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Samurai Kids 2

Owl Ninja

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

The uniquely talented samurai kids are back — and ready to join forces with a ninja clan! — as the fast-paced martial arts series continues.
(Ages 9-14)

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

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  • Reviews

    • School Library Journal

      April 1, 2011

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

      Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Kirkus

      January 1, 2011

      Whereas the first of the Samurai Kids series had a lagging pace, the sophomore installment's rhythm has improved, much like the martial-arts skills of its characters. Coming off their dark-horse victory at the Samurai Trainee Games, the Cockroach Ryu, consisting of six outcasts with physical anomalies from blindness to albinism, find themselves in a climate of uncertainty as they embark on the noble and frightening mission to beg the emperor for peace in a time of war--but not without help from the elusive ninja. Their voyage, narrated by the Ryu's increasingly prudent Niya, who has only one leg and must navigate the world with a crutch, is delicately crafted, creating a poetic formula that makes the tale a smoothly transitioned tableau of action and humor. Charming kernels of wisdom woven throughout are invaluable to anyone feeling on the wrong side of fortunate: "Friends make the best crutches." Authentically rendered illustrations enhance the heartfelt story, which ends with what's-in-store expectations. An illustrated character guide is generously included for those moments of wondering who's who. (Historical adventure. 10-15)

      (COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

    • Booklist

      February 1, 2011
      Grades 5-8 In this sequel to White Crane (2010), the handicapped but talented students of the Cockroach Ryu school set out with their ancient samurai master, Ki-Yaga, in hopes of persuading the emperor himself to put a halt to an impending war. Along the way, they encounter a ghost, train as ninjas in a secret school, and once again make the arrogant, blustering master of the rival Dragon Ryu look like a fool. As before, theres plenty of horseplay, significant instruction in traditional samurai values, a little Zen, a bit of suspense, and a generous number of evocative, accomplished illustrations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

    • The Horn Book

      July 1, 2011
      With the drums of war beating, a band of disabled samurai-in-training, the Cockroach Ryu, sets off to convince the Emperor to maintain peace. Along the way, the youngsters receive help from an unlikely source--the Owl Ninja clan. Some historical details are inaccurate, but struggling readers and fans of the previous book (White Crane) will enjoy the straightforward narrative style.

      (Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:4
  • Lexile® Measure:600
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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