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nmcannon 's review for:
The Bamboo Sword
by Margi Preus
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from my Creative Writing MFA professor, who was reading THE BAMBOO SWORD in consideration for the National Book Award.
What enticed me most about this book is the world it inhabits. Preus does an excellent job immersing the reader in the events of 1853 both through words and the included Japanese art. Background information darts in and out of the narrative like tiny silver fish. As someone who struggles with that in their own writing, I applaud. Yoshi's character is also especially compelling: I really felt his struggles and his shifting mindset. Jack's felt more typical, though his moments of poeticness where a breath of fresh air.
The language of the novel stayed relatively simplistic throughout, so I would recommend this more to MG or young YA readers than a solid YA choice. Still, a great holiday or birthday gift for others in your life! A solid, diverse read.
What enticed me most about this book is the world it inhabits. Preus does an excellent job immersing the reader in the events of 1853 both through words and the included Japanese art. Background information darts in and out of the narrative like tiny silver fish. As someone who struggles with that in their own writing, I applaud. Yoshi's character is also especially compelling: I really felt his struggles and his shifting mindset. Jack's felt more typical, though his moments of poeticness where a breath of fresh air.
The language of the novel stayed relatively simplistic throughout, so I would recommend this more to MG or young YA readers than a solid YA choice. Still, a great holiday or birthday gift for others in your life! A solid, diverse read.