Manjiro is portrayed as an eager and curious teen with a quick mind and an adventurous spirit. It's easy to see why Captain Whitfield liked him so well that he took him into his own home, and how he came to be accepted by so many despite prejudice concerning his race and origins. That prejudice was always present in some form or another, but Manjiro seems to have been able to shrug it off, quoting his mother, "Fall down 7 times; get up 8 times."

I adore a good sea adventure, so I particularly relished the scenes that take place on various ships, spiced as they are with plenty of salty sailor slang and plenty of action. By contrast, the Massachusetts sections are more staid, with most of the tension coming from a bully who won't leave Manjiro alone. Those hoping for richly detailed gold mining scenes will be disappointed, as they are the most minimal part of the book.

Although this isn't one of those books I clasped to my chest with fervent love when I came to the last page (admit that you do this sometimes!), Heart of a Samurai is fascinating for its basis in true events and appealing for its vibrant main character. The tone was a bit reserved and I remained at a distance emotionally, but I had no problem finishing the book. The back matter is intriguing; I would have loved even more of it.

Recommended for fans of swashbuckling sea adventures like Karen Hesse's The Stowaway and Iain Lawrence's The Smugglers (and others in that series).