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Samurai Awakening #1
Samurai Awakening
David Matthews is having a rough time. Being a teenager is bad enough, but when he picks up and moves to Japan for a year, with barely any knowledge of the language or social behaviors of Japanese teenagers, things go from bad to worse.
Until one day, David attends a temple ceremony and finds himself possessed by a Japanese god.
Suddenly, he can understand and speak Japanese. He has unbelievable new powers, including the ability to shift into a tiger, and a powerful sword he can materialize at will from its sheath—his body. But nothing comes for free, and these changes bring David face-to-face with the most terrifying creatures of Japanese legend—vengeful okami, demonic oni and terrifying ghostly yurei.
Trained by his host family, famous sword-makers and the keepers of an ancient secret entrusted to their family by the first Emperor of Japan, David must fight desperately to save his host sister from a hoard of Japanese monsters. Evil has returned to Japan, and David must overcome his own insecurities if he is to save her and become a True Samurai—the protector of Japan.
Until one day, David attends a temple ceremony and finds himself possessed by a Japanese god.
Suddenly, he can understand and speak Japanese. He has unbelievable new powers, including the ability to shift into a tiger, and a powerful sword he can materialize at will from its sheath—his body. But nothing comes for free, and these changes bring David face-to-face with the most terrifying creatures of Japanese legend—vengeful okami, demonic oni and terrifying ghostly yurei.
Trained by his host family, famous sword-makers and the keepers of an ancient secret entrusted to their family by the first Emperor of Japan, David must fight desperately to save his host sister from a hoard of Japanese monsters. Evil has returned to Japan, and David must overcome his own insecurities if he is to save her and become a True Samurai—the protector of Japan.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2012
10 people are currently reading
982 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Martin
5 books34 followersBenjamin Martin was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He studied Japanese Language, Culture, and History at the University of Arizona before joining the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme in 2008. He taught English on small islands in Okinawa for five years before starting work with the Okinawa Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Demonstration Facility. His manuscript was a semi-finalist in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition and Samurai Awakening won the 2013 Crystal Kite award for the Asia/Middle East/India region.
His experiences working with students on small islands has greatly influenced his writing and strengthened his desire to help promote communication and exchange between East and West.
His experiences working with students on small islands has greatly influenced his writing and strengthened his desire to help promote communication and exchange between East and West.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 11, 2012
I have a new found interest in Japanese culture, especially in the days of the samurais, and I was really excited about this one. However, I just don't think this book was for me, and now that I think about it, this book would probably be a reading assignment
more suited for a world literature class.
Before I begin, I wanted to point out that I did read Martin's bio, which is not a usual habit for me, and I was very impressed by his extensive knowledge of the Japanese culture. And it showed in his writing because he made sure readers could picture every little detail.
But perhaps that was the problem because I felt the book was so bogged down with every intricate element that I felt like I was reading an encyclopedia or a guidebook. I guess the thought in my mind was I don't think it can be made into a full-length film because there wasn't enough actual meat to the story. But I know making a movie was not something Martin had in mind, so that's kind of beside the point.
For a book about spirits and samurais, this book really lacked action. And when there was a fight - the criminal, the reveal of who was involved with the ōkami and the possession, Natsuki's fight with the large ghost - it was all very short-lived. Usually it was just the metal or a few moves or a stab, and it was over in a matter of paragraphs. I was looking forward to reading some cool martial arts moves.
The showdown in Chapters 33-34 did have a lot of action, but some of the fight scenes were just glossed over. And I pictured David and the wolf (don't want to ruin the story) leaping forward, but it's one of those where all of a sudden, everything goes white, and then you have someone waking up with no idea what's going on.
I thought Martin did a nice job packaging everything at the end, and I liked how everything was explained about what had happened and how everyone is dealing now. But unless I missed it, the question that was never answered was why David? In these types of books, there's always the dramatic end where all is revealed and the epiphany of "my child, you were chosen because…" or whatever, LOL.
But I never saw that. There has not been a Jitsugen Samurai in "many years," and along comes a foreigner who has had no Japanese background or knowledge of its language or traditions whatsoever. I just wish there was something about David's lineage or the spirit finding some strength in his character or anything that would just give me an explanation of why this fascinating thing happened to this random person.
Overall, this was not a bad book by any means, and I don't want to give an impression that I felt that way. I think Martin is very intelligent, and he is a talented writer. But it was just not at all what I was expecting so I just couldn't get into it. So yeah, not the book for me, so I'm giving it two stars for "okay," but I'm sure there will be a lot of Japanese fanatics will eat the book up.
Before I begin, I wanted to point out that I did read Martin's bio, which is not a usual habit for me, and I was very impressed by his extensive knowledge of the Japanese culture. And it showed in his writing because he made sure readers could picture every little detail.
But perhaps that was the problem because I felt the book was so bogged down with every intricate element that I felt like I was reading an encyclopedia or a guidebook. I guess the thought in my mind was I don't think it can be made into a full-length film because there wasn't enough actual meat to the story. But I know making a movie was not something Martin had in mind, so that's kind of beside the point.
For a book about spirits and samurais, this book really lacked action. And when there was a fight - the criminal, the reveal of who was involved with the ōkami and the possession, Natsuki's fight with the large ghost - it was all very short-lived. Usually it was just the metal or a few moves or a stab, and it was over in a matter of paragraphs. I was looking forward to reading some cool martial arts moves.
The showdown in Chapters 33-34 did have a lot of action, but some of the fight scenes were just glossed over. And I pictured David and the wolf (don't want to ruin the story) leaping forward, but it's one of those where all of a sudden, everything goes white, and then you have someone waking up with no idea what's going on.
I thought Martin did a nice job packaging everything at the end, and I liked how everything was explained about what had happened and how everyone is dealing now. But unless I missed it, the question that was never answered was why David? In these types of books, there's always the dramatic end where all is revealed and the epiphany of "my child, you were chosen because…" or whatever, LOL.
But I never saw that. There has not been a Jitsugen Samurai in "many years," and along comes a foreigner who has had no Japanese background or knowledge of its language or traditions whatsoever. I just wish there was something about David's lineage or the spirit finding some strength in his character or anything that would just give me an explanation of why this fascinating thing happened to this random person.
Overall, this was not a bad book by any means, and I don't want to give an impression that I felt that way. I think Martin is very intelligent, and he is a talented writer. But it was just not at all what I was expecting so I just couldn't get into it. So yeah, not the book for me, so I'm giving it two stars for "okay," but I'm sure there will be a lot of Japanese fanatics will eat the book up.
December 7, 2012
I got this book through Amazon vine and my 12 year old son immediately snatched it from me. He loves all things Japanese, and dove into the book enthusiastically. When he was done, he told me he loved it. I asked what he'd rate it, and he said four stars. His reasons--all the detail about Japan. The fact that the main character is a samurai and can turn into a tiger. I asked what he thought of the characters and the story--he said he "liked" them.
So, I tried to read it. But I could not get past the fact that David goes to Japan as an exchange student for no apparent reason, with no knowledge of the language or culture, and is sent to a school where everything is taught in Japanese. Why does the host mom speak perfect English and the kids don't, when they know the kids have to take English in school? It all seemed a bit contrived and unrealistic.
The voice is fairy dry as well, and I just could not connect with David and couldn't keep the other characters straight. And while some of the story moved at a good pace, much of it seemed jumpy and the characters' reactions often didn't make sense to me.
I do read a lot of MG and YA books--a lot!--and I *can* see how this one would appeal to the younger end of the teen range. The concept is definitely unique and the book is filled with cultural references which appealed to my son (but bogged the story down for me).
Anyway, since this is a mix between my son's review and mine, I gave it a 3-star rating.
So, I tried to read it. But I could not get past the fact that David goes to Japan as an exchange student for no apparent reason, with no knowledge of the language or culture, and is sent to a school where everything is taught in Japanese. Why does the host mom speak perfect English and the kids don't, when they know the kids have to take English in school? It all seemed a bit contrived and unrealistic.
The voice is fairy dry as well, and I just could not connect with David and couldn't keep the other characters straight. And while some of the story moved at a good pace, much of it seemed jumpy and the characters' reactions often didn't make sense to me.
I do read a lot of MG and YA books--a lot!--and I *can* see how this one would appeal to the younger end of the teen range. The concept is definitely unique and the book is filled with cultural references which appealed to my son (but bogged the story down for me).
Anyway, since this is a mix between my son's review and mine, I gave it a 3-star rating.
September 15, 2012
While I don't really care about how accurate books set in Western countries are, I have this almost fanatical need for any book set in Asia to be accurate. This normally means my books set in Asia are normally written by Asians (except Neil Humphrey, although he could practically be considered a Singaporean by now).
So it was with some trepidation that I started reading Samurai Awakening. I wondered, how would you make it plausible for an American to become a Samurai? But I needn't have worried, this book exceeded my expectations. It's a must-read!
Before I start my usual ramble on character and plot, can I talk about how happy I was that Japanese was included in the first few chapters? (before David, the protagonist, understood Japanese). It wasn't some random word in romaji too, it was a proper sentence, with kanji! And the way they translated the sentence into English wasn't a literal translation, but something like how we would translate for people. That was probably the defining section of the first chapter that caused me to fall in love with this book. I was actually jumping about in my room screaming about this!
Character-wise, it was great too! David isn't a Gary Sue (thankfully). He's a gaijin, but he's a gaijin that's willing to learn and adapt. He might have been a bit annoying in the beginning, especially when he didn't seem to try and fit in, but I have days where I feel like that, so I can't criticise much. The Japanese characters all have diverse personalities and are clearly not stereotypes. In particular, I thought the change in Natsuki's character was really interesting.
Plot-wise, it was interesting. I might be repeating myself a lot, but it felt like the first book in the series. There might be too much introduction for some people, but I enjoyed reading about how David grows into a true warrior. It's not an action book, but it's definitely interesting.
With regards to accuracy, well, most, if not all, of the modern Japanese culture touched upon felt accurate to me. When the book switched to oni, obake, youkai and the mythological legends of Japan, I'm pretty sure a lot of creative license was taken. So if you're fanatical about having your mythologies accurate, you might feel frustrated at this point.
And while I was so happy to see that Kendo would be playing a part, it's clear that this kendo is completely different from the kind I learn (I think it's made up too). But, it's quite interesting to read about it, and it wasn't mentioned that much. But for this, I would have preferred if a more general term was used (like 武道 budou - the way of the warrior) rather than a specific discipline since creative liberties were taken.
If you're a fan of Japan, you have to read this book!
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
So it was with some trepidation that I started reading Samurai Awakening. I wondered, how would you make it plausible for an American to become a Samurai? But I needn't have worried, this book exceeded my expectations. It's a must-read!
Before I start my usual ramble on character and plot, can I talk about how happy I was that Japanese was included in the first few chapters? (before David, the protagonist, understood Japanese). It wasn't some random word in romaji too, it was a proper sentence, with kanji! And the way they translated the sentence into English wasn't a literal translation, but something like how we would translate for people. That was probably the defining section of the first chapter that caused me to fall in love with this book. I was actually jumping about in my room screaming about this!
Character-wise, it was great too! David isn't a Gary Sue (thankfully). He's a gaijin, but he's a gaijin that's willing to learn and adapt. He might have been a bit annoying in the beginning, especially when he didn't seem to try and fit in, but I have days where I feel like that, so I can't criticise much. The Japanese characters all have diverse personalities and are clearly not stereotypes. In particular, I thought the change in Natsuki's character was really interesting.
Plot-wise, it was interesting. I might be repeating myself a lot, but it felt like the first book in the series. There might be too much introduction for some people, but I enjoyed reading about how David grows into a true warrior. It's not an action book, but it's definitely interesting.
With regards to accuracy, well, most, if not all, of the modern Japanese culture touched upon felt accurate to me. When the book switched to oni, obake, youkai and the mythological legends of Japan, I'm pretty sure a lot of creative license was taken. So if you're fanatical about having your mythologies accurate, you might feel frustrated at this point.
And while I was so happy to see that Kendo would be playing a part, it's clear that this kendo is completely different from the kind I learn (I think it's made up too). But, it's quite interesting to read about it, and it wasn't mentioned that much. But for this, I would have preferred if a more general term was used (like 武道 budou - the way of the warrior) rather than a specific discipline since creative liberties were taken.
If you're a fan of Japan, you have to read this book!
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
September 3, 2012
This is a decent book filled with action and some astute observations about Japanese culture. Sure some of it may be a bit far fetched, but this is a bit of a fantasy book. Recommended for young people interested in Japan. Not recommended for evil spirits.
Also includes cute tiger humor.
Also includes cute tiger humor.
September 26, 2012
I love Japan and many aspects of its culture, so picking up this book I, while not expecting greatness, expected at least some enjoyment. Unfortunately I barely got any enjoyment at all, and instead got to read the longest 320 pages that just wouldn't end. I don't even know where to start... because I literally don't have anything nice to say (and no, I will not go by the good ol' rule of rather not saying anything in this case).
There was absolutely nothing interesting or unique about any of the characters in the book. David was bland, Rie was bland, Takumi was bland, Natsuki was a token biatch character and also bland. None of them had personalities, and if I didn't see a name attached to whoever was speaking, I wouldn't have been able to tell one character from another. Natsuki especially bothered me, because I kept wondering WHAT was so special about her that she had to become a part of all of this?
I didn't buy David's story of wanting to pick up and go somewhere on the exchange program out of the blue, and then coming to a foreign country without even knowing the basics of its culture? Let me clarify. Without even bothering to learn even the basis of the culture and the language? Isn't knowing the language is a pre-requisite for any kind of an exchange program? Either that, or the student gets put into an English-taught class, like I've heard is done from some of my friends who went as exchange students in Japan. So yeah David, all your emo moments at the beginning of the book were brought on by you and you only, and I didn't feel even remotely sorry for you.
Then I started wondering why Matsumotos even bothered with a foreign student? They were so cool and great and traditional and apparently super-duper busy with everything, so WHY? I would have thought they spent their days training and looking for the Samurai instead of taking on David and his emo spells.
And not a SINGLE person in the whole book had even the slightest problem with David being the Samurai? Not even a little bit? I find it hard to believe considering Japan is a country that is known for still being pretty proud of their Japanese uniqueness and solidarity. Foreigners are not easily accepted and face quite a lot of racism. Don't believe me? Check out Hi My Name is Loco and I am a Racist as well as countless blogs about Japan that I will not list, but which google will pull up in an instant.
Later in the book something bad happens to one of the characters, and it was meant to be a very sad moment, but I literally felt nothing. I, as a reader, did not feel invested in that character at all, nor did I care either, because that character was also as flat as can be.
Something that really bothered me throughout the whole book was the constant use of first names only for EVERYONE. It made it hard to figure out who was a teacher, who was a student, and who was an adult. Seriously, how often do we see any teachers referred to as Becky or Jim in any books? Unless it's a nickname, all I ever saw were Ms. Williams or Mr. Peterson as an examples. Since the story takes place in Japan, wouldn't it make sense to add -sensei or at least -san at the end of teachers' names? Same with the adults, instead of Yukiko it couldn't have been Yukiko-san, etc... Finally, where are the -kun and -chan for students names? If David suddenly started thinking in Japanese then I would think he'll really start thinking in Japanese and add those prefixes to EVERY name. He is not close enough to any students to suddenly omit the honorifics. How would I know? I've heard the Japanese exchange students refer to me as Lyuba when speaking English, but Lyuba-san/chan when speaking in Japanese between themselves.
It bothered me that David was asked to make this big lifechanging decision, but the MOST IMPORTANT piece of information was completely omitted from him until AFTER he agreed. Sneaky much? Or more like seriously? Had I been David, and after I've agreed to become the Samurai I found out about that information, I would have thrown the biggest fit possible. He was just ok with everything, not even remotely bothered.
The bad guys were bland too, and while couple of them had potential, they were not developed at all. I wished they would have been, because they seemed interesting for those few lines they actually showed up in the story until the big (bland) reveal.
The story itself was bogged down by the constant information overload. The information was not expertly woven into the story-line, but instead dumped at the readers at every opportunity. It did not create any connection to the characters, making them two dimensional and flat like I was saying before. There was constant telling but no showing, and way too many badminton matches descriptions. I could have cared less about these matches, and preferred to see more character development.
It's been couple of weeks since I've finished this book and I can barely remember the plot. As you could probably tell, characters are the most important aspect in a book for me, because without them even the greatest plot will be lost. Still, a compelling plot is also very important, but it wasn't there. Oh, there was a plot, but it was just as bland as the characters. I expected trials and failures, dangers and overcoming of obstacles, but it seemed like everything just came too easy to everyone. If there was a question, the answer was found within couple of pages (which we were told about, not shown). If there was a bad guy, he got beaten up in a few paragraphs. Yet those badminton matches took up several pages. I didn't feel like Japan was in that much danger, because we were never shown that danger! There was no frantic turning of pages wanting to know what happens next and who's going to get hurt or not. Instead every little thing was methodically explained. I was bored. Wait, wasn't I talking about a plot? Ok, so it was there, but it was so bogged down by constant explanations and lack of action, that it wasn't memorable at all.
Samurai Awakening was not a page turner. In fact, I struggled with finishing this book, but I persisted, thinking just how long could it take to read 320 pages. Apparently very long. I do not recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in Japanese culture, because I think you will be disappointed. If you want to read a book about Japanese youkai, I recommend reading Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan instead.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Tuttle Publishing via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
There was absolutely nothing interesting or unique about any of the characters in the book. David was bland, Rie was bland, Takumi was bland, Natsuki was a token biatch character and also bland. None of them had personalities, and if I didn't see a name attached to whoever was speaking, I wouldn't have been able to tell one character from another. Natsuki especially bothered me, because I kept wondering WHAT was so special about her that she had to become a part of all of this?
I didn't buy David's story of wanting to pick up and go somewhere on the exchange program out of the blue, and then coming to a foreign country without even knowing the basics of its culture? Let me clarify. Without even bothering to learn even the basis of the culture and the language? Isn't knowing the language is a pre-requisite for any kind of an exchange program? Either that, or the student gets put into an English-taught class, like I've heard is done from some of my friends who went as exchange students in Japan. So yeah David, all your emo moments at the beginning of the book were brought on by you and you only, and I didn't feel even remotely sorry for you.
Then I started wondering why Matsumotos even bothered with a foreign student? They were so cool and great and traditional and apparently super-duper busy with everything, so WHY? I would have thought they spent their days training and looking for the Samurai instead of taking on David and his emo spells.
And not a SINGLE person in the whole book had even the slightest problem with David being the Samurai? Not even a little bit? I find it hard to believe considering Japan is a country that is known for still being pretty proud of their Japanese uniqueness and solidarity. Foreigners are not easily accepted and face quite a lot of racism. Don't believe me? Check out Hi My Name is Loco and I am a Racist as well as countless blogs about Japan that I will not list, but which google will pull up in an instant.
Later in the book something bad happens to one of the characters, and it was meant to be a very sad moment, but I literally felt nothing. I, as a reader, did not feel invested in that character at all, nor did I care either, because that character was also as flat as can be.
Something that really bothered me throughout the whole book was the constant use of first names only for EVERYONE. It made it hard to figure out who was a teacher, who was a student, and who was an adult. Seriously, how often do we see any teachers referred to as Becky or Jim in any books? Unless it's a nickname, all I ever saw were Ms. Williams or Mr. Peterson as an examples. Since the story takes place in Japan, wouldn't it make sense to add -sensei or at least -san at the end of teachers' names? Same with the adults, instead of Yukiko it couldn't have been Yukiko-san, etc... Finally, where are the -kun and -chan for students names? If David suddenly started thinking in Japanese then I would think he'll really start thinking in Japanese and add those prefixes to EVERY name. He is not close enough to any students to suddenly omit the honorifics. How would I know? I've heard the Japanese exchange students refer to me as Lyuba when speaking English, but Lyuba-san/chan when speaking in Japanese between themselves.
It bothered me that David was asked to make this big lifechanging decision, but the MOST IMPORTANT piece of information was completely omitted from him until AFTER he agreed. Sneaky much? Or more like seriously? Had I been David, and after I've agreed to become the Samurai I found out about that information, I would have thrown the biggest fit possible. He was just ok with everything, not even remotely bothered.
The bad guys were bland too, and while couple of them had potential, they were not developed at all. I wished they would have been, because they seemed interesting for those few lines they actually showed up in the story until the big (bland) reveal.
The story itself was bogged down by the constant information overload. The information was not expertly woven into the story-line, but instead dumped at the readers at every opportunity. It did not create any connection to the characters, making them two dimensional and flat like I was saying before. There was constant telling but no showing, and way too many badminton matches descriptions. I could have cared less about these matches, and preferred to see more character development.
It's been couple of weeks since I've finished this book and I can barely remember the plot. As you could probably tell, characters are the most important aspect in a book for me, because without them even the greatest plot will be lost. Still, a compelling plot is also very important, but it wasn't there. Oh, there was a plot, but it was just as bland as the characters. I expected trials and failures, dangers and overcoming of obstacles, but it seemed like everything just came too easy to everyone. If there was a question, the answer was found within couple of pages (which we were told about, not shown). If there was a bad guy, he got beaten up in a few paragraphs. Yet those badminton matches took up several pages. I didn't feel like Japan was in that much danger, because we were never shown that danger! There was no frantic turning of pages wanting to know what happens next and who's going to get hurt or not. Instead every little thing was methodically explained. I was bored. Wait, wasn't I talking about a plot? Ok, so it was there, but it was so bogged down by constant explanations and lack of action, that it wasn't memorable at all.
Samurai Awakening was not a page turner. In fact, I struggled with finishing this book, but I persisted, thinking just how long could it take to read 320 pages. Apparently very long. I do not recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in Japanese culture, because I think you will be disappointed. If you want to read a book about Japanese youkai, I recommend reading Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan instead.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Tuttle Publishing via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
December 10, 2018
David and Kou is the new Jitsugen Samurai. Natsuki is their Partner, even though David would rather have Rie as a partner. Rie and Takumi are alwsys there to help them to prepare for the upcoming battles that David and Kou have to face. As they grow and learn to be one, many lives will be sacrificed but they have to continue to keep Japan safe from their unseen enemies.
October 10, 2012
I found the synopsis of SAMURAI AWAKENING somewhat troubling. Exchange student David Matthews gets possessed by a Japanese god, gets powers, and must rescue his host sister. That's definitely a set up with lots of room for cultural appropriation. But I wanted to give it a chance since Tuttle Publishing is the largest publisher of books on Asia. I didn't even know they published young adult novels. They're mostly a publisher of nonfiction. But Tuttle's reputation made me want to take a chance.
SAMURAI AWAKENING does avoid some of the worst pitfalls. When David bonds with a kami, it might allow him to speak and understand Japanese, but he doesn't have the accompanying social and cultural knowledge he needs to be truly fluent. He's not sure of when to be formal or informal and doesn't know when to bow or make other physical gestures, among other issues. It does solve several of his problems, but not all of them. David must also train with Kou, the kami, if he is going to use his abilities effectively. After several months of training he's still not as good with a sword as the other characters who have been practicing for years. That's nicely realistic.
Mythology fans will probably get a kick out of SAMURAI AWAKENING. David fights Japanese monsters and he needs to learn the lore. Debut author Benjamin Martin does a good job of marking when he's making up a legend for the novel and when an actual myth is being discussed. Those less interested in monsters might find the passages relating to them a bit of an infodump.
There are a bunch of characters to keep track of. Some people who seem important at first just fade out of the narrative. Natsuki, who seems like a generic mean girl, turns out to be very important. In fact, she's the secondary hero. But generally, the characters drifting in and out of the frame is just one of the ways SAMURAI AWAKENING lacks polish.
The whole story told a bit too dryly. David suffers some major changes to his life, but gets over them almost instantly. He gets one major bomb dropped on him that he worries about for maybe a day. The editing could have been better as well. Chul Moo and Chul Soon's names are often swapped and there are several tense errors. (Other sentences, there are no tense errors, but they're phrased in a way that's easy to parse incorrectly.)
I still found SAMURAI AWAKENING fun. It's full of lots of things I like, including lots of sword fights and a girl character who isn't about to change to make a guy happy. There is some awkwardness in how the Koreans are handled, which is unfortunately very Japanese of Martin. I think it could be the start of a series, and while there's room for improvement, I'd probably read the next novel. Manga and anime fans looking for a non-graphic novel will probably devour SAMURAI AWAKENING pretty eagerly.
SAMURAI AWAKENING does avoid some of the worst pitfalls. When David bonds with a kami, it might allow him to speak and understand Japanese, but he doesn't have the accompanying social and cultural knowledge he needs to be truly fluent. He's not sure of when to be formal or informal and doesn't know when to bow or make other physical gestures, among other issues. It does solve several of his problems, but not all of them. David must also train with Kou, the kami, if he is going to use his abilities effectively. After several months of training he's still not as good with a sword as the other characters who have been practicing for years. That's nicely realistic.
Mythology fans will probably get a kick out of SAMURAI AWAKENING. David fights Japanese monsters and he needs to learn the lore. Debut author Benjamin Martin does a good job of marking when he's making up a legend for the novel and when an actual myth is being discussed. Those less interested in monsters might find the passages relating to them a bit of an infodump.
There are a bunch of characters to keep track of. Some people who seem important at first just fade out of the narrative. Natsuki, who seems like a generic mean girl, turns out to be very important. In fact, she's the secondary hero. But generally, the characters drifting in and out of the frame is just one of the ways SAMURAI AWAKENING lacks polish.
The whole story told a bit too dryly. David suffers some major changes to his life, but gets over them almost instantly. He gets one major bomb dropped on him that he worries about for maybe a day. The editing could have been better as well. Chul Moo and Chul Soon's names are often swapped and there are several tense errors. (Other sentences, there are no tense errors, but they're phrased in a way that's easy to parse incorrectly.)
I still found SAMURAI AWAKENING fun. It's full of lots of things I like, including lots of sword fights and a girl character who isn't about to change to make a guy happy. There is some awkwardness in how the Koreans are handled, which is unfortunately very Japanese of Martin. I think it could be the start of a series, and while there's room for improvement, I'd probably read the next novel. Manga and anime fans looking for a non-graphic novel will probably devour SAMURAI AWAKENING pretty eagerly.
September 12, 2012
Great Book!!! I loved it. great writing that really grabs you and drags you in. I love the ins into the Japanese culture the author was able to capture. I've been to Japan tons of times and as a white male you don't learn anything like David does. the David and Kou relationship add some great humor at times. The bad guys were a little easy to figure out for me. But I tend to figure stuff out easier then my wife in movies (it annoys her when i ruin movies halfway through lol). I really can't think of a part that I didn't enjoy. i hope there are more stories about David and Kou in the future!
September 10, 2013
In his award-winning debut, Martin shows a talent for writing tense, well-choreographed action scenes and witty banter. I learned a lot about the various supernatural beings of Japan, such as Japanese werewolves (okami) and yurei. Attentive readers can also pick up information about the more mundane aspects of Japanese culture, especially school life. This book may contain the first ever literary reference in English to the dreaded "kancho." I'm looking forward to reading book #2 in the series.
January 19, 2013
An amazing book with a whole lot of action. I love Kou and his ability to take over David whenever trouble's near, though I found multiple spelling problems. But overall, I book I would recommend for people with the love of Japanese history and Samurais.
January 20, 2015
So, apart from a goofy title and tagline, Samurai Awakening is a lot of fun. David is an American living in Japan, with almost no knowledge about the language or customs. So he’s not having a great time of it. Due to a mishap at a ceremony, he ends up bonding with a god. This gives him new powers, including a complete understanding of Japanese. If this were just a nerd wish fulfillment fantasy, I would be completely ok with it, because who doesn’t love a little escapism now and again? However, by virtue of being well written, apparently having accuracy about Japan (see next paragraph), and developing believable characters and interpersonal relationships (for the most part), I’d argue it stands apart from your typical “teenager gets super powers and/or a giant robot and saves the world” kind of story.
Several reviews I read of the book praised its accuracy in depicting Japan. I don’t know a whole lot about the real Japan, but I do have a picture in my head built from years of watching anime and Japanese movies, and Samurai Awakening matches that pretty well. I can say that the book is accurate to the general pop culture representation of Japan, so the author at least knows that well.
Not everything was perfect. I would have liked to have seen more drawn out action scenes. What was there was good, but it would have been fun to see more of each scene, or more scenes in total. A couple of the character conflicts are resolved too quickly and neatly. Given the type of book and the intended audience, you could argue that type of resolution was to be expected, but the author handles other conflicts very well, so it made the ones that didn’t wrap up so believably to be a bit more frustrating.
These are minor complaints, because on the whole the book was great. It usually takes me about a week to finish books of this length, and I knocked this one out over a couple of days, if that tells you anything. I don’t know if there are sequels planned, but if any come up I’m definitely looking forward to reading them.
Several reviews I read of the book praised its accuracy in depicting Japan. I don’t know a whole lot about the real Japan, but I do have a picture in my head built from years of watching anime and Japanese movies, and Samurai Awakening matches that pretty well. I can say that the book is accurate to the general pop culture representation of Japan, so the author at least knows that well.
Not everything was perfect. I would have liked to have seen more drawn out action scenes. What was there was good, but it would have been fun to see more of each scene, or more scenes in total. A couple of the character conflicts are resolved too quickly and neatly. Given the type of book and the intended audience, you could argue that type of resolution was to be expected, but the author handles other conflicts very well, so it made the ones that didn’t wrap up so believably to be a bit more frustrating.
These are minor complaints, because on the whole the book was great. It usually takes me about a week to finish books of this length, and I knocked this one out over a couple of days, if that tells you anything. I don’t know if there are sequels planned, but if any come up I’m definitely looking forward to reading them.
August 12, 2014
TLC CALL #: J MARTIN B
Chris’s Rating: 3.5 Stars
David (an exchange student to Japan) struggles both to understand the language and culture of the country he is visiting. Then one day his host family invite him to a special ceremony to bless a sword. When no one except David is able to see an approaching golden tiger, the young American bravely throws himself at the beast to save one of the family members. The next thing he knows he wakes up from unconsciousness understanding Japanese and learns that his body has been joined by the off-shoot of a Japanese God/elemental…thing. Even though his language barriers have been removed, he still struggles to grasp the culture differences, battles the being within him for control of his actions and is tasked with keeping his situation secret (told he is to become a Jitsugen Samurai – a protector against evil in Japan’s time of need) lest he be destroyed by Japanese ghosts or monsters before he is strong enough to contend with them…and fight them he must, not only to save himself, but those he is closest to.
David is a likable enough character, and despite the power he gains (which saved his life) I can’t help but cringe at the idea of being constantly possessed by a foreign creature with appetites and a personality so different—there is definitely a price for power. The struggles he goes through, even at his strongest moments don’t turn him into one of the overpowered characters too common in literature for youth, although sometimes he gets…lucky…which is good for the continuation of the story. The book is possibly too long (or I was just too tired) and it was not always easy for me to keep the names straight (likely because they were not names I am accustomed to). Overall I didn’t enjoy the drama created between David, Kou (the being possessing/joined with him) and Natsuki; but it added to the conflict and was a fundamental part of the story. A book written primarily for teenage boys (possibly girls) with an interest in Japan, Samurai and magical elements.
Chris’s Rating: 3.5 Stars
David (an exchange student to Japan) struggles both to understand the language and culture of the country he is visiting. Then one day his host family invite him to a special ceremony to bless a sword. When no one except David is able to see an approaching golden tiger, the young American bravely throws himself at the beast to save one of the family members. The next thing he knows he wakes up from unconsciousness understanding Japanese and learns that his body has been joined by the off-shoot of a Japanese God/elemental…thing. Even though his language barriers have been removed, he still struggles to grasp the culture differences, battles the being within him for control of his actions and is tasked with keeping his situation secret (told he is to become a Jitsugen Samurai – a protector against evil in Japan’s time of need) lest he be destroyed by Japanese ghosts or monsters before he is strong enough to contend with them…and fight them he must, not only to save himself, but those he is closest to.
David is a likable enough character, and despite the power he gains (which saved his life) I can’t help but cringe at the idea of being constantly possessed by a foreign creature with appetites and a personality so different—there is definitely a price for power. The struggles he goes through, even at his strongest moments don’t turn him into one of the overpowered characters too common in literature for youth, although sometimes he gets…lucky…which is good for the continuation of the story. The book is possibly too long (or I was just too tired) and it was not always easy for me to keep the names straight (likely because they were not names I am accustomed to). Overall I didn’t enjoy the drama created between David, Kou (the being possessing/joined with him) and Natsuki; but it added to the conflict and was a fundamental part of the story. A book written primarily for teenage boys (possibly girls) with an interest in Japan, Samurai and magical elements.
August 4, 2012
3.5 Stars - Don't know if to round up or down yet.
I am still not quite sure how to rate this one. The book was good. The background story, the setting was all very well developed. The characters were all very nicely fleshed out as well, and they all grow throughout the book. My problem with this one was that I just couldn't connect with the MC. He was younger than I thought and the third person view always made it kind of awkward for me to be able to get into the book. It was more like I was being told what happened than actually seeing it happen. Also, most of the book was the adapting and training of David with the Japanese culture and his new status as a Samurai.
Even with all that the book wasn't actually bad, it was really well thoughout, and there were surprises by the end. I especially loved
For all of you guys that can stay away from spoilers, I STRONGLY suggest you don't click on that one unless you want to know all the twists in the book.
I am still not quite sure how to rate this one. The book was good. The background story, the setting was all very well developed. The characters were all very nicely fleshed out as well, and they all grow throughout the book. My problem with this one was that I just couldn't connect with the MC. He was younger than I thought and the third person view always made it kind of awkward for me to be able to get into the book. It was more like I was being told what happened than actually seeing it happen. Also, most of the book was the adapting and training of David with the Japanese culture and his new status as a Samurai.
Even with all that the book wasn't actually bad, it was really well thoughout, and there were surprises by the end. I especially loved
For all of you guys that can stay away from spoilers, I STRONGLY suggest you don't click on that one unless you want to know all the twists in the book.
April 20, 2012
This is a review by the author.
I loved writing my debut novel. Creating the Jitsugen Samurai stories is a journey of discovery, and a reflection on my time living on small islands in Japan. I wrote a story I'd want to read, and I look forward to bringing you more of Japan.
Of course, Samurai Awakening is a fantasy. In addition to experiences in Japanese schools, I drew upon the Japanese myths and history set forth in The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters and asked myself, what if it had all been more than myth? How had the true history been distorted over time?
There are secrets older than the Emperors.
Join the Jitsugen Samurai.
Awaken your inner kami.
I loved writing my debut novel. Creating the Jitsugen Samurai stories is a journey of discovery, and a reflection on my time living on small islands in Japan. I wrote a story I'd want to read, and I look forward to bringing you more of Japan.
Of course, Samurai Awakening is a fantasy. In addition to experiences in Japanese schools, I drew upon the Japanese myths and history set forth in The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters and asked myself, what if it had all been more than myth? How had the true history been distorted over time?
There are secrets older than the Emperors.
Join the Jitsugen Samurai.
Awaken your inner kami.
March 19, 2013
I have always loved watching martial arts movies as a kid growing up. I have read a few YA books about Americans in Japan or studying to be samurai's recently. I liked the storyline of the book, american teen as a exchange student in Japan. He doesn't set out to learn to be a samurai or learn martial arts, which disappointed me, it was more by accident. He does because of a ritual gone wrong and possessed/saved/brought back to life by a Japanese god existing within him. He instantly knows how to speak Japanese, which is a benefit in surviving school and making friends. But he has to learn how to be a samurai, martial arts and how to weld a sword. A good story about good vs evil, being a foreign exchange student, missing home, betrayal, rising to the challenge and enbracing one's destiny.
March 31, 2014
My daughter, Jennifer L. Kelly, wrote a book for the YA audience as an independent author. I read the "look inside" for this book and was intrigued although I'm a little older than YA. I feel it's important to "give and receive" when publishing independently.
Get this book. It's a great story and Mr. Martin wastes no time diving right into the good stuff. You will also appreciate his knowledge and obvious research regarding Japanese teen life and Japanese mystical history. I enjoyed this book and I'm 55. Teens will really enjoy it as Mr. Martin spends time on Japanese teens at school and play and defending the populace from mystical monsters!
I think you will find this book to be an easy, enjoyable read. I also see potential for a continuing series with these characters as they are just getting started.
Get this book. It's a great story and Mr. Martin wastes no time diving right into the good stuff. You will also appreciate his knowledge and obvious research regarding Japanese teen life and Japanese mystical history. I enjoyed this book and I'm 55. Teens will really enjoy it as Mr. Martin spends time on Japanese teens at school and play and defending the populace from mystical monsters!
I think you will find this book to be an easy, enjoyable read. I also see potential for a continuing series with these characters as they are just getting started.
February 20, 2015
This book is one of the best books to read if you are looking to relate to yourself and what decisions you would make in the situations in which the main character, David, encounters. This story also takes the reader into great connections with David and makes them feel as though they are good friends with David who went through a great bonding experience with him. It also gives us the satisfaction of a new adventure in which we can feel as though we a the heroes who saved the mysterious yet trustworthy new family in need.
July 17, 2013
It had a slow beginning, and the main character seemed a bit pathetic at first, but once the plot started unfolding, it just seemed to get better. It was a good story set in a Japanese setting that had a satisfying plot and somewhat of an ending. It was an enjoyable read nonetheless.
March 23, 2014
I got this book after winning the sequel in a First Read giveaway. At first, I wasn't sure whether I would understand the Japanese side of things but I kept reading. I'm so glad that I did because the storyline was really good. I can't wait to start the sequel!
April 19, 2014
I think middle school readers are going to enjoy this book. It has action, mystery and some friendships that will appeal to many. Fight scenes and the appearance of a god, evil spirits and ghosts will satisfy the reader looking for a scary read.
Want to read
May 18, 2012Great book with a strong plot..... my boys also enjoyed reading it!
August 19, 2012
I think most boys will love this but girls.. not so much.
July 4, 2019
This is a complex and very detailed fantasy story set in Japan. It's clear the author has spent time living there due to the descriptions and all the little things included in the plot. I think some of it can only come from living there. It gives you a very good idea of what living in a rural area of Japan is like and attending school there.
The creatures in this book include the kami, obake, the yurei and the okami. Also an oni. In English that would be nature spirits (a tiger is the main one), ghosts, living spirits that can shape shift and a type of demon.
I enjoyed reading this but it is a bit dense and not exactly a fast read...but it's not a bad thing. I know some stuff about Japan from watching anime so I appreciate the chance to learn more about life there. And I always like creature stories so I got to learn about their creatures. Since the creatures are unfamiliar to me, it took a bit to keep them straight in my head. Like I'd mix up the obake and the yurei...I'd forget which was the ghost. But I wrote the words on a piece of paper and that helped.
The story itself was interesting. The main character, a foreign exchange student from Arizona, goes through a lot living with his host family. Somehow he ends up a special type of samurai, one who can shape-shift into a tiger due to being bonded to a kami. A lot of the story involves him learning to fit into Japanese society but he also does lots of training. He has to face many difficulties and fight dark creatures. And getting along with the kami he shares his body with is not always easy.
Family and friendship is at the heart of this book along with good and evil. And being brave enough to do something about the evil.
I plan to read the sequel.
The creatures in this book include the kami, obake, the yurei and the okami. Also an oni. In English that would be nature spirits (a tiger is the main one), ghosts, living spirits that can shape shift and a type of demon.
I enjoyed reading this but it is a bit dense and not exactly a fast read...but it's not a bad thing. I know some stuff about Japan from watching anime so I appreciate the chance to learn more about life there. And I always like creature stories so I got to learn about their creatures. Since the creatures are unfamiliar to me, it took a bit to keep them straight in my head. Like I'd mix up the obake and the yurei...I'd forget which was the ghost. But I wrote the words on a piece of paper and that helped.
The story itself was interesting. The main character, a foreign exchange student from Arizona, goes through a lot living with his host family. Somehow he ends up a special type of samurai, one who can shape-shift into a tiger due to being bonded to a kami. A lot of the story involves him learning to fit into Japanese society but he also does lots of training. He has to face many difficulties and fight dark creatures. And getting along with the kami he shares his body with is not always easy.
Family and friendship is at the heart of this book along with good and evil. And being brave enough to do something about the evil.
I plan to read the sequel.
Read
November 22, 2020DNF'd about halfway through. The premise was intriguing in the synopsis but... nothing much happens. The characters are bland, the writing is bland, and there's so many mistakes with comma placement throughout the book that it started to detract from the limited readability there was.
October 6, 2018
DNFed at chapter two because of all the typos--I couldn't turn off my editor brain.
July 6, 2023
I read this when I was 16 and even then I thought it was ass.
December 31, 2014
When David decided to be an exchange student in Japan, he hadn't realized what it would mean to live in a culture so different from his home in Arizona. Even without the language barrier, he's having trouble not embarrassing himself by violating social norms he had no idea existed. But when he attends a secret temple ceremony and ends up possessed by a kami, life gets a whole lot weirder. Now tasked with the mission to become a samurai, David needs to master his new power, before evil steals away the people closest to him.
If you can get over the premise, this was a lot of fun. There is plenty of detail about Japan, particularly about what life is like as an exchange student, the customs and foods of Japan, a festival, and of course plenty of martial arts. The mythology weaves in nicely, introducing various kinds of Japanese spirits and monsters.
Kou's relationship with David (particularly when David is still figuring out who Kou is) was a lot of fun. And I also appreciated the sheer amount of work David had to put in to learn what he did (excepting Japanese, although he still had to pick up all the ways he was offending people by using the wrong formality). He doesn't get handed magical powers---much of what he gains he gains by practice, exercise, and study. It was also nice to see that regardless of any powers, the twins, who have spent their whole lives training, still outclass him in the end.
But the premise itself is probably going to be the biggest sticking point for anyone who might be interested in the book. Why does an American exchange student, who has known the Matsumoto family for all of one month, get invited to a ceremony so secret no one outside the family is allowed to come? Since the rest of the story hinges on this point, it could be a big disincentive.
The grammar, particularly in the second half of the book inside the dialogue, also has a tendency to use commas everywhere. In some ways it reads like a possible direct translation of Japanese, which may have been the intent.
On a more minor note, it would've been nice to get a bit more background on Natsuki. In the ghost episode, for one, I kept expecting whatever particular fear the ghost had stirred up would be vital to the plot, but in the end it was more of her fear of ghosts than what the ghost reminded her of that got her into trouble. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the resolution to the whole Partner situation.
Overall this can be a lot of fun, if the premise doesn't throw you off. I would read a sequel, if one ever comes out. I rate this book Neutral.
If you can get over the premise, this was a lot of fun. There is plenty of detail about Japan, particularly about what life is like as an exchange student, the customs and foods of Japan, a festival, and of course plenty of martial arts. The mythology weaves in nicely, introducing various kinds of Japanese spirits and monsters.
Kou's relationship with David (particularly when David is still figuring out who Kou is) was a lot of fun. And I also appreciated the sheer amount of work David had to put in to learn what he did (excepting Japanese, although he still had to pick up all the ways he was offending people by using the wrong formality). He doesn't get handed magical powers---much of what he gains he gains by practice, exercise, and study. It was also nice to see that regardless of any powers, the twins, who have spent their whole lives training, still outclass him in the end.
But the premise itself is probably going to be the biggest sticking point for anyone who might be interested in the book. Why does an American exchange student, who has known the Matsumoto family for all of one month, get invited to a ceremony so secret no one outside the family is allowed to come? Since the rest of the story hinges on this point, it could be a big disincentive.
The grammar, particularly in the second half of the book inside the dialogue, also has a tendency to use commas everywhere. In some ways it reads like a possible direct translation of Japanese, which may have been the intent.
On a more minor note, it would've been nice to get a bit more background on Natsuki. In the ghost episode, for one, I kept expecting whatever particular fear the ghost had stirred up would be vital to the plot, but in the end it was more of her fear of ghosts than what the ghost reminded her of that got her into trouble. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the resolution to the whole Partner situation.
Overall this can be a lot of fun, if the premise doesn't throw you off. I would read a sequel, if one ever comes out. I rate this book Neutral.
October 17, 2013
This was a fun simple read that I found engaging enough to read and enjoy. I had very little knowledge of Japanese folklore and this book does a nice job at explaining the mythology. I've really started to get into anime with several studio Ghibli films which are about spirits, mysticism, and even the battle of good vs evil. This book fits into this mindset of Japan where one can see there is so much research in the culture and history of Japan by author Martin appear in this book.
The book starts off with an American schoolboy struggling to fit in at school and his new family. It turns out his Japanese family have a special connection to an important type of samurai. David turns out to be the next samurai to work with the Matsumotos and train to share a body with a god,to harness raw energy, and fight the evil spirits that still haunt modern Japan.
the story is pretty simple. It was written for a middle school audience so it doesn't have complex character development and tends to really over explains the plot to make sure young readers can follow along (since the audience is learning everything as David does).
I felt it difficult to imagine the story especially during training and fighting. I couldn't picture what the characters were actually doing in these scenes. There are so many editing errors in the story. Names being misused, spelling errors,etc. that it made the plot confusing to figure out what it was supposed to say. there are parts of the plot that are missing maybe to avoid complexity but it just left me scratching my head. Why does a family with so much to risk sign up for an exchange student to live at their home? Why David? How does all this bad stuff like child abduction and murder not put the entire community on high alert, even if its only an animal they assume is involved? How does David instantly know ancient and modern Japanese but doesn't know the cultural things, it would make more sense if he knew the old traditional ways and would be too formal and correct.
While the ending hints at the future and possible sequel, maybe some of these questions will be answered. The book was a unique and fun read and I won a free copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway. A young audience will like this book more than older audience. I look forward to sharing this book with my kids years down the road and seeing how they interpret it. This book has a special target audience but it is still a fun story to read if you don't fit the mold.
The book starts off with an American schoolboy struggling to fit in at school and his new family. It turns out his Japanese family have a special connection to an important type of samurai. David turns out to be the next samurai to work with the Matsumotos and train to share a body with a god,to harness raw energy, and fight the evil spirits that still haunt modern Japan.
the story is pretty simple. It was written for a middle school audience so it doesn't have complex character development and tends to really over explains the plot to make sure young readers can follow along (since the audience is learning everything as David does).
I felt it difficult to imagine the story especially during training and fighting. I couldn't picture what the characters were actually doing in these scenes. There are so many editing errors in the story. Names being misused, spelling errors,etc. that it made the plot confusing to figure out what it was supposed to say. there are parts of the plot that are missing maybe to avoid complexity but it just left me scratching my head. Why does a family with so much to risk sign up for an exchange student to live at their home? Why David? How does all this bad stuff like child abduction and murder not put the entire community on high alert, even if its only an animal they assume is involved? How does David instantly know ancient and modern Japanese but doesn't know the cultural things, it would make more sense if he knew the old traditional ways and would be too formal and correct.
While the ending hints at the future and possible sequel, maybe some of these questions will be answered. The book was a unique and fun read and I won a free copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway. A young audience will like this book more than older audience. I look forward to sharing this book with my kids years down the road and seeing how they interpret it. This book has a special target audience but it is still a fun story to read if you don't fit the mold.
September 28, 2012
3.5/5
After reading Stormdancer, I was in the mood for other stories set in Japan, happily chancing upon this one while browsing. The title was definitely appealing although the cover doesn't do anything for me. Perhaps it will appeal to youngsters?
The first surprise for me was that this book was not narrated in first-person. This is especially surprising to me as the book continued and there were a lot of scenes where I think diving into David's head would have given me more insight into him as well as cleared up confusion about what exactly was happening. The third-person narrative felt more formal to me and less engaging so I was ultimately pretty disappointed with that.
The second surprise (because I didn't really read the synopsis) is that this book is about an American thirteen year old doing an exchange program in Japan (without speaking a word of Japanese-how did the organizers let that happen?) who is selected to be something incredible. There are so many things in that sentence! I really can't believe they let a thirteen-year old do a foreign exchange program without being able to speak the language; I think it's too young and quite frankly irresponsible. He was barely passing his classes. Next I was not sure what was so special about him that he was chosen-he has a good heart, true, as well as a strong work ethic but I don't know why someone in his host family couldn't have been selected. And I sometimes felt very protective of him and his host siblings (all thirteen). They were so young and I feel like I would have been more comfortable had they been a bit older (say, sixteen).
But a third cool surprise was all of the mythology and history included. Martin has studied Japanese culture extensively according to his bio and Tuttle Publishing has been focused on Asia-set books so if you're looking for something for a young person to read that has accuracy, this might be good for them. I could definitely see it being a read for school.
Overall: Decision to narrate in third person kept me very disengaged with the text as I crawled through it.
Cover: I do not like those colors-I think he kind of looks like a zombie.
After reading Stormdancer, I was in the mood for other stories set in Japan, happily chancing upon this one while browsing. The title was definitely appealing although the cover doesn't do anything for me. Perhaps it will appeal to youngsters?
The first surprise for me was that this book was not narrated in first-person. This is especially surprising to me as the book continued and there were a lot of scenes where I think diving into David's head would have given me more insight into him as well as cleared up confusion about what exactly was happening. The third-person narrative felt more formal to me and less engaging so I was ultimately pretty disappointed with that.
The second surprise (because I didn't really read the synopsis) is that this book is about an American thirteen year old doing an exchange program in Japan (without speaking a word of Japanese-how did the organizers let that happen?) who is selected to be something incredible. There are so many things in that sentence! I really can't believe they let a thirteen-year old do a foreign exchange program without being able to speak the language; I think it's too young and quite frankly irresponsible. He was barely passing his classes. Next I was not sure what was so special about him that he was chosen-he has a good heart, true, as well as a strong work ethic but I don't know why someone in his host family couldn't have been selected. And I sometimes felt very protective of him and his host siblings (all thirteen). They were so young and I feel like I would have been more comfortable had they been a bit older (say, sixteen).
But a third cool surprise was all of the mythology and history included. Martin has studied Japanese culture extensively according to his bio and Tuttle Publishing has been focused on Asia-set books so if you're looking for something for a young person to read that has accuracy, this might be good for them. I could definitely see it being a read for school.
Overall: Decision to narrate in third person kept me very disengaged with the text as I crawled through it.
Cover: I do not like those colors-I think he kind of looks like a zombie.
August 12, 2012
I was given this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 2.5 stars.
Samurai Awakening by Benjamin Martin is about an American, David, who becomes a Japanese exchange student. The Masomoto family that he stays with is well versed in the ways of the Samurai, and one fateful day, by trying to save the family's grandfather and patriarch, he becomes part of the legend. The rest of the book deals with his learning to become part of the Japanese culture, and this new warrior that he is destined to be.
I know this book was a finalist in a competition and did very well. But I'll admit that for me, the story dragged and dragged. I can't quite pinpoint it because the book is very well researched, and it's clear that Martin knows his stuff. On top of that, there are interesting characters, a fantastical storyline, and lots of action. But there's something about the prose that actually made me to stop reading altogether. I made it through 60% of the book and then jumped to the ending to see if I missed anything big. The last chapter, while I didn't understand every nuance, was basically what I thought it would be. Not to mention that this idea of an American white boy Samurai is a little bit-- cheesy? I think it's great to meld world views and have the East and West understand each other, but I couldn't get over that concept.
Overall, well researched with an interesting setup, but the stilted prose and stiff characters with a bit of a cheesy premise forced me to stop reading. I have to say, this is the highest rating I have ever given a book I was not able to finish.
Samurai Awakening by Benjamin Martin is about an American, David, who becomes a Japanese exchange student. The Masomoto family that he stays with is well versed in the ways of the Samurai, and one fateful day, by trying to save the family's grandfather and patriarch, he becomes part of the legend. The rest of the book deals with his learning to become part of the Japanese culture, and this new warrior that he is destined to be.
I know this book was a finalist in a competition and did very well. But I'll admit that for me, the story dragged and dragged. I can't quite pinpoint it because the book is very well researched, and it's clear that Martin knows his stuff. On top of that, there are interesting characters, a fantastical storyline, and lots of action. But there's something about the prose that actually made me to stop reading altogether. I made it through 60% of the book and then jumped to the ending to see if I missed anything big. The last chapter, while I didn't understand every nuance, was basically what I thought it would be. Not to mention that this idea of an American white boy Samurai is a little bit-- cheesy? I think it's great to meld world views and have the East and West understand each other, but I couldn't get over that concept.
Overall, well researched with an interesting setup, but the stilted prose and stiff characters with a bit of a cheesy premise forced me to stop reading. I have to say, this is the highest rating I have ever given a book I was not able to finish.
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