Blood Ninja


Book Description

A boy from a small fishing village must face a new reality after his father is murdered and he is rescued by a mysterious ninja in this heart-stopping first novel in the Blood Ninja trilogy. Could Taro, a fisherman’s son, be destined for greatness? In the course of a day, Taro’s entire life changes: His father is murdered before his eyes, and Taro is taken by a mysterious ninja on a perilous journey toward safety. Someone wants Taro dead, but who—and why? With his best friend, Hiro, and their ninja guide, Shusaku, Taro gets caught in the crossfire of a bitter conflict between rival lords for control of imperial Japan. As Taro trains to become a ninja himself, he’s less and less sure that he wants to be one. But when his real identity is revealed, it becomes impossible for Taro to turn his back on his fate.




Blood Ninja II


Book Description

Now that the vile Lord Oda is dead, Taro and his friends are safe in the mountain lair of the ninjas. Or so they think. When a homing pigeon arrives with news of Taro's mother's whereabouts, Taro sets out for the Tendai monastery - without stopping to consider why the pigeon, which was given to his mother months ago, took so long to arrive. Soon, Taro, Hana and Hiro find themselves in a trap, as strange new creatures invade their lives and familiar enemies surround them – and the most deadly enemy of all is their old friend Yukiko. In the end, despite his vampire abilities, Taro is helpless to prevent the death of his mother. Furious and grief stricken, haunted by her mute and beseeching ghost, he determines to recover the object which Lord Oda was so desperate to procure before he died: the Buddha Ball, source of limitless power. There are just two problems: first, Lord Oda is not dead. And second, the Buddha Ball is not where Taro thought. If Taro is to fulfill his destiny, he must face his arch enemy on an equal battlefield - for Lord Oda is a vampire now too. And then, to make peace with his mother, and recover the Buddha ball, Taro must go to hell and back...




The Samurai's Tale


Book Description

When the powerful Lord Takeda's soldiers sweep across the countryside, killing and plundering, they spare the boy Taro's life and take him along with them. Taro becomes a servant in the household of the noble Lord Akiyama, where he meets Togan, a cook, who teaches Taro and makes his new life bearable. But when Togan is murdered, Taro's life takes a new direction: He will become a samurai, and redeem the family legacy that has been stolen from him.




Encountering Enchantment


Book Description

The most current and complete guide to a favorite teen genre, this book maps current releases along with perennial favorites, describing and categorizing fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction titles published since 2006. Speculative fiction continues to be of consuming interest to teens, so if you work with that age group, keeping up with the explosion of new titles in this category is critical. Likewise, understanding the many genres and subgenres into which these titles fall—wizard fantasy, alternate worlds, fantasy mystery, dystopian fiction, science fantasy, and more—is also key if you want to motivate young readers and direct them to books they'll enjoy. Written to help you master a complex array of genres and titles, this guide includes more than 1,500 books, most published since 2006, organizing them by genre, subgenre, and theme. Subgenres growing in popularity such as "steampunk" are highlighted to keep you current with the latest trends. The guide will serve three audiences. Of course, you can turn to it as you help your teenage patrons select the books and genres that will interest them most. Teen readers, whether devoted fans or newcomers, can use it themselves to find titles and subgenres they might like. In addition, the guide will help teachers and parents match students with the right books.







A History of Japan ...


Book Description










Blood Ninja


Book Description

After his father is murdered and a ninja saves his life, Taro discovers the connection between ninjas and vampires and finds himself being dragged into a bitter conflict between the rival lords ruling Japan.