Samurai Shortstop - by Alan M Gratz (Paperback)

About the Book

While obtaining a Western education at a prestigious Japanese boarding school in 1890, sixteen-year-old Toyo also receives traditional samurai training which has profound effects on both his baseball game and his relationship with his father.

Book Synopsis

AN ALA BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS - In the competitive world of a Tokyo boarding school in 1890, young Toyo searches for his place among ancient traditions and the burgeoning modernization of Japan.

"A memorable chronicle of boys' inhumanity to boys, and a testament to enduring values in a time of social change."--Booklist, starred review

"A full-count, bases loaded baseball book . . . Fast moving, culturally respectful, and flat-out engrossing."--The Bulletin

High school can be brutal, even in turn-of-the-century Japan.

From his first day at boarding school, Toyo Shimada sees how upperclassmen make a sport out of terrorizing the first-years. Still, he's taken aback when the seniors keep him from trying out for their baseball team--especially after he sees their current shortstop. Toyo isn't afraid to prove himself; he's more troubled by his uncle's recent suicide. Although Uncle Koji's defiant death was supposedly heroic, it has made Toyo question many things about his family's samurai background. And worse, Toyo fears that his father may be next. It all has something to do with bushido--the way of the warrior--but Toyo doesn't understand even after his father agrees to teach it to him.

As the gulf between them grows wider, Toyo searches desperately for a way to prove there is a place for his family's samurai values in modern Japan. Baseball might just be the answer, but will his father ever accept a "Western" game that stand for everything he despises?

Review Quotes

"A memorable chronicle of boys' inhumanity to boys, and a testament to enduring values in a time of social change."--Booklist, starred review

"A full-count, bases loaded baseball book . . . Fast moving, culturally respectful, and flat-out engrossing."--The Bulletin

"This is an intense read about a fascinating time and place in world history."--Publishers Weekly

"This well-written tale offers plenty of fascinating detail, a fast-paced story, and a fresh perspective on America's pastime. It should delight baseball fans and win a wide audience."--School Library Journal

About the Author

Alan Gratz was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. After a carefree but humid childhood, he attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing and later a Master's degree in English education. In addition to writing plays, magazine articles, and a few episodes of A&E's City Confidential, Alan has taught catapult building to middle schoolers, written more than 6,000 radio commercials, and lectured as a Czech university. Currently, Alan lives with his wife Wendi and daughter Jo in the high country of western North Carolina, where he enjoys reading, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, watching baseball.