Heart of a Samurai

Heart of a Samurai
Author: Margi Preus
Medal: Newbery Award
Genre: Historic Fiction
Grades: 5-9

In 1841, a Japanese fishing boat sinks with 14 year old Majairo aboard. Him and the crew are forced to swim to a unknown island where they are rescued by a passing American ship. The American ship takes them to America and has the crew learn English along the way. Majairo is excited to learn English and the American culture. While on the boat Maijairo is adopted by the captain and is taken to live in New England with him. There Maijairo is given an American name, John, and is enrolled in school. At school John has troubles because of his race and origin. When he gets older, he gets the chance to return back to Japan, and fulfill one of his lifelong dreams. This book is a good read to have in class because it demonstrates the amount of work it takes to accomplish your lifelong dream.