jack Fletcher Is Running For His Life

Chris Bradford has the knack of keeping you hooked. And "The Ring of Sky", the 8th book in the "Young Samurai" series and Jack Fletchers final push to escape the Shogun's samurai and get home to England is no different. With the plot twisting and turning like a treacherous mountain road, you never know what awaits you behind the next bend: danger, heartache, joy or moments of pure hilarity, a new friend or a familiar foe.
聽
The characters are likeable and feel authentic, because they all have their flaws to contend with and their own inner demons to battle. New characters feel like old friends after about three pages and familiar ones, that keep popping up throughout the series when you least expect them to, seem like you've known them for many years and it's not always easy to say goodbye.
聽


What I like most about the series though is that it is not merely and action-packed adventure-story with nail-biting tension, but that it manages to be highly instructive at the same time, in a refreshingly offhand sort of way. Through Jack the reader gains an amazing amount of insight not only into Japanese culture and society at that time and of course into the field of martial arts, but also learns some important lessons of life: about determination, loyalty, friendship, kindness and personal strength.
聽
So when you have followed Jack through all the highs and lows of his journey and his ultimate effort to reach home, you will have inadvertently absorbed some of that wisdom for yourself and have grown a little bit as a person, whether you are 9 or 90 years of age. I know I did and so did my girls, and that's exactly what will make "Young Samurai" always very special to me. Arigat么 gozaimasu, Sensei Bradford, for giving us such an amazing treasure!