the characters. Recommended to those who like Moby Dick and other historical stories with a strong seafaring element. ( )
  foggidawn | Mar 12, 2022 |
Based on the true story of Manjiro Nakahama, believed to be the first Japanese person to set foot in America, this book tells us about global connection and cultural understanding. Historical Note, Glossary, Bibliography.
  NCSS | Jul 23, 2021 |
A young Japanese boy is boat-wrecked on a desert island with a handful of fellow fishermen, rescued by an American whaling ship, adopted by its captain, and grows up in America before making his way back to Japan as a young adult. Once back home, he is subjected to near-torturous questioning about his time in the States, but he eventually makes strides toward helping both cultures better understand each other.

This Newbery Honor Book is based on the true life of Manjiro/John Mung. It's an interesting story, although ultimately not one of my favorite Newbery books. The writing is okay but not great, and the story is well-enough told, but it felt like it could have been more engaging. ( )
  electrascaife | Jul 17, 2021 |
A multichapter children's book, written for older readers, is a great adaptation of the story of Nakahama Manjiro. This story is about a group of sailors and their adventures of getting shipwrecked, seeking adventure and safety, learning about their culture, and what it takes to become a samurai. This is a story that I would definitely use in the classroom as a class text we all read and analyze in older classroom settings. The text is engaging and is a coming-of-age novel that speaks to seeking adventure and cultivating a strong personality. This novel is fantastic in sharing Japanese culture and telling the wonderous tale of Manjiro.
  i.c.garcia524 | Apr 20, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 45 (next | show all)
no reviews | add a review
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
Quotations
Last words
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (2)

In 1841, rescued by an American whaler after a terrible shipwreck leaves him and his four companions castaways on a remote island, fourteen-year-old Manjiro, who dreams of becoming a samurai, learns new laws and customs as he becomes the first Japanese person to set foot in the United States.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (4.03)
0.5
1
1.5
2 1
2.5 2
3 23
3.5 9
4 60
4.5 10
5 31

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

Hachette Book Group

An edition of this book was published by Hachette Book Group.

» Publisher information page

Recorded Books

An edition of this book was published by Recorded Books.

» Publisher information page

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 202,646,549 books! | Top bar: Always visible