The Sword that Cut the Burning Grass (Samurai Detective Series) (Volume 4) - Softcover

Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler have written for children, young adults, and general audiences. They have concentrated on history and historical fiction, and received an Edgar and many other awards for their work.

Grade 5-8–Another mystery in the series set in 18th-century Japan. Seikei, a 14-year-old samurai apprentice, is eager to prove himself to the shogun. When the 14-year-old emperor refuses to perform his duties, the shogun sends Seikei to talk some sense into him. Along the way, the boy hears of a plot to overthrow the shogun but dismisses it as implausible. When the emperor is later kidnapped, however, Seikei gives some validity to the plot. The authors have written other books featuring this protagonist and this installment may make readers feel as though they're walking into the middle of his story. It is sometimes difficult to keep the names straight and remember who is on which side. However, the action moves quickly and the mystery of the emperor's kidnapping is intriguing. Facets of Japanese history and legend are well integrated and Japanese words are contextually obvious. This book is best suited for fans of the series.–Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH
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