What do you think?
Hattori Hachi #2
Stalking the Enemy
Teen female ninja action hero, Hattori Hachi (aka Hattie Jackson from Camden, London) takes on the evil ninja Kataki, fighting Raven and his army of followers in an abandoned castle in Kielder, Northumberland. Raven hang-glides through the air, swooping down to steal pray to eat - that some say can even be human. Why is Raven trying to blow up Kielder reservoir, threatening the lives of thousands of people? Can Hattori Hachi stop him with her amazing fighting skills, quick wit and smart thinking..?
210 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2012
About the author
Jane Prowse
4 books41 followersJane lives in the New Forest, Hampshire, with her film editor husband, Ian, and their cat, Mitten. As well as writing teen fiction - the Hattori Hachi series, Jane writes and directs theatre and television. Her most recent play, adapted from the hugely successful autobiography by Jane Juska, A Round-Heeled Woman, transferred to the Aldwych theatre in London's West End at the end of 2011. TV credits include the BBC Christmas film, The Greatest Store in the World, Robson Green's Rocket Man, Brenda Blethyn, Alun Armstrong, Julie Graham and Richard Armitage in Kay Mellor's Between the Sheets, and her own original psychological thriller, Green-Eyed Monster starring Emma Fielding, Fay Ripley and Hugo Speer. www.janeprowse.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 5, 2012
I received a signed by author copy of this book through Goodreads' giveaways, but this doesn't affect my review.
Hattori Hachi's adventures continue, even more dangerous than before. More secrets will be revealed, and I, for one, was very excited to see what was going to happen when I started it. The book landed somewhere between 3 and 4 vanilla flowers, but I am going to round it up to 4.
In this second book of the series, we learn a little more about how the ninjutsu world is organised. I found it very cool that each ninja who was assigned to do something didn't know anything else about the mission, so as information not to be tortured out of him or her. This made it even more amazing when all the puzzle pieces were there and I could understand everything.
Hachi will have to fight Raven and the rest of the Kataki in their new secret base - an abandoned castle in Kielder. Her mission is to find out whatever they are planning and stop them. But that is a pretty hard thing to do when she and her friends are kept prisoners there, not knowing where Yazuki and Chiyoko might be.
Hachi is a little braver and smarter than in the prequel, and it made me happy to see that she developped pretty much as a character. She is more secure in her moves, and the fighting scenes are even better described. I could actually visualise all their moves... and I can say that the outcome was pretty cool.
Yazuki is only present in the book at the beggining and end, a fact that dissapointed me as she was and is my favourite character. However, not knowing whether Toby is on the good or the bad side, and Neena's aces up her sleeve made up for that. And did I mention how much I adore Bushi and Akira, the ninja-trained rats? I must admit, it is be pretty nice to have such smart pets on your side!
I must say I LOVE the location where the action takes place. Kielder is very well described and I could tell that Jane "made her homework" when she visited it. I could clearly picture everything, and, on a first look on some images on the web, it is exactly as I have seen it. And now I have one more place I want to visit in the future. The book ends with the promise of a trip to Japan, which makes me very keen on starting the third book soon.
I recommend this book to all martial arts and Japan lovers, both girls and boys, and to all the people who like children and YA novels.
____________________________________________________
Am primis o copie semnată de autor a acestei cărţi, prin intermediul concursurilor de pe Goodreads, dar asta nu îmi afectează recenzia în niciun fel.
Aventurile lui Hattori Hachi continuă, şi mai periculoase decât înainte. Mai multe secrete vor fi dezvăluite, iar eu una am fost foarte entuziasmată să văd ce urma să se întâmple atunci când am început-o. Cartea merită undeva între 3 şi 4 flori de vanilie, dar voi rotunji nota spre 4.
În acest al doilea volum al seriei, aflăm mai multe despre organizarea lumii ninjutsu. Mi s-a părut grozav faptul că fiecare ninja care primeşte misiunea de a face ceva nu ştie nimic altceva în afară de ce are de făcut, pentru ca să nu dezvălui nimic dacă e torturat. Şi acest lucru a făcut să fie şi mai uimitor momentul în care s-au adunat toate piesele de puzzle şi am înţeles totul.
Hachi va trebui să se lupte cu Corbul şi restul grupării Kataki în noua lor bază secretă - un castel abandonat din Kielder. Misiunea ei este să afle ce plănuiesc aceştia şi să îi oprească. Dar asta e destul de greu când ea şi prietenii ei sunt capturaţi, fără să ştie unde ar putea fi Yazuki şi Chiyoko.
Hachi e mai curajoasă şi mai isteaţă decât în prima carte, şi am fost fericită să văd că a evoluat destul de mult ca personaj. E mai sigură în mişcări, iar scenele de bătaie sunt şi mai bine descrise. Am reuşit să vizualizez mişcările personajelor ... şi pot să spun că rezultatul a fost destul de tare.
Yazuki e prezenză doar la începutul şi sfârşitul cărţii, lucru ce m-a dezamăgit, întrucât ea era şi este personajul meu preferat. Însă faptul că nu ştiam dacă Toby e de partea bună sau rea şi aşii din mâneca lui Neena au compensat pentru asta. Şi am menţionat cât de mult îi ador pe Bushi şi Akira, şoriceii ninja dresaţi? Trebuie să recunosc că e destul de drăguţ să ai aşa animăluţe deştepte de partea ta!
Trebuie să vă spun că ADOR locaţia unde se petrece acţiunea. Kielder e foarte bine descris şi mi-am dat seama că Jane "şi-a făcut temele" când l-a vizitat. Am reuşit să îmi imaginez totul, şi, când am văzut câteva poze pe internet, a fost aşa cum mi l-am imaginat. Şi acum mai am un loc pe care vreau să-l vizitez cândva. Cartea se termină cu promisiunea unei călătorii în Japonia, ceea ce mă face să îmi doresc să încep a treia carte cât de curând.
Recomand această carte tuturor iubitorilor Japoniei şi ale artelor marţiale, atât fete, cât şi băieţi, şi tuturor persoanelor cărora le plac romanele pentru copii şi tineri.
October 29, 2012
I'm torn between giving this 2 stars out of my ho-hum experience with the way the narrative ran, and giving it the 3-star merit for the enjoyable enough story that made me want to read the next book. I'm thinking this would sit well with early teens and considering that I'm not irritated by the characters, I'm rounding this off to a 3-star.
So, in this second book we're right smack in the all-important time when Hachi, our girl, will turn 16 and hence become the Hattori Golden Child, aka an almost omnipotent status which all the bad guys wanted to control and all the good guys could use to bring peace. All these would happen only if she signs her name on an ancient scroll to make it all legit.
One of the more famous ninjas in fiction going by the Hattori name. Hachi didn't seem to come from this line though...
What followed was Hachi displaying her Mary Sue qualities (admittedly, she's not an annoying Mary Sue), jetting off to the countryside of Kielder to do what an ass-kicking heroine must do, ie fulfil her destiny as 'the chosen one', solve puzzles and overcome obstacles to get all that she needed to fulfil that destiny, defeat the baddie and reunite with loved ones while saving the whole town and then some. Pretty straightforward, and it could've been boring if not for the easy, fast pace at which the plot moved and campy action scenes, which were written such that you'd feel you're shooting a tele-movie as a teen action star. There's cultural diversity too: the heroine's half Japanese, her bestie's half-Trinidadian...you catch the drift. The baddies and the plot felt a little too comical, but that might be because I'm not exactly the target audience for this. Still, it was a breezy, enjoyable read.
For entertainment value, this was even better than the first book since the story cut to the chase by delving fast into the thick of the action, with little introductory lessons on ninjutsu or the ninja arts, upon which this whole series is based.
The first book had a kick going on in that it weaved in the issue of underprivileged kids and showed readers how important it is not to have preconceived notions of people; the moral message was delivered without heavy-handedness. This wasn't present (as much) in the second book so the book stands mostly on the basis of its characters and plot.
Speaking of characters and plot, it's different from most books in the genre as it has minimal romantic elements getting in the way of the action. Imagine Powerpuff Girls as opposed to your YA truckload of Sailormoon. The downside is it's less contemporary despite being set in modern times, and the whole plot felt like a very old-school middle-grade adventure.
Fine enough for readers who enjoy such things, but most YA these days either contain superhuman/paranormal elements or more far-fetched fantasy/imagined worlds, and that I suppose is where the bulk of demand lies. Books like these, which I think have more positive messages for teens, might not generate as much frenzy as the books that follow the formulaic 'next-big-thing' YA hit hopeful. Younger audiences not yet exposed much to such YA might enjoy this for all it's worth.
All in all, it's a book that definitely would work better as a screenplay as it's got quite a bit of telling with less showing to balance it. It's a nice enough lightweight book to pass time and get into the shoes of a 13 year-old again, although the narrator's constant habit of explaining every single detail to the reader was tiresome. I know it's for the benefit of younger readers, it was fine the first time round but coming into the second book it did get a little too lecture-y.
I do appreciate the simple, linear plot and the equally clear, fuss-free character dynamics, although I'd like more wasabi to the vanilla here. Maybe a less 'all-knowing, all-telling, all-lucky' heroine with reduced agency and smarter villains would do the trick. And please don't hammer into the readers on how smart these villains are; show us how. And can we stop having water-based battles? Both the big battles in the first two books had involved water scenes.
The third book might repeat the structure of the first two and if so, it'd be an uphill battle for the series to keep the interest of fickle YA readers like me. Or it could surprise with the change of locale to a new continent, the land of ninja (although there are no existing ninja in Japan anymore, supposedly), NIHON! If it succeeds, then this series would prove good its ninjutsu teachings; always fluid, lucid, and an exciting adventure indeed. Fingers crossed.
Whose side will I be after the third book?
8 Dec 2012 update
Ok, my copy was packed somewhere and I've finally found it! And am getting back to reading it pronto, good to have some relaxing middle-grade/YA read amidst other books. Book was given courtesy of the lovely author, Jane Prowse.
And my copy arrived! Probably going to start on this after my case study presentation.
So, in this second book we're right smack in the all-important time when Hachi, our girl, will turn 16 and hence become the Hattori Golden Child, aka an almost omnipotent status which all the bad guys wanted to control and all the good guys could use to bring peace. All these would happen only if she signs her name on an ancient scroll to make it all legit.
One of the more famous ninjas in fiction going by the Hattori name. Hachi didn't seem to come from this line though...
What followed was Hachi displaying her Mary Sue qualities (admittedly, she's not an annoying Mary Sue), jetting off to the countryside of Kielder to do what an ass-kicking heroine must do, ie fulfil her destiny as 'the chosen one', solve puzzles and overcome obstacles to get all that she needed to fulfil that destiny, defeat the baddie and reunite with loved ones while saving the whole town and then some. Pretty straightforward, and it could've been boring if not for the easy, fast pace at which the plot moved and campy action scenes, which were written such that you'd feel you're shooting a tele-movie as a teen action star. There's cultural diversity too: the heroine's half Japanese, her bestie's half-Trinidadian...you catch the drift. The baddies and the plot felt a little too comical, but that might be because I'm not exactly the target audience for this. Still, it was a breezy, enjoyable read.
For entertainment value, this was even better than the first book since the story cut to the chase by delving fast into the thick of the action, with little introductory lessons on ninjutsu or the ninja arts, upon which this whole series is based.
The first book had a kick going on in that it weaved in the issue of underprivileged kids and showed readers how important it is not to have preconceived notions of people; the moral message was delivered without heavy-handedness. This wasn't present (as much) in the second book so the book stands mostly on the basis of its characters and plot.
Speaking of characters and plot, it's different from most books in the genre as it has minimal romantic elements getting in the way of the action. Imagine Powerpuff Girls as opposed to your YA truckload of Sailormoon. The downside is it's less contemporary despite being set in modern times, and the whole plot felt like a very old-school middle-grade adventure.
Fine enough for readers who enjoy such things, but most YA these days either contain superhuman/paranormal elements or more far-fetched fantasy/imagined worlds, and that I suppose is where the bulk of demand lies. Books like these, which I think have more positive messages for teens, might not generate as much frenzy as the books that follow the formulaic 'next-big-thing' YA hit hopeful. Younger audiences not yet exposed much to such YA might enjoy this for all it's worth.
All in all, it's a book that definitely would work better as a screenplay as it's got quite a bit of telling with less showing to balance it. It's a nice enough lightweight book to pass time and get into the shoes of a 13 year-old again, although the narrator's constant habit of explaining every single detail to the reader was tiresome. I know it's for the benefit of younger readers, it was fine the first time round but coming into the second book it did get a little too lecture-y.
I do appreciate the simple, linear plot and the equally clear, fuss-free character dynamics, although I'd like more wasabi to the vanilla here. Maybe a less 'all-knowing, all-telling, all-lucky' heroine with reduced agency and smarter villains would do the trick. And please don't hammer into the readers on how smart these villains are; show us how. And can we stop having water-based battles? Both the big battles in the first two books had involved water scenes.
The third book might repeat the structure of the first two and if so, it'd be an uphill battle for the series to keep the interest of fickle YA readers like me. Or it could surprise with the change of locale to a new continent, the land of ninja (although there are no existing ninja in Japan anymore, supposedly), NIHON! If it succeeds, then this series would prove good its ninjutsu teachings; always fluid, lucid, and an exciting adventure indeed. Fingers crossed.
Whose side will I be after the third book?
8 Dec 2012 update
Ok, my copy was packed somewhere and I've finally found it! And am getting back to reading it pronto, good to have some relaxing middle-grade/YA read amidst other books. Book was given courtesy of the lovely author, Jane Prowse.
July 31, 2010
I loved the first book in this series from Jane Prowse and couldn;t wait to get my hands on a copy of this, the sequel. Is it as good as the first book though? Definitely not...... in my opinion it is even better! There are more ninja villains, more ninja fights and more super-cool ninja gadgets and weapons. The characters of Hattori and her friends are developed further, including her father, of whom we saw fairly little in the first book in this series. There are also more revelations about Hattori's Japanese heritage, and what part she has to play in her role as the Hattori Golden Child and her family's ongoing war against the evil Kataki. I was right to be excited about reading this book.
The Revenge of Praying Mantis has a fairly linear plot - Hattie's mum goes missing, Hattie discovers she is descended from a long line of ruling-class ninjas, Hattie gets trained by the little old lady who runs the launderette downstairs from where she lives, and so on. There are also a number of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, the tension building and the story from being far from predictable. However, Stalking The Enemy really ups the ante as far as twists and turns are concerned, and neither Hattie nor the reader really have much of a clue as to just what is going to happen next. Is Toby on the side of good or evil? Where are Hattie's mother and Yazuki? Why is the Kielder area so important to the evil Raven and his Kataki warriors? And just who is the mysterious jonin who is issuing the instructions to the various players on the side of good?
As with Praying Mantis we are introduced to a number of Japanese words throughout the book and although the words jonin, chunin and genin are unfamiliar to the majority of children who will read this book, the concepts behind them are not so strange. A jonin is the head of a ninja mission; he (or she) passes instructions to the field-operatives (or genin) via middle-men (known as a chunin). This way many operatives can be working towards a shared final objective without knowing the full plan, or even whether there are any other ninjas involved, and therefore if they are captured and tortured there is no chance of them being able to compromise their fellow operatives. This use of cells is pretty much identical to how modern day terrorists operate, and Jane Prowse's use of this in her plot is the key to making the story as tense and exciting as it is. Hattie is constantly questioning her actions, wondering whether they are correct as far as the 'big plan' is concerned, or will her next move actually jeopardise everything? The fact that Hattie doesn't know means that we as readers are also very much in the dark - make sure you hold on tight as the edge of your seat may just give way!
If there was ever a list of books that could be used to persuade boys that female main characters can be worth reading about then this would not only be on that list, it would be up there battling away for the top spot. If I asked a group of boys what they want in a book they would answer action, adventure, fights, great characters (I know this... I have asked them, and one of even replied ninjas!). I criticised Praying Mantis for having a girly cover which may prevent boys from even picking it off a shelf - hopefully the blue cover of Stalking The Enemy may help remedy this. The quote from my review of Praying Mantis that Piccadilly Press so kindly used on the back of this book read "As thrilling an action story as anything written by Anthony Horowitz, Robert Muchamore or Joe Craig" and I stand by this completely. The only problem is that now I probably have to wait another year for the third instalment, and next time Hattie and her friends and family are heading to the heart of ninja-land - Japan. How exciting!
The Revenge of Praying Mantis has a fairly linear plot - Hattie's mum goes missing, Hattie discovers she is descended from a long line of ruling-class ninjas, Hattie gets trained by the little old lady who runs the launderette downstairs from where she lives, and so on. There are also a number of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, the tension building and the story from being far from predictable. However, Stalking The Enemy really ups the ante as far as twists and turns are concerned, and neither Hattie nor the reader really have much of a clue as to just what is going to happen next. Is Toby on the side of good or evil? Where are Hattie's mother and Yazuki? Why is the Kielder area so important to the evil Raven and his Kataki warriors? And just who is the mysterious jonin who is issuing the instructions to the various players on the side of good?
As with Praying Mantis we are introduced to a number of Japanese words throughout the book and although the words jonin, chunin and genin are unfamiliar to the majority of children who will read this book, the concepts behind them are not so strange. A jonin is the head of a ninja mission; he (or she) passes instructions to the field-operatives (or genin) via middle-men (known as a chunin). This way many operatives can be working towards a shared final objective without knowing the full plan, or even whether there are any other ninjas involved, and therefore if they are captured and tortured there is no chance of them being able to compromise their fellow operatives. This use of cells is pretty much identical to how modern day terrorists operate, and Jane Prowse's use of this in her plot is the key to making the story as tense and exciting as it is. Hattie is constantly questioning her actions, wondering whether they are correct as far as the 'big plan' is concerned, or will her next move actually jeopardise everything? The fact that Hattie doesn't know means that we as readers are also very much in the dark - make sure you hold on tight as the edge of your seat may just give way!
If there was ever a list of books that could be used to persuade boys that female main characters can be worth reading about then this would not only be on that list, it would be up there battling away for the top spot. If I asked a group of boys what they want in a book they would answer action, adventure, fights, great characters (I know this... I have asked them, and one of even replied ninjas!). I criticised Praying Mantis for having a girly cover which may prevent boys from even picking it off a shelf - hopefully the blue cover of Stalking The Enemy may help remedy this. The quote from my review of Praying Mantis that Piccadilly Press so kindly used on the back of this book read "As thrilling an action story as anything written by Anthony Horowitz, Robert Muchamore or Joe Craig" and I stand by this completely. The only problem is that now I probably have to wait another year for the third instalment, and next time Hattie and her friends and family are heading to the heart of ninja-land - Japan. How exciting!
March 19, 2012
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and this one is even better! A lot happens in the first book and I wondered how Prowse could weave all the change in Hattie's life to another story. She answered my question and gave me an amazing adventure.
Hattori Hachi (Hattie) may seem like a normal teenage girl: hormones, crushes, dreams. But ever since her Mum mysteriously disappeared in the first book, she has been declared a ninja. In Stalking the Enemy, Hattie faces a new villain. *cue 'dun dun dunnn's* I think she is tough and the ideal heroine, but she doesn't always know what to do. I like the characters in this series; they create a nice blend together. I like Hattie and Mad Dog's relationship especially, and the whole complicated thing with Toby is a big twist. There are a lot of characters, which are hard to keep up with and remember who's who, but I think most of them are required and play a significant role.
Furthermore, although Hattie is 15 years old, I don't think this is a book that would entice teenagers as much. This is classed as a YA novel but I think it should be more for 9+. The romance is quite limited and although everyone is different I think Hattie would be better as an 11 or 12 year old. However, I did enjoy it even though I prefer books with protagonists around the age of 13-17.
Even though we see this tale through the eyes of a teenage girl, I think boys would like this too. It isn't too girly and it isn't too ..boy-y... (let's pretend that's a word). It is rare that a book is suitable for both genders, but Prowse seems to have the ability to make everyone of all ages and genders love her writing.
In conclusion, I like this series but I'm not jumping up and down in excitement about them. It is unique, action-packed and a page-turner which creates an unpredictable ending. To give it the full rating for me, I would make it more for teenagers, if that is the target audience. Give it a go and let me know what you think - who would resist a book about ninjas? :)
Hattori Hachi (Hattie) may seem like a normal teenage girl: hormones, crushes, dreams. But ever since her Mum mysteriously disappeared in the first book, she has been declared a ninja. In Stalking the Enemy, Hattie faces a new villain. *cue 'dun dun dunnn's* I think she is tough and the ideal heroine, but she doesn't always know what to do. I like the characters in this series; they create a nice blend together. I like Hattie and Mad Dog's relationship especially, and the whole complicated thing with Toby is a big twist. There are a lot of characters, which are hard to keep up with and remember who's who, but I think most of them are required and play a significant role.
Furthermore, although Hattie is 15 years old, I don't think this is a book that would entice teenagers as much. This is classed as a YA novel but I think it should be more for 9+. The romance is quite limited and although everyone is different I think Hattie would be better as an 11 or 12 year old. However, I did enjoy it even though I prefer books with protagonists around the age of 13-17.
Even though we see this tale through the eyes of a teenage girl, I think boys would like this too. It isn't too girly and it isn't too ..boy-y... (let's pretend that's a word). It is rare that a book is suitable for both genders, but Prowse seems to have the ability to make everyone of all ages and genders love her writing.
In conclusion, I like this series but I'm not jumping up and down in excitement about them. It is unique, action-packed and a page-turner which creates an unpredictable ending. To give it the full rating for me, I would make it more for teenagers, if that is the target audience. Give it a go and let me know what you think - who would resist a book about ninjas? :)
February 4, 2012
Only if we pledge to buy it will the third book be published. Complicated stuff, but please check this out: http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/hattor... Please, I need my Mad Dog fix.
October 19, 2012
The author sent me a free copy of this book in return for a review. That has not effected my ability to review this honestly and critically.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
23/10 - Stalking the Enemy starts out only a few weeks from the end of The Revenge of Praying Mantis and immediately I was grabbed by the story. At around the same page number of Revenge of Praying Mantis, I was worried about whether I was going to enjoy the book, or not, so the fact that I want to rush off and read more of Stalking the Enemy right now (even be late to work in order to read some more) is very promising. As Hattie leads Mad Dog and Neena into serious danger, I'm already cursing her stubborness, naivete, and refusal to do as she's told. I feel like shaking her and screaming "What the HELL are you doing?! Mad Dog's lost in the forest, Neena's been captured and YOU are trusting TOBY!!" Ugh, stupid girl. Ok, rant over. To be continued...
24/10 - I'm in the 'Toby's evil' camp at the moment. I think that the little signs that Hattie keeps seeing, which she attributes to him really being on their side and trying to help from behind the scenes are actually false leads Prowse is using to try to trick the reader into believing as Hattie does, only to surprise us at the end when he doesn't back Hattie up in a crucial moment. I think the tension and excitement is much higher in Stalking the Enemy than it was in The Revenge of Praying Mantis, especially with pretty much the whole cast of characters held captive by the Kataki. The new mystery and intrigue regarding the background of how Ralph and Chiyoko (Hattie's parents) met and what that has to do with Hattie's mission in Kielder is very interesting and keeps me turning the pages very eagerly. To be continued...
25/10 - Wow! Even better than the first book. I'm glad that Hattie's father, Ralph, is in on the secret, I didn't like how everyone was lying to him, not trusting him to be able to handle it. Ok, so I was wrong about Toby, but I still don't trust him completely. He was undercover for a long time and that can change you, corrupt you in some ways (I'm basing my opinion on what happens to undercover police on police tv shows), so I'll be interested to see what happens with him in the final book of the trilogy. I was impressed by the research that Prowse must have done to be able to write so concisely on subjects as disparate as ninjutsu and the 'bouncing bomb,' and the story behind its' use during WWII to destroy dams. I can't wait to read the conclusion to this trilogy (and yet, at the same time I don't want it to end). I want to know the full story behind the Golden Child prophecy and I want to know what happens between Hattie and Mad Dog, although I found it hard to believe that Mad Dog would be willing to marry Hattie in an instant, if that was allowed. They've never even been on a date, they just keep getting thrown into life and death situations (makes me think of a scene from the movie Speed where Keanu Reeves' character says that relationships built on life and death situations never work, which it doesn't as he and Sandra Bullock's character are broken up by the next movie), plus she's only 16 (just) and he's not much older, they need to spend time together without the impending danger of the Kataki or Raven (or another even badder bad guy) looming over them. So to recap all that, I have really enjoyed Stalking the Enemy and eagerly await the chance to read Curse of the Diamond Daggers.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
23/10 - Stalking the Enemy starts out only a few weeks from the end of The Revenge of Praying Mantis and immediately I was grabbed by the story. At around the same page number of Revenge of Praying Mantis, I was worried about whether I was going to enjoy the book, or not, so the fact that I want to rush off and read more of Stalking the Enemy right now (even be late to work in order to read some more) is very promising. As Hattie leads Mad Dog and Neena into serious danger, I'm already cursing her stubborness, naivete, and refusal to do as she's told. I feel like shaking her and screaming "What the HELL are you doing?! Mad Dog's lost in the forest, Neena's been captured and YOU are trusting TOBY!!" Ugh, stupid girl. Ok, rant over. To be continued...
24/10 - I'm in the 'Toby's evil' camp at the moment. I think that the little signs that Hattie keeps seeing, which she attributes to him really being on their side and trying to help from behind the scenes are actually false leads Prowse is using to try to trick the reader into believing as Hattie does, only to surprise us at the end when he doesn't back Hattie up in a crucial moment. I think the tension and excitement is much higher in Stalking the Enemy than it was in The Revenge of Praying Mantis, especially with pretty much the whole cast of characters held captive by the Kataki. The new mystery and intrigue regarding the background of how Ralph and Chiyoko (Hattie's parents) met and what that has to do with Hattie's mission in Kielder is very interesting and keeps me turning the pages very eagerly. To be continued...
25/10 - Wow! Even better than the first book. I'm glad that Hattie's father, Ralph, is in on the secret, I didn't like how everyone was lying to him, not trusting him to be able to handle it. Ok, so I was wrong about Toby, but I still don't trust him completely. He was undercover for a long time and that can change you, corrupt you in some ways (I'm basing my opinion on what happens to undercover police on police tv shows), so I'll be interested to see what happens with him in the final book of the trilogy. I was impressed by the research that Prowse must have done to be able to write so concisely on subjects as disparate as ninjutsu and the 'bouncing bomb,' and the story behind its' use during WWII to destroy dams. I can't wait to read the conclusion to this trilogy (and yet, at the same time I don't want it to end). I want to know the full story behind the Golden Child prophecy and I want to know what happens between Hattie and Mad Dog, although I found it hard to believe that Mad Dog would be willing to marry Hattie in an instant, if that was allowed. They've never even been on a date, they just keep getting thrown into life and death situations (makes me think of a scene from the movie Speed where Keanu Reeves' character says that relationships built on life and death situations never work, which it doesn't as he and Sandra Bullock's character are broken up by the next movie), plus she's only 16 (just) and he's not much older, they need to spend time together without the impending danger of the Kataki or Raven (or another even badder bad guy) looming over them. So to recap all that, I have really enjoyed Stalking the Enemy and eagerly await the chance to read Curse of the Diamond Daggers.
September 22, 2012
Here is an author whose remarkable series has exceeded all expectations by producing something of such high caliber, where once more I am left will chills down my spine after reading book two. Hattori Hachi: stalking the enemy follows on from book one Hattori Hachi: revenge of the praying Mantis the debut novel by Jane Prowse, continuing the adventure of a young Ninja girl that is truly breathtaking. Loosing myself once more in Hattie Jackson’s world I was delighted this time to find a new enemy emerging from out of the shadows, in the form of the illusive Raven that like Praying Mantis remains a great threat.
An abandoned castle in the heart of Kielder forest is the bearer of many secrets and hidden mystery that is too terrifying and unimaginable to contemplate, whilst harboring a deadly enemy in its shadows. The evil Raven is shrouded in secrets and questions that one needs answering, such as why it kills so many and what connection does it have with Hattie and her family. As dark secrets and terrifying old legends are revealed, one is swept away once more by the epic storyline that captures your imagination and your heart. Touching my soul with its depth, full of thrilling action and drama I sat on the edge of my seat in suspense feeling completely drained as I was so overwhelmed by Jane Prowse books. It is a tale about love, loss and revenge with a clever twist that will delight many young readers as well as older ones too. The fast-paced action makes you sit up and take notice of everything happening, where the characters jump off the page. As more of the mystery is revealed to you the pace quickens, in which as you just begin to grasp what you think is the truth then the author goes and surprises you once again with another twist in the tale that shocks and astonishes. Building up to the most dramatic conclusion I have ever read in a book, I was blown-away by the sheer scale on which the author leaves you guessing right up to the most gripping, intense ending to a thrilling adventure.
I found the combination of martial arts, memorable and distinctive characters and a well-structured plot to be a winner, with the mixture of fast-paced action and drama alongside poignant and heartwarming parts making it something very special. To keep ones attention throughout as well as making a story meaningful, thought-provoking and truth-drawing (where the reader can actually relate and connect to the words), is something very great indeed hence I feel that this is in a whole different league to many books within that ‘stereotypical young-adult’ genre category. The relationship between Hattie and her parents and also ‘Mad Dog’ or Michael is heartwarming and quite poignant, as the author puts emotion and feeling into those words that touch and move you. I was so fortunate as to receive this book due to my enthusiasm and writing a review for book one, hence I concider myself extremely privileged to have been able to continue on the journey that I enjoyed so much. I would like to thank the author Jane Prowse as I look forward to reading book three in the future, whilst I beg of you to delve into a trilogy that is fantastic, fun and totally fabulous.
An abandoned castle in the heart of Kielder forest is the bearer of many secrets and hidden mystery that is too terrifying and unimaginable to contemplate, whilst harboring a deadly enemy in its shadows. The evil Raven is shrouded in secrets and questions that one needs answering, such as why it kills so many and what connection does it have with Hattie and her family. As dark secrets and terrifying old legends are revealed, one is swept away once more by the epic storyline that captures your imagination and your heart. Touching my soul with its depth, full of thrilling action and drama I sat on the edge of my seat in suspense feeling completely drained as I was so overwhelmed by Jane Prowse books. It is a tale about love, loss and revenge with a clever twist that will delight many young readers as well as older ones too. The fast-paced action makes you sit up and take notice of everything happening, where the characters jump off the page. As more of the mystery is revealed to you the pace quickens, in which as you just begin to grasp what you think is the truth then the author goes and surprises you once again with another twist in the tale that shocks and astonishes. Building up to the most dramatic conclusion I have ever read in a book, I was blown-away by the sheer scale on which the author leaves you guessing right up to the most gripping, intense ending to a thrilling adventure.
I found the combination of martial arts, memorable and distinctive characters and a well-structured plot to be a winner, with the mixture of fast-paced action and drama alongside poignant and heartwarming parts making it something very special. To keep ones attention throughout as well as making a story meaningful, thought-provoking and truth-drawing (where the reader can actually relate and connect to the words), is something very great indeed hence I feel that this is in a whole different league to many books within that ‘stereotypical young-adult’ genre category. The relationship between Hattie and her parents and also ‘Mad Dog’ or Michael is heartwarming and quite poignant, as the author puts emotion and feeling into those words that touch and move you. I was so fortunate as to receive this book due to my enthusiasm and writing a review for book one, hence I concider myself extremely privileged to have been able to continue on the journey that I enjoyed so much. I would like to thank the author Jane Prowse as I look forward to reading book three in the future, whilst I beg of you to delve into a trilogy that is fantastic, fun and totally fabulous.
September 27, 2012
This was yet another thrilling adventure of Hattie with new stories and legends from the past unfolding. It sure was a rough and tough time for Hattie's dad who got to know about the secret ninja life of his wife and daughter without forgetting Toby. But he coped with the situation very well indeed. And I admire the faith that Hattie showed in her long lost brother even though he was once on the kataki's side. Hattie proved once again that she can use her ninjutsu techniques together with the help of her family and friends (including Akira and Bushi)to conquer her enemies who are becoming more numerous and powerful with time. For one second I was afraid that mad dog would die cause I really like his character and his protective nature towards Hattie. But I'm very happy that he was saved. I think that him and Hattie are too cute. Neena has also showed great effort to be part of the ninja crew in every way possible to help her friend (without forgetting what a great cook she is). In the end it was nice to see the family reuniting with the big surprise from the Weavers, specially the return of Al.
Now I can't wait to read the last book of this series 'Curse of the diamond daggers'. I'm sure it will be another exciting adventure not to be missed. Im dying to know what happened to Ridley, where did Raven go? What will happen between Hattie and Mad dog? Well, I have long list of questions about the last book and I would definitely recommend everyone to read the HATTORI HACHI series because its really captivating and full of adventures.
Now I can't wait to read the last book of this series 'Curse of the diamond daggers'. I'm sure it will be another exciting adventure not to be missed. Im dying to know what happened to Ridley, where did Raven go? What will happen between Hattie and Mad dog? Well, I have long list of questions about the last book and I would definitely recommend everyone to read the HATTORI HACHI series because its really captivating and full of adventures.
October 4, 2012
I received this book from the author in exchange for reading and reviewing the first book in this series.
This is the 2nd book in the Hattori Hachi series by author Jane Prowse. This book very quickly gets into the action as Hattie, Mad Dog, Hattie's father, and Neena all travel to Kielder - her father for family history, and Hattie to complete her new mission. All four of them soon find themselves imprisoned by Hattie's new enemy, the Raven, in his base inside of an old castle.
Hattie must find escape for all of them while completing her mission as it grows and changes. She must do this all under the ticking clock of her sixteenth birthday when either she or her twin, Toby, will become the Golden Child.
I really liked how this book included more of Hattie's father who wasn't as big of a character in the first novel. Hattie along with the reader got to know more about him and his background. I still love the sweet innocent romance between Hattie and Mad Dog. And how Neena cements her sidekick status further in this novel showing all kinds of tricks up her sleeve. More of Toby is featured toward the end of the novel and it is finally revealed which side he is on.
New exciting enemies and side characters made this book an excellent sequel to the first. I can't wait to read how the series continues!
This is the 2nd book in the Hattori Hachi series by author Jane Prowse. This book very quickly gets into the action as Hattie, Mad Dog, Hattie's father, and Neena all travel to Kielder - her father for family history, and Hattie to complete her new mission. All four of them soon find themselves imprisoned by Hattie's new enemy, the Raven, in his base inside of an old castle.
Hattie must find escape for all of them while completing her mission as it grows and changes. She must do this all under the ticking clock of her sixteenth birthday when either she or her twin, Toby, will become the Golden Child.
I really liked how this book included more of Hattie's father who wasn't as big of a character in the first novel. Hattie along with the reader got to know more about him and his background. I still love the sweet innocent romance between Hattie and Mad Dog. And how Neena cements her sidekick status further in this novel showing all kinds of tricks up her sleeve. More of Toby is featured toward the end of the novel and it is finally revealed which side he is on.
New exciting enemies and side characters made this book an excellent sequel to the first. I can't wait to read how the series continues!
September 19, 2012
While I technically received a copy of this second book for free in paperback version, I'd already bought and read it (and the third book) on my kindle before it arrived. Which should say something about how much I wanted to know what happened next, buying the second book, even though a free copy was actually on the way in the mail. So it's clearly a good book. Still very much a YA book, like the first one, but a good one, especially considering it's the first series of the author. More awesome ninja stuff, story and characters getting more developed as we learn more about them. Evil guys who needs to be fought. People you don't know which side are on. Secrets, fighting and did I mention NINJAS? What's not to like?
October 1, 2012
The Hattori family continue in their super adventures and in the quest to save Hachi from the experienced evil of the Raven and the Kataki. Is Toby friend or foe? Who can she trust?
Once again her mum and Yazuki disappear without an explanation. She must find them.
Your youth will love the continued adventures of Hachi Hattori in this new second novel of the series.
It is a little excessive at times but still is well worth your youth's reading enjoyment. There is plenty of action and suspense.
Once again her mum and Yazuki disappear without an explanation. She must find them.
Your youth will love the continued adventures of Hachi Hattori in this new second novel of the series.
It is a little excessive at times but still is well worth your youth's reading enjoyment. There is plenty of action and suspense.
November 16, 2012
I have been reading like crazy this past month just so I could get to read this ( I usually read books in the order that I have received/bought them) and this second book of the series did not disappoint! First of all, I love that it has such a pretty blue cover, it is like I can picture what Hattie looks like while reading. We find out more things about the ninjas and Hattie's family life now that she knows more about things.
It's still a YA book so feel free to buy a copy for any teens (boys and girls) in your life for the holidays.
It's still a YA book so feel free to buy a copy for any teens (boys and girls) in your life for the holidays.
August 28, 2012
Bad guy ninjas, good guy ninjas, and a book where I really enjoyed the first book in the series, and LOVE the second book, Stalking the Enemy. It's a great, easy, and entertaining read. I was happy to see more character development of the characters that I met in the first book. I can't wait to get my hands on the third book so that I can dive back into Japan! :)
punya-tapi-belum-baca
October 19, 2012Jane, this book just arrived today! Thank you so much!
I'm currently starting to read it and will soon review this awesome story \(^o^)/
I'm currently starting to read it and will soon review this awesome story \(^o^)/
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