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Heart of a Samurai

Based on the True Story of Nakahama Manjiro
nathanielsoria
Apr 11, 2017nathanielsoria rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
In this slice of old history not many of us know about, Preus writes an amazing story about a young Japanese boy lost at sea, who finds the bravery to explore onward and into a new world: North America. It's stunning all the young boy goes through in order to get there. His resilience was amazing. I found myself wondering why this story isn't well known. Its message hits home with current racial issues– the young Japanese boy adjustments to being one of the first Japanese to set foot on United States soil. He's met with both adversity and sometimes kindness. And yet he overcomes and does more than anyone could've ever expected. Preus does a great job of both sharing historical context and information, while still being a great storyteller– you come to love the young hero as he meets a lot of interesting characters along the way. It's worth every minute of reading. I highly recommend.