Heart of a Samurai

A New York Times bestseller, Heart of a Samurai is “a terrific biographical novel” (Wall Street Journal), filled with international adventure, a look at cultural differences, and both American and Japanese history.

A Newbery Medal Winner * An NPR Backseat Book Club pick

This award-winning adventure novel will thrill and enrich every young reader who picks it up.

In 1841, a Japanese fishing vessel sinks. Its crew is forced to swim to a small, unknown island, where they are rescued by a passing American ship. Japan’s borders remain closed to all Western nations, so the crew sets off to America, learning English on the way.

Manjiro, a 14-year-old boy, is curious and eager to learn everything he can about this new culture. Eventually the captain adopts Manjiro and takes him to his home in New England.

The boy lives there for some time and then heads to San Francisco to pan for gold. After many years, he makes it back to Japan, only to be imprisoned as an outsider.

With his hard-won knowledge of the West, Manjiro is in a unique position to persuade the emperor to ease open the boundaries around Japan; he may even achieve his unlikely dream of becoming a samurai.

“Illustrated with Manjiro’s own pencil drawings in addition to other archival material and original art from Tamaki, this is a captivating fictionalized (although notably faithful) retelling of the boy’s adventures. Capturing his wonder, remarkable willingness to learn, the prejudice he encountered and the way he eventually influenced officials in Japan to open the country, this highly entertaining page-turner.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Margi Preus is the author of acclaimed books for young readers, including Heart of a Samurai, which received a Newbery Honor and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature. Her other widely recognized titles include West of the Moon, winner of the Minnesota Book Award, as well as Shadow on the Mountain, Village of Scoundrels, Windswept, and the Enchantment Lake mystery series.

Her books have been named ALA/ALSC Notables, selected as NPR Backseat Book Club picks, chosen for community reads, featured on national “best of” lists, and translated into multiple languages. Known for combining meticulous research with vivid storytelling, Preus writes historical fiction, mystery, fantasy, and nonfiction that bring little‑known histories and remarkable characters to life for middle‑grade and younger readers. 

Before turning full‑time to children’s literature, Preus worked extensively in theater as a writer, director, and artistic director, and taught writing and literature at the college level. She lives in Minnesota, where she enjoys hiking, skiing, canoeing, and reading―often when she’s not researching her next book or visiting schools and libraries.