The Black Lotus Shadow of the ninja

Gr 3-6-When three street kids from very different countries notice a strange man following them, they know nothing good can come from it. However, what happens next changes their lives in a remarkable manner. Will Kate, Cormac, and Ghost use their special talents to fight for the benefit of their world? Or will fear compel them to live under the stifling empire created by President Goda in his quest for ultimate power? Fanning creates an interesting tale of superpowers, magic swords, and talking animals woven with Japanese vocabulary. Die-hard action adventure fans will enjoy the narrative as seemingly unlikely heroes find themselves fighting to become ninjas and save the world. Though the work is not explicit, some guardians may shy away from such open discussion of the perils of a war-torn civilization. Remarkably unbelievable but entertaining nonetheless, this will captivate adventure-hungry readers. VERDICT Purchase for large collections where fans have exhausted their avenues for action-filled fantasy books like "Beastwars."-DeHanza Kwong, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The man with one eye sat in Ghost's wicker chair. He smiled. "My name is Makoto," he said.Ghost glanced behind, ready to run again. "How did you get here so fast?""I've been here ever since you left."Ghost pulled the door closed. "You have to leave. If I'm seen with an Empire man in my house. . . ""I hate Goda and his Empire as much as you do," said the man, standing.Ghost crossed his arms. "What do you want?"The man stepped closer. His black hair was streaked with gray and tied in a tight ponytail. From his long, angular face, the single eye shone like a beacon. "I want the same thing as you: to see the Empire burn."Ghost laughed. "Impossible!" But the thought of the Empire going up in flames piqued his interest enough to keep him listening.The man shook his head. "Nothing is impossible."He held out his hand. In his palm was a small black flower Excerpted from The Black Lotus: The Samurai Wars by Kieran Fanning All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.