Ninja! Attack of the Clan

Ninja! #2

by Arree Chung

A ninja must be ready for anything! Maxwell is a strong, courageous, silent ninja, but he also wants somebody to play with. Mama, Papa, and little sister Cassy are all too busy, leaving Maxwell disappointed and alone.

When Maxwell gets called to dinner, he finds an empty dining room. Could his ninja clan be up to something? This sequel to Ninja! is both action-packed and heartwarming.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2016

About the author

Arree Chung makes picture books but he didn’t always do so. Once he made spreadsheets all day long and he decided that he wanted to make pictures instead. Arree learned how to draw, paint and think a little bit differently at Art Center College of Design.

Arree is represented by Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content. http://www.rpcontent.com

Lots of cool stuff at: http://arree.com

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young would-be ninja Maxwell, whose imaginative play was chronicled in author/artist Aree Chung's debut, Ninja! , returns in this second picture-book. Disappointed when his mother, younger sister Cassy, and father all refuse to play ninja with him, Maxwell is quite dejected. Little does he know that his ninja clan is planning a surprise attack at dinner...

Like its predecessor, Ninja! Attack of the Clan offers an entertaining story about a young boy's imaginative play, although in this sequel, Maxwell's entire family gets in on the act. The artwork, created with acrylic paint, found paper and Photoshop, is colorful and energetic, matching the zany humor of the text. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed Arree Chung's first story about Maxwell, and to young ninja lovers in general.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxwell's mother, father, and little sister are all too busy to play with him. But when they see how disappointed and lonely he is, they arrange a family-style ninja attack. Sequential style art is high quality. But I'm not wild about the child-like drawings on the endpapers, which could encourage children to draw on books, including ones owned by the library.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxwell can't get anyone to play with him. But when mom and dad see how disappointed he is, they surprise him with a secret ninja dinner attack! Hi-Ya! Maxwell defeats both mom and dad easily, but little sister, Cassy, is elusive. Suddenly the small and powerful ninja attacks in a very unorthodox way. Maxwell knows when he's been licked, literally!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our favorite Ninja is back again in Attack of the Clan. Who is the clan? You'll have to read to find out.
My students and I loved Arree Chung's first book, Ninja, and I was happy to see there would be another story. This time, our Ninja is just trying to get someone in his house to interact with him, but everyone is busy with other things. Cute story, love how all the ninjaness is intertwined, and the little kids I read it with were left laughing and practicing their own ninja moves.

Would be a good pair with hello! hello! and Ninja Baby.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book about the little ninja Maxwell. He's eager to play but everyone in his family is too busy. This makes Maxwell sad but fortunately his family notices. Readers will identify with this scenario and all of Maxwell's big emotions. This is a sensitive, playful picture book about a busy, loving family that will be fun to share.

[The Library Lady · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't crazy about this to begin with, and then I saw that the inside cover "art" looks like a child's drawings. In other words, it looks as if it's just fine to take your crayons and scribble on the inside of a book, even if it's a library book. Which qualified this book for a 1 star penalty.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as unenjoyable as the first one but still worth a read since it’s rare that you see the whole family getting in on the fun.

[Netaniel Dempster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is different because I never read it. He write it like a comic book. Comic books are different because he tells the story with sentences and pictures!
Maxwell was trying to ask his family to play with him but his mom said sorry Maxwell, I'm working and his sissy said, sorry I'm working. Then he asked his dad, will you play hide and seek and his dad said ok and then Maxwell was hiding but his dad didn't look for him. Then what happened was Maxwell said to his dad, forget it and then when he said surprise attack! Maxwell put on his mask and then he fight them.
Maxwell was happy. Maxwell wasn't happy when his dad and everybody didn't play with him. I like to play board games with my family.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

1/3/2019 ~ I discovered this series when I read a 2018 release by Chung and saw this book mentioned on the flyleaf. Oh the paths we take to discover new-to-us authors!

I loved the imaginative play. I loved the inclusion of Asian (Japanese?) elements (dragons in the background). I liked this book even more than the first book in the series, because of the role of the parents. Both were too busy and Maxwell was feeling a bit down. They realized and figured out a way to become part of Maxwell's imaginative game. No wonder he is able to have such a richly imagined fantasy life!

I know I have readers who will request this book and it's companions time and time again.

[Ro Menendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxwell is a little boy who wants to be a ninja. He reads a ninja manual and tries to find the ninja way in his home setting. It's not easy to train to become a ninja when your family is preoccupied and no one wants to play...I mean train. Resigned to being ignored Maxwell practices the more solitary exercises of a ninja, but is surprised by the Ninja Clan! Hi-Ya! Reminiscent of Blackout! by John Rocco with a Ninja twist, fans of ninjas and family time everywhere will delight in this ninja story about family, taking time to delight in play, and make up ninja moves and names!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When young Maxwell is disappointed that he can't find anyone to participate in ninja activities with him, he recognizes that "a ninja must practice the art of meditation and find inner peace." Recognizing that they've been ignoring him, his entire "ninja clan" - mom, dad, and little sister Cassy - launch a surprise ninja attack on Maxwell at dinner time. Cute and fun sequel to "Ninja!", with a cartoon-like presentation.

[Cheeky Readers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ninja! Attack of the Clan by Arree Chung is a clever way to introduce your kids to the vast world of comic books and graphic novels. The format and layout follows left-to-right and top-to-bottom storyboard, using speech bubbles and exclamatory texts. What I love about this type of book is how the illustrations express the emotions of the characters without any words at all. Ninja and comics in one, this book spells out f-u-n!

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 things I liked about this book:
1) I think kids can totally relate to their family members not having time to play with them... or being so busy they absentmindedly say "yes" to playing without meaning it.
2) How the family decides to play a trick on Maxwell Ninja at dinner time
3) seeing the whole family play ninjas

The swirling dragon illustrations are fun.

My kids voted to give it 5 stars.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for a Family Storytime. The little boy loves to be a ninja and just wants to have some ninja fun. So mom, dad, and baby sister give him a ninja surprise attack. It's a great book showing love for one's family and having fun together.

[Kalynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A boy looking for a family member to play with him, but they all don't have the time...yet. This was a delightfully illustrated ninja story that combines comic book layout with picture book layout. I loved the action, the drama, and the emotions so greatly conveyed in the art.

[Kenson and kirra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like books about ninja's. we read another ninja book recently too (about a ninja that goes to school) my mom didn't like to read this one. she says its more of the graphic novel catagory. she doesn't like to read those out loud, but i like looking at the pictures.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. A little boy, a ninja, is trying to engage his family to participate in his ninja-ness. They are all too busy to play. But much to the boy's surprise, they surprise him and become ninjas themselves.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maxwell, a Ninja looking for a worthy opponent can't seem to find one because everyone is to busy to play. Feeling somewhat sad, he decides to practice the art of meditation. When he is called to dinner, that's when all of his ninja skills are put to the test.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maxwell wants to play, but everyone is busy. His family notices how sad he is, though, and surprises him with a "ninja attack" before supper.

The "attacks" are really fun, and the book ends with such good family feelings.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as adorable sequel to Ninja, Chung has done it again! Super adorable and busy family members won't play hide and go seek while busy doing other things much to the disappointment of a young boy. He does not realize his family has a plan and executes it with great relish and joy!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

my kids love the ninja books. They can't wait to read Ninja Claus!

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy tries all day to get his family to play with him. That night they surprise him at dinner time with a ninja attack. He captures the whole family except the littlest one, who licks him.

[Readergirl77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan really enjoyed this cute little story about a boy Ninja and his family.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this. I love it. A great ninja book. A great family book. Totally funny. Buy it. Now. GO! DO IT!

[Maxwell Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Ninja named Maxwell, cool!

[Jj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action-packed, funny, and even sweet--I liked this family ninja adventure.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story.

[Charlene Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read kids will enjoy! I enjoyed reading it more than once. If you enjoy this also check out Tim McCanna's Jack B. Ninja!

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of cute. Comics-style panels and word bubbles. A boy wants to play ninja but the rest of his family are busy. But then they find time to play with him.

[Ashley Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maxwell is just looking for someone to play with, but he may be surprised when someone sneaks through the shadows.