In1841aJapanesefishingvesselsinks.Itscrewisforcedtoswimtoasmall,unknownisland,wheretheyarerescuedbyapassingAmericanship.Japan'sbordersremainclosedtoallWesternnations,sothecrewsetsofftoAmerica,learningEnglishontheway.Manjiro,a14-year-oldboy,iscuriousandeagertolearneverythinghecanaboutthisnewculture.EventuallythecaptainadoptsManjiroandtakeshimtohishomeinNewEngland.TheboylivesthereforsometimeandthenheadstoSanFranciscotopanforgold.Aftermanyyears,hemakesitbacktoJapan,onlytobeimprisonedasanoutsider.Withhishard-wonknowledgeoftheWest,ManjiroisinauniquepositiontopersuadetheemperortoeaseopentheboundariesaroundJapan;hemayevenachievehisunlikelydreamofbecomingasamurai.HeartofaSamuraiisa2011NewberyHonorBook.AccoladesandPraiseforHeartofaSamurai2011NewberyHonorBookNewYorkTimesBestsellerNPRBackseatBookClubpick"AterrifcbiographicalnovelbyMargiPreus."-WallStreetJournal*STARREDREVIEW*"It'saclassicfish-out-of-waterstory(althoughthisfishgoesintothewaterrepeatedly),andit'spreciselythisclassicstructurethatgivesthenovelthesturdybonesofatimelesstale.Backetedbygrittyseafaringepisodes—saltyandbloodyenoughtoassureusthatPreushasdoneherresearch—thebook'sheartisitsmiddlesection,inwhichManjiro,allegedlythefirstJapanesetosetfootinAmerica,dealswiththeprejudiceandpromiseofanewworld.ByJapanesetradition,Manjirowasdestinedtobenomorethanahumblefisherman,butwhenhis10-yearsagaends,hehasbecomesomuchmore."--Booklist,starredreview*STARREDREVIEW*"IllustratedwithManjiro'sownpencildrawingsinadditiontootherarchivalmaterialandoriginalartfromTamaki,thisisacaptivatingfictionalized(althoughnotablyfaithful)retellingoftheboy'sadventures.