Samurai Kids #1: White Crane

I picked up this book by accident. A friend had recommended another samurai series, but I couldn't remember the name. It was not the intended book, but I found a treasure!I read it aloud to my 7 yo son, and we were both enthralled. As previous reviewers have said, there is plenty of humor, action, and adventure---just perfect for a young boy!What I've not read in previous reviews is just how beautifully written these books are! It's absolutely lovely, almost poetic.And the themes are marvelous: teamwork, overcoming adversity, integrity, honor, courage. I think my favorite line in this book is the one in which Niya questions why another child will be invited to be in the Cockroach school the next year when he is able-bodied. Sensei responded so wonderfully. Something to the effect of---Silly boy, I didn't choose you for what you were missing. I choose my students by what they have inside them---great stuff. And such a marvelous message for everyone.Needless to say, we will read them all!

"There just aren't enough books about Samurai."This was the lament I heard from my son last month. I wasn't aware of this lack, but once I started looking I realized he was right, there aren't many Samurai/Ninja books for middle grade readers.I found this one just by combining samurai/children books, but was wary of buying it, my son is notoriously picky about books, so I made him read the excerpt. A few minutes later I heard him yell, I rushed back into the room and he said, "I must have this book, I have to find out what happens next!"Well, he really enjoyed the story, especially the ending. It also inspired him to look up things online; kitana, dojo, sensei and rice pudding (weird, but he really likes pudding). He said the competition reminded him a little of Toph's school of metalbending (from Avatar the Last Airbender).All in all a fun and fast book that I highly recommend for kids, I took a look at the book and think the reading level is for 10-12 year olds.

SAVING THIS FOR LATER. WISH IT HAD GIVEN A RECOMMENDED AGE. MY 6 YO GRANDSON LOVES TO BE READ TO AND HE'S EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN SAMURAI SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE. WE READ BOOKS FOR 8-11 AGE GROUP. THIS IS ABOVE THAT.

Amazing! A lot of deep meanings that adults will pick up on too.

My 9 year old only read about half of the book. He said is was boring (now this is a kid who love to read and reread books) but my son likes books more like diary of a wimpy kid books.

I gave this to my almost 8-year old nephew for the holidays and he read it very quickly and reportedthoroughly enjoying it! I will find the next one in the series for his birthday.

Great series.

Anybody who wants to be a samurai or is just looking for a nice, fun tale of wisdom and courage must read the this book. Full of action and adventure White Crane is a great book for young readers!

My name is Edward. I am 9 years old and I am a really big fan of the Samurai Kids books. It is about a boy with one leg and his friends Mikko, Yoshi, Kyoko, Taji and Nezume. Most of his friends have disabilities too. They are going to the big samurai games and plan to take part. Their sensei Ki-Yaga is their master and teaches them how to work together and defeat the students from the Dragon Ryu which is a cruel place.The books are exciting and make you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. They also teach you a lot about Japan including some frightening things like if a stranger touches a samurai's sword they will be killed, even if they have touched the sword by accident.

The Cockroach School is the only one to train children with any form of disability, this is the story of those children and their quest to win the Samurai Trainee Games under instruction from Ki-Yaga, their Sensai. An excellent book for children showing how disability can be overcome and a lesson in the samurai Bushido code.