Samurai Rising

Starred review from November 15, 2015
The life of 12th-century samurai Minamoto Yoshitsune unfolds in this compelling and often shocking nonfiction account. The opening warning doesn't lie: very few people die of natural causes. Even as a baby, Yoshitsune's life is tied to war and honor. After Yoshitsune's father, the leader of the Minamoto samurai, kidnaps the Retired Emperor as payback for favoring rival samurai leader Taira Kiyomori, Yoshitsune is taken from his family to live at the Kurama Temple. (His father is later beheaded.) Although he grows up among monks, his warrior heart leads him to escape and seek out samurai training. Soon, he learns that his half brother Yoritomo is rebelling against the Taira. How can Yoshitsune refuse an opportunity to reunite with his kin, avenge his father's murder, and conquer Japan? Turner describes how, with skill, brilliance, and mental toughness that borders on insanity, Yoshitsune attacks the Taira in infamous battles, including an audacious over-the-cliff attack on the fortress Ichi-No-Tani. He becomes a war hero to some, a loathsome figure to others, entering the lore with unforgettable consequences, including institutionalizing the ritual suicide known as seppuku and figuring in art from contemporary medieval songs all the way to modern manga. Samurai life isn't pretty. References to beheadings and seppuku are plentiful and may make some wince. The cast of characters listed becomes a handy guide in keeping up with the Minamotos and Tairas. A well-researched narrative told with true grit. (author's notes, timeline, glossary, chapter notes, bibliography) (Biography. 10-14)

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Starred review from December 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the 12th-century Heian hero who defeated the rival Taira clan only to be undone by another member of the Minamoto group, is a samurai legend. His rise from obscurity, reckless brilliance in battle, and gruesome end (which helped establish seppuku as part of the warrior code) are irresistible features of a life that ended at age 30. A near-contemporary chronicle, Heike monogatari, and a nemesis's history, Azuma kagami, reporting Yoshitsune's deeds were too thin for the popular imagination, which immediately began embroidering on the sources. Turner unpicks some of the yarn but brightens the colors of what remains so that Yoshitsune, physically a small man, leaps from the pages, larger than life and twice as active. Everyone dies-violently-but the famous ends of Atsumori, Antoku, Kiyomori, and others are moving rather than grim. The text rips along, skillfully engaging teens in many swift turns of events. Historical and cultural references are impressively accurate, and Hinds's fluid brush-and-ink drawings and battle maps add useful detail. Although Turner often uses the word probably, the compelling narrative never strains credulity, and expert tricks help readers navigate Japanese names and sort out relationships. Students will find the 60 pages of endnotes equally fascinating and lively; a seven-page bibliography attests to the serious research behind the vivid (but never simplistic) writing. VERDICT Japanophiles, action lovers, and future historians will all find this book gripping.-Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2015
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* With more beheadings than you can shake a katana at, this account of the life of twelfth-century samurai Minamoto Yoshitsune is pure excitement. While he is known mostly through legends, Turner plumbs the archives to figure out who Yoshitsunethe man who redefined the samuraireally was. Beginning in 1160, her account describes the clan rivalry between the Minamotos and the Taira, particularly Yoshitsune's father's failed power grab, which lost him his head and tipped the scales to favor the Taira. Yoshitsune was sent to a Buddhist monastery, but as a teenager, he snuck away to pursue a warrior's life and seek revenge. Throughout, Turner uses modern language and points of reference to draw meaningful comparisons to historic events. For instance, she likens Yoshitsune's sudden decision to undergo samurai training to that of a boy who never had played Little League showing up for spring training with the Yankees. In short, fast-moving chapterseach with opening art by Hindsreaders witness the rebellious, brave Yoshitsune's formative battles, rise to fame, and eventual fall in 1189, while gaining an understanding of the changing role of samurai in Japanese society. Every bit as exciting as fiction, Yoshitsune's saga is supported with extensive chapter notes, a time line, a character list, and an explanation of how Turner recreated his world. Kids who think history is boring will lose their heads over this one.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

May 1, 2016
Turner (The Frog Scientist, rev. 9/09) is best known for her science books for children; here she delivers an excellent biography of Japan's legendary samurai Minamoto Yoshitsune. Because he lived more than eight hundred years ago and few reliable sources for the facts of his life exist, it's not the sort of biography that leaves you intimately acquainted with the subject. (Of course, the basic outline of Yoshitsune's life is present, and Turner has worked assiduously to add some color to the outline, speculating where appropriate.) However, Samurai Rising has great appeal as military history. Turner's action-packed accounts of Yoshitsune's daring and courageous feats in battle, both as a fighter and as a leader, and his ensuing meteoric rise through the ranks of the samurai make for compelling reading. She's taken full advantage of the story's inherent politics and intrigue, treachery and betrayal to write a rollicking good work of narrative nonfiction, and Hinds's digitally assisted brush-and-ink illustrations heighten the mood and atmosphere throughout. More than seventy pages of back matter (which includes author's notes, source notes, timelines, glossary, bibliography, and index) provide further support for the reader. The back cover warns: "Very few people in this story die of natural causes." Turner delivers on the promise of that hook, and it will leave lovers of military history clamoring for more of this type. jonathan hunt

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2016
This excellent biography of Japan's legendary samurai has great appeal as military history. Turner's action-packed accounts of Yoshitsune's daring and courageous feats in battle and his ensuing meteoric rise through the ranks of the samurai make for compelling reading. Hinds's digitally assisted brush-and-ink illustrations heighten the mood and atmosphere throughout. More than seventy pages of back matter provide further support for readers. Timelines. Bib., glos., ind.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

December 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-Turner reconstructs the life and legacy of "Japan's greatest samurai," the 12th-century warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune, from his childhood to his rise as a reckless and awe-inspiring fighter. Turner deftly explores this intricate history, not only crafting a compelling tale but also providing readers with the historical importance of the samurai. Skillful storytelling and meticulous research combine to create an epic sure to satisfy teen history buffs and thrill seekers alike.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.