Nahoko Uehashi is the author of ten books in the Moribito series, which have sold more than a million copies and won many major literary awards in her native Japan. An associate professor at a Japanese university, she has a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology and studies indigenous peoples in Australia. She lives near Tokyo, Japan.
"Having successfully protected young Prince Chagum in 2008's
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, Balsa, a spear-wielding warrior,
ventures to her rocky homeland of Kanbal in this sequel. Once
again, Uehashi immerses readers in the culture, traditions,
mythology--even diet--of the populace, creating a full, captivating
world. Upon her return, Balsa rescues a pair of siblings in the
area's caves (home to the mysterious hyohlu, the guardians of the
darkness). She is soon marked as a fugitive, but with help she
still uncovers a wide-ranging plot involving her deceased mentor
and a scheme to attack the underground kingdom of the Mountain
King. Uehashi explores themes of family and honesty with rich prose
and compelling characters. Powerful and loyal, Balsa is the core
draw ("Although her hands were bound and she was held captive,
Balsa's eyes were filled with a fierce light, like a fighter ready
to enter the ring"), but the cast of secondary characters are well
developed and intriguing in their own right. Add to that some
intense spear battles and a gripping finale, and this growing
series has something for everyone." -- Publishers Weekly, starred
review
"Though a sequel, Moribito II stands on its own as an engrossing
story of redemption, with seasoned warrior and bodyguard Balsa back
in the center of it all. . . . Both [human and mythological worlds]
come alive with the wonderful attention to detail, from
descriptions of the geography, food, and social structure to the
ceremony where humans come face to face with their gods. . . .
[T]his series serves as a smooth transition between manga and
straight narrative." -- School Library Journal
AWARDS:
An ALA Notable Book for Children, 2010
Mildred L. Batchelder Honor for Translation, 2010
USBBY Outstanding International Book, 2010
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
