The Samurai's Tale

The Samurai's Tale
by Erik C. Haugaard

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Book Summary Information

Author: Erik C. Haugaard
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-09-12
ISBN: 0618615121
Number of pages: 256
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Book Reviews of The Samurai's Tale

Book Review: A Teen's review
Summary: 4 Stars

This story displays a large cast. Being an ambitious young orphan, Taro hopes to follow his late father's footsteps and become a samurai. Fortunately, Taro has numerous mentors throughout his life, including a cook, a messenger and even a servant. While serving his lord as the distributor of rations Taro meets a young girl and immediately falls in love with her. This tale of a boy who struggles to achieve the highest military rank takes in a war torn Japan during the golden age of the samurai.
As the story progresses the reader follows the hero through his varied adventures. When a rival family kills his mother and siblings are killed, Taro is spared because of his bravery which is prominent throughout the story. He starts out a lowly cook's boy but later goes on to become a stable boy, messenger, and guardian / distributor of the armies rations. While Taro is the cook's helper, his mentor teaches him to be content with who he is and what he is doing as long as it is morally correct. However, Taro continues to strive to become a samurai.
(spoiler!!!)
Taro achieves his life goal. His name is changed. He engages in combat. the young man is very pleased with these knightly privileges. Sadly, his best friend dies in battle, and so Taro learns to respect life. After his lord is vanquished, Taro is reduced to rags , but when the story takes a final turn he forgets his sad state.
This is an enjoyable book. Being equally educational and pleasurable the reader is drawn into Taro's world. It is a typical life story with several subplots, making it hard to follow the main story line. Unfortunately, the reading is slow at times but mostly this story action-packed and not easy to put down.

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Summary of The Samurai's Tale

When the powerful Lord Takeda's soldiers sweep across the countryside, killing and plundering, they spare the boy Taro's life and take him along with them. Taro becomes a servant in the household of the noble Lord Akiyama, where he meets Togan, a cook, who teaches Taro and makes his new life bearable. But when Togan is murdered, Taro's life takes a new direction: He will become a samurai, and redeem the family legacy that has been stolen from him.

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