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Description edit
A ninja's deadly skills. A vampire's deadly bite.
When his father is murdered, Taro is rescued by a mysterious ninja--and finds himself at the center of an ancient conflict between the ruling lords of Japan. Forced into hiding, Taro trains to become a ninja himself, and he uncovers a... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Taro: The protagonist. The son of a fisherman and an ama, his world is turned upside down when ninjas mysteriously attack his family. His prized possession is the bow his father made which he excels at.
- Hiro: Taro's best friend ever since Taro saved him from a shark attack when he was a little boy. He is very loyal to Taro and will follow him anywhere.
- Shusaku Endo: The ninja who saves Taro from the ninja attack.
- Yukiko: A ninja in training. She's Heiko's younger sister. She likes to wrestle and fight.
- Heiko: A ninja in training. She is more reserved than her younger sister Yukiko.
- Lady Oda no Hana: Hana is the daughter of Lord Oda and a samurai in training.
- Kenji Kira: A samurai that works for Lord Oda.
- Lord Oda no Nobunaga: A powerful samurai who is trying to become shogun.
- Kawabata: A bitter ninja who really does not like Shusaku.
- Ito: Drunk man
- Little Kawabata: Kawabata's son.
- Lord Tokugawa no Ieyasu: Another powerful samurai who is trying to become shogun.
- Namae: A very good ninja hired by Lord Oda to be a guard.
First Sentence edit
This was not a good place to be out at night, all alone.
Table of Contents edit
Prologue
Chapters 1 - 78
Glossary edit
- Ronin: Rogue samurai without a master that refused seppuku and roam around without honor.
- Mako: Japanese for shark
- Ri: A unit of measure for distances.
- Seppuku: When a samurai takes his own life to die with honor instead of living without it.
- Kyuuketsuki: Bloodsucking demons. The Japanese equivalent to vampires.
- Kensei: "Sword saint," a master of the katana.
- Katana: A sword used by samurai.
- Ama: Diver(s)
- Gaki: Hungry ghosts
- "Ame futte ji katamaru.": "Land that is rained on will harden."
- Wakizashi: Sword
- Kami: God-spirits that inhabit nature.
- Akuryo: Evil spirit
- "Shiki fu i ku, ku fu i shiki, shiki zoku ze ku, ku zoku ze shiki.": "Form is emptiness and emptiness is form. Form is not different from emptiness, and emptiness is not different from form."
- Mon: Crest
- Annoyo: A realm of hungry ghosts. A circle of hell.
- Obon Lamps: Blue lamps set up during the obon festival to guide dead family members home for the week of the festival.
- Sura: Sheaths
- Nodowa, Sode, Donaka: Pieces of samurai armor to guard the neck, shoulders, and torsos respectively.
- "Namu Amida Butsu": A prayer said over the dead to Buddha in hope that he would help the dead's soul on its way to Sukhavarti, the Pure Land.
- Gaku: Charms to ward off evil spirits
- Shoryo-nagashi: Lanterns able to carry messages to the dead.
- Hosshin: Desire for enlightenment
- -san: Suffix added to the end of a name to show respect.
- Eta: Untouchable
- Taijutsu: Unarmed combat
- Kenjutsu: Fighting with swords
- Shobo: A rough, unevenly textured ring that can be used in a fight
- Sanjaku Tenugui: The three scarves that make up the ninja mask
- Incense sticks: Unit to measure time
- Kunitsukami: Gods of the land
- Hana: Japanese for flower blossom.
Themes & Symbolism edit
- Honor: Taro values honor very highly, as the samurai are supposed to.
- Power: There is a huge struggle between Lord Oda and Lord Tokugawa to become shogun, and this stugle includes bloodshed. Is it really worth it?
- Logical vs. moral: The protagonists come across many enemies, and while it would be much easier and safer for them to kill these people, they temporarily incapacitate most of them instead.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 1 of 3 in Blood Ninja. (standard series)
Followed by Blood Ninja II.
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 9781416986270
Page Count: 369
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 9781416986270
Page Count: 369
Awards edit
- Sakura Medal (Finalist, 2012)
Subjects edit
- Books › Children's Books › History & Historical Fiction › Asia
- Books › Children's Books › People & Places › Explore the World › Fiction › Asia
- Books › Teens › History & Historical Fiction › Historical Fiction
- Books › Children's Books › Literature › Action & Adventure
- Books › Teens › Literature & Fiction › Adventure & Thrillers
- Books › Children's Books › Sports & Activities › Sports › Martial Arts › Fiction
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