Shipwrecked! - by Rhoda Blumberg (Paperback)

About the Book

The true story of how a 14-year-old boy from 19th century-Japan became the first Japanese person to come to the United States and the important role he played in opening his country to westerners. A "School Library Journal" Best Book and ALA Notable Book. Illustrations.

From the Back Cover

Any person who leaves
the country to go to another
and later returns
will be put to death.

This was the law in Japan in the early 1800s. When fourteen-year-old Manjiro, working on a fishing boat to help support his family, was shipwrecked three hundred miles away from his homeland, he was heartbroken to think that he would never again be able to go home. So when an American whaling boat rescued him, Manjiro decided to do what no other Japanese person had ever done: He went to America, where he received an education and took part in events that eventually made him a hero in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Review Quotes

"Exemplary in both her research and writing, Blumberg hooks readers with anecdotes that astonish without sensationalizing..." "-- Booklist, starred review"Once again, Blumberg shows her ability to combine high adventure with vivid historical detail to open a window onto the past.""-- Kirkus Reviews, starred review""Her book packs a lot of excitement and drama into a few pages...""-- School Library Journal, starred review"Manjiro's gifts shine through Blumberg's lucid narrative.""-- The Horn Book"Readers will be particularly intrigued by Manjiro's observations regarding the differences between American and Japanese living standards and deportment...""-- Bulletin of the Center for Children' s Books