Summary:
Kenny is attending a summer camp that seems to be for juvenile delinquents and is run by the government. While there, he is fascinated with samurais. He decides to spend his summer becoming one. As the book goes on, other children begin to follow Kenny and they make a "castle" in the woods to prepare for battle. They do have a battle with the adults, who are clearly abusing children. This "epic" battle ends and we hope the children's lives improve.
My thoughts:
Honestly, I found this extremely difficult to get into. It's confusing. I don't know if there is something lacking in the translation or if it is the book in general, but there is no clear development. The setting is not developed and it takes awhile to actually get what is going on. Kenny is not really developed. The reader has no background on him at all. It is really difficult to like him at all because everything is so depressing and dark. Plus, I had a hard time figuring out his motivation. Finally, there is barely any action at all. The only thing that makes this a redeemable is the general mood and tone of the story. You can really feel the novel even without the descriptions.
Kenny is attending a summer camp that seems to be for juvenile delinquents and is run by the government. While there, he is fascinated with samurais. He decides to spend his summer becoming one. As the book goes on, other children begin to follow Kenny and they make a "castle" in the woods to prepare for battle. They do have a battle with the adults, who are clearly abusing children. This "epic" battle ends and we hope the children's lives improve.
My thoughts:
Honestly, I found this extremely difficult to get into. It's confusing. I don't know if there is something lacking in the translation or if it is the book in general, but there is no clear development. The setting is not developed and it takes awhile to actually get what is going on. Kenny is not really developed. The reader has no background on him at all. It is really difficult to like him at all because everything is so depressing and dark. Plus, I had a hard time figuring out his motivation. Finally, there is barely any action at all. The only thing that makes this a redeemable is the general mood and tone of the story. You can really feel the novel even without the descriptions.
Samurai Summer is a coming of age story set in a Swedish Summer Camp in the 60s. Kenny is the main character, who is 12 years old and will be too old to return to the camp after this, his final summer. Kenny considers himself a samurai and is the leader of his group of friends who are his samurai in training. They are planning and building a "castle" in the woods that has become a home away from home for all of them.
There is a war raging between the kids and the adults who run the camp, and Kenny and his friends are determined to win. As the story transpires, tension builds along with foreshadowing, reeling the reader in for the grand finale.
A very enjoyable story! The reader is given insight into the mind of a 12-year-old who has very little trust for adults, but finds that kids find strength when they band together.
Adults will benefit from reading this book to be reminded what it was like to be a kid with little understanding of how the world works and very little power to defend against adults who want to control you and in some cases prey upon you. It will also benefit children, teaching them about the power of self discipline and also how cooperation with others, even those we may not otherwise like, can help us to reach our goals.
There is a war raging between the kids and the adults who run the camp, and Kenny and his friends are determined to win. As the story transpires, tension builds along with foreshadowing, reeling the reader in for the grand finale.
A very enjoyable story! The reader is given insight into the mind of a 12-year-old who has very little trust for adults, but finds that kids find strength when they band together.
Adults will benefit from reading this book to be reminded what it was like to be a kid with little understanding of how the world works and very little power to defend against adults who want to control you and in some cases prey upon you. It will also benefit children, teaching them about the power of self discipline and also how cooperation with others, even those we may not otherwise like, can help us to reach our goals.
