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Summer reads 09

June 08, 2009

Over the next week a variety of Puffins (or, to use a technical term, a puffinry of Puffins) are going to take to the stage, so to speak, and tell you about their hot picks for you to discover this summer. Without further ado, here is Louise Heskett, Puffin Marketing Officer, to talk to you about Chris Bradford's Young Samurai series. Hiiiiiiiii-ya!

I’m here to talk about Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword, which is publishing in July. I’ll be honest with you and start with a confession. Up until a year ago, I knew nothing about martial arts. Zippo. Zilch. Nada. If it was a choice between a Jackie Chan movie or Enchanted, I’d opt for pretty dresses and Prince Charmings every time.

So, why am I now talking to you about a book that is all about martial arts action, black-belt ninjas, deadly combat and a brand-new hero, Jack Fletcher? Well, it all began with a sword. A really, really sharp one. And a very eager debut author, Chris Bradford, who was holding said sword whilst having a marketing brainstorm.

Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior, the first in the series, floored me from the first. Think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets Young Bond. Set in early 17th century Japan, our hero Jack Fletcher is shipwrecked off the coast, his father and the rest of his crew slaughtered by ninja pirates. Taken in by a legendary Samurai warrior, Jack’s only hope is to train to become a Samurai, whilst winning the respect of those bullies that are making his life hell.

But I digress, I’m actually here to talk about Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword, the second in the Young Samurai series. Picking up in Jack’s second year of samurai training school, not only is Jack struggling in training but his old bullies are rearing their ugly heads and ninjas aren’t far behind. In short, poor old Jack is having rather a hard time. And that’s before he accepts a fight to the death with an experienced Samurai warrior. What really sets this series apart from other action adventures is the vivid detail of Japanese life, the culture, the rituals, the people and the landscape. Chris has re-envisaged 17th century Japan and captured what it meant to be a Samurai. He also shows a real sensitivity of touch in conveying Jack’s struggle to be accepted by the bullies.

I began by saying I didn’t know a jot about martial arts a year ago. Well, since then, I have interviewed the British Olympic Judo team and I have gone to the international trade fair for martial arts. I have stopped short of high-kicking anyone, no matter the temptation on the tube, but I have gone to a ‘Warrior workout’ class at my gym (please note only the once as I couldn’t sit down for days). Would I still choose Enchanted over Jackie Chan? Honestly, probably yes. But would I choose Young Samurai over Young Indiana? A resounding YES.

Louise Heskett

Next up is Shannon Park, Executive Editor, who brings you a fabulously imagined new world from debut talent David Whitley:

The Midnight Charter is a captivating debut from an exceptional new author, David Whitley. In 2005 he was part of the winning Corpus Christi team on University Challenge and now his debut novel will be published this August in 18 countries and 12 languages around the world.

 

Based on his love of Philip Pullman, Jonathan Swift and the Age of Enlightenment David has conceived the city of Agora. There is no money in Agora but everything is ‘for sale’ in the sense that it can be traded – even children are considered possessions until their twelfth birthday.

 

Taking us through life in a world like this are our two twelve-year-old friends, Mark and Lily, both of whom are coming of age in this strange city and –as we discover – bound together by the prophecies of the mysterious Midnight Charter document.

 

Mark uses the politics and games of Agora to his advantage, rising to the top of society but, in the process, jeopardising his own values and beliefs. Lily, on the other hand, disrupts the natural flow of the system by setting up a charitable almshouse, offering shelter and food to those most in need without asking for anything in return. But the concept of charity is not welcome in a city like Agora and at this point the novel takes a decidedly dark turn.

 

There are some brilliantly imagined concepts in this book. When I say everything is for sale I mean everything. Emotions can be extracted and sold, and as the wealthy become addicted to vials of ‘excitement’ or ‘happiness’ to perk up their dinner parties, the desperate donors of the emotions are left empty and plagued by nightmares.

 

Filled with power struggles, morality and corruption, this novel is part murder mystery, part conspiracy thriller and part pure fantasy, as Mark and Lily struggle to uncover their destiny within Agora.

It’s the perfect read for both boys and girls of 11+, and I would recommend it to the more confident, bookish reader as it’s very much an ideas book underneath a gripping story.

 

Puffin is publishing in August and we hope to follow up with the sequel in 2010.

 

Shannon Park

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