The Emperor of Any Place

Reviewed by: Karen Sandlin Silverman - Scarborough High School / Scarborough Middle School, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 11, 2016

Review

Evan finds a mysterious hand-written book in his father's office after his father's sudden death. Evan has never met his grandfather "Griff," so things are tense when Griff arrives to help. The mysterious book was written by a Japanese soldier and a US soldier who were stranded together on an island during WWII. There is some mystery as to Griff's connection to the soldiers. The book alternates between Evan's life and the tale of the stranded soldiers. With just a hint of supernatural elements, this excellent story of family and grief teaches readers that things aren't always what they seem.

Overall Book Score: excellent