New Customer Review - Heart of a Samurai

Heart of a Samurai
by Margi Preus [j Preus]

How would you react if someone greeted you with a bow or by avoiding eye contact? Captain Whitfield reacted with impatience, which puzzled Manjiro and his fishermen companions. To them, those actions showed politeness. Other similar examples of miscommunication between cultures abound in Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus, the fictionalized true story of how a Japanese teenage fisherman named Manjiro discovered America in 1841 and how as an adult he persuaded Japan to ease open its boundaries. As such, it will interest historical fiction buffs and those seeking multicultural novels. Because Heart of a Samurai also involves sea travel, whaling expeditions, mutiny, and storms, it'll also appeal to anyone who likes adventure stories. Margi Preus visited Japan twice, which no doubt helped with her convincing portrayal of Manjiro and his companions. In every situation, Preus helps me see what five fisherman in 1841 might have felt. All of these situations are also explored within the context of a story that is already incredibly interesting. Manjiro and his companions get caught in a storm. Even when they find land, their peril has just begun. Because of an author's need to remain faithful to actual events, the risk of historical fiction is that it can read like a dry narrative. In contrast, Heart of a Samurai poignantly explores universal themes. Some are fairly familiar such as that of growing up and finding one's place in the world. Other themes have been less frequently explored but are equally important, such as how to negotiate the precarious balance between two worlds that one loves. Through moments like these, Preus makes Manjiro feel like a real person. What I loved most about Heart of a Samurai is how Preus introduced me to an inspiring individual whom I wish I could have known, within the context of an enthralling story. -- review submitted by Allison H.-F., a customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library

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