Synopses & Reviews
Review
'\"brave effort to draw martial arts film and game fans...Koji...finds himself held captive in a hidden rebel camp\" KIRKUS REVIEWS'
Review
'\"Both rousing and thoughtful...opens an unfamiliar time to most readers and offers an accurate look at these secretive warriors.\" SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL'
Review
'\"...gripping elements of daring spy missions and a climactic midnight confrontation...Wit and trickery rather than violence win the day.\" THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN\'S BOOKS'
Review
'\"gripping...action-packed, atmospheric...readers will be made curious about Japanese culture and history as they become ensnared in this adventure.\" PUBLISHERS WEEKLY'
Review
'\"...for readers who like action stories... also delivers enough ninjutsu philosophy to give older middle-graders something to think about.\" BOOKLIST'
Review
"brave effort to draw martial arts film and game fans...Koji...finds himself held captive in a hidden rebel camp" KIRKUS REVIEWS Kirkus Reviews
"Both rousing and thoughtful...opens an unfamiliar time to most readers and offers an accurate look at these secretive warriors." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL School Library Journal
"...gripping elements of daring spy missions and a climactic midnight confrontation...Wit and trickery rather than violence win the day." THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"gripping...action-packed, atmospheric...readers will be made curious about Japanese culture and history as they become ensnared in this adventure." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Publishers Weekly
"...for readers who like action stories... also delivers enough ninjutsu philosophy to give older middle-graders something to think about." BOOKLIST Booklist, ALA
"a popular subject that will be enjoyed by young teens exercising their ninja powers" VOYA VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
Synopsis
The power and prowess of ninja never seem to lose their appeal to young readers, especially boys. Blue Fingers, a suspenseful, action-packed coming-of-age story set in feudal Japan, offers an up-close look at this noble, fierce way of life.
Through an odd twist of fate, a stubborn twelve-year-old boy named Koji is kidnapped by a secret ninja clan and taken to its hidden camp high in the mountains. He wants desperately to return home, but that is forbidden. He must forget his old life and become a ninja-or die. In this carefully researched and well-crafted novel, Koji must learn to survive in the mysterious and dangerous world of the ninja and fulfill a destiny far different from any he could have imagined. Afterword.
About the Author
Cheryl Whitesel is the author of REBEL: A TIBETAN ODYSSEY, published by HarperCollins Books for Children in 2001 to excellent reviews. She lives in Western Springs, IL.