Samurai Kids: White Crane

Sandy Fussell (author)

Rhian Nest James (illus)

Walker Books, Australia: 2008; 245pp

ISBN: 9781921150203

Genres: adventure, historical fiction

Issues: bullying, cooperation, differences, ethics, identity, values

Niya joined the Cockroach Ryu, run by the famous Ki-Yaga because his father's old school, the Dragon Ryu, refused to take him. Niya's sensai may be famous and widely respected but he's also eccentric.

What other samurai teacher would invite such students to join him as a boy with one leg, another who's lost an arm, a third who is blind, and an albino girl? Not to mention Mikko, who has six fingers and Yoshi, whose size and strength would make him a great warrior - except that he refuses to fight.

Each ‘samurai kid' has a totem - a spirit animal that epitomises their nature and gifts. Their sensei sees past their flaws and reveals their strengths. But will it be enough? The Cockroaches must travel a dangerous path to get to the Games, where they must compete against able-bodied warrior students who don't see their worth as their sensai does. It is a great test, not just physically, but psychologically, as the friends must learn to value themselves as well as each other.

The first in a series that shares the experiences of a group of samurai children in feudal Japan, White Crane is a page-turning adventure. As with all such novels about traditional warriors, be they knights or samurai, emphasis is placed on the philosophy that underpins such training. The samurai kids learn to fight - but only that they may prevent war. Fussell has layered her story with values that build a strong, peaceful, ethical society, yet there is a great deal of humour and mischief here as well, which will appeal to all readers. This is very cleverly crafted writing.

Rhian Nest James' chapter headings and illustrations of dramatic points in the text draw the reader further into the story. Illustrations in novels are often pretty but inconsequential supplements to the narrative - but such is not the case here. The energy of line in each image reflects the vitality of the characters, bringing them strongly to life for the reader. The illustrations are completely contemporary, yet they reference the style of traditional art of the period in which the story is set. They are sufficiently detailed that the attentive reader can gain broader insight into things mentioned only briefly in the story, such as the complexity of samurai dress, thus enriching the reader's experience of the novel. If James can do this much with a novel, it would be fascinating to see what she could bring to the sparser text of a picture book, which relies more heavily on the illustrator.

The Samurai Kids series will appeal to a broad readership - boys and girls, adventure fans and those who enjoy historical and realistic fiction. Highly recommended.