About the Book

When its ruling Shogun warlords were overthrown in 1867, Japan awoke from a medieval dream to find itself three centuries behind the rest of the world. Almost overnight, Japan transformed itself from a feudal society into an industrial nation. Black suits replaced kimonos, trains replaced horses, and salarymen replaced samurai.

Two decades later, 16-year-old Toyo Shimada is concerned only with surviving his first day at First Higher School of Tokyo and making the Ichiko baseball team. But Toyo is suddenly introduced to bushido - the way of the warrior - when his favorite uncle refuses to accept the modern world and commits ritual suicide.

Now Toyo must prove there is a place for his family's samurai values in the new Japan - or watch his father follow his uncle's path. Toyo finds a perfect match with bushido and baseball - but will his father ever accept an American game that stands for everything he despises?

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ALA 2007 Top Ten Best Books
for Young Adults

2006 Washington Post Top Ten
Books for Children

The New York Public Library's
Books for the Teen Age 2007

 


Dial Books
May 2006
Ages 12 and up

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