  | Deadly flowers : a ninja's tale Author: Thomson, Sarah L. | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
In Feudal Japan, ninja girl Kata tries to save a brother and sister from their uncle, his samurai army, and various demons, all of whom are after a magical ring.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 5.00 Points: 10.0 Quiz: 181321 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/01/16)
Booklist (03/15/16)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (04/16)
The Hornbook (00/03/16)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 03/15/2016 Ninjas are stealthy. They are disciplined. Ninjas trust no one and let nothing deter them from completion of their mission. Teenage Kata has trained since childhood to live up to the exacting standards that Madame Chiyome sets for her “deadly flowers”—the girls who live a harsh, hungry life at her school for ninjas—and she is determined to succeed in her first mission as an assassin for hire. When it all goes wrong, she finds herself on the run and guarding a powerful amulet as well as the children of one of Japan’s most powerful warlords. They meet bandits and monks and are plagued by demons and ghosts. Feudal Japan is a fascinating backdrop for their journey; neither the wealthy children nor skilled Kata truly control their own fate in a country where might equals right. Genuinely thrilling, with surprises at every turn and a solid emotional core, this is just the thing for Percy Jackson fanatics thirsty for more, more, more. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.
Bulletin for the Center... - 04/01/2016 Ninja-loving readers will rejoice at this clever, dangerous, vivacious book about a group rarely mentioned: girl ninjas. Kata was orphaned as a young age, so all she knows as home is her place with Madame Chiyome (a real historical figure who trained young girls to be ninjas in the 1500s). She works willingly, eager to be offered her first mission so that all of her torturous, exhausting, dangerous training can be put to the test. She’s stunned to realize, though, that her first job is an assassination, of a young boy no less; when she encounters the boy and his protective sister, she can’t go through with the deed, and she ultimately helps the kids escape and search for their uncle. The siblings are also protecting a pearl that has supernatural powers, while trying to evade other assassins, demons, ghostly beings, and vengeful family members. It’s a lot, but just as the descriptions and social settings start feeling a bit too dense, there’s a great fight scene or a creepy-cool mention of a double-mouthed woman or trickster spirit to change the tone and add excitement. An author’s note offers brief details about female ninjas and what is actually known about their history, as well as some additional details on Japanese ghosts and demons. AS - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
