Fascinating story of a young, Japanese sailor rescued from a shipwreck and adopted by a whaling ship in the late 1800s.
SPL Global Reading Challenge 2016 ( )

Manjiro and four companions are stranded on a desert island when their fishing boat is shipwrecked there. When they are finally rescued, it is by an American-based whaling ship. Eventually, Manjiro's companions are put ashore at Honolulu, but Manjiro has gotten a taste for life at sea, and he has befriended the captain of the whaling ship, who invites him to stay on as a member of the crew. When the ship returns to Boston, Manjiro makes many new friends, although he experiences prejudice as well. But will he ever return to Japan?

This Newbery Honor book is based on a true story. I enjoyed the historical elements, though I felt somewhat distanced from the characters. Recommended to those who like Moby Dick and other historical stories with a strong seafaring element. ( )

Based on the true story of Manjiro Nakahama, believed to be the first Japanese person to set foot in America, this book tells us about global connection and cultural understanding. Historical Note, Glossary, Bibliography.

A young Japanese boy is boat-wrecked on a desert island with a handful of fellow fishermen, rescued by an American whaling ship, adopted by its captain, and grows up in America before making his way back to Japan as a young adult. Once back home, he is subjected to near-torturous questioning about his time in the States, but he eventually makes strides toward helping both cultures better understand each other.

This Newbery Honor Book is based on the true life of Manjiro/John Mung. It's an interesting story, although ultimately not one of my favorite Newbery books. The writing is okay but not great, and the story is well-enough told, but it felt like it could have been more engaging. ( )

A multichapter children's book, written for older readers, is a great adaptation of the story of Nakahama Manjiro. This story is about a group of sailors and their adventures of getting shipwrecked, seeking adventure and safety, learning about their culture, and what it takes to become a samurai. This is a story that I would definitely use in the classroom as a class text we all read and analyze in older classroom settings. The text is engaging and is a coming-of-age novel that speaks to seeking adventure and cultivating a strong personality. This novel is fantastic in sharing Japanese culture and telling the wonderous tale of Manjiro.