Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune

Reviewed by: Kristin Taylor - Biddeford High School, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 8, 2017

Review

Minamoto Yoshitune was 12th Century Samurai who became a legend by rising from obscurity to defeat the Taira clan only to be outdone by another member of his own clan in the end. Known for his reckless behavior in battle and establishing seppku as warrior code (the ritual of disembowelment), Yoshitune made his name in Japanese history as his ancestors before him.

Well researched with author's notes, table of contents, index, characters and places listing to figure out who is who and locations with pronunciations given for each. There are also timelines for Yoshitsune, the world at the time, major periods of Japanese history and the rising of the Samurai. Anyone interested in Japanese history, the Samurai and an action pack, yet sometimes gruesome, book would enjoy this compelling nonfiction work. The illustrations are black and white sketches depicting various scenes at the beginning of the chapters with occasional maps of various battles strewn through out the book.

Suggested for Grade 7 and up. This work of non-fiction was placed as a finalist in the YALSA Nonfiction Award List for 2017.

Overall Book Score: excellent