The Master Puppeteer Review
Jiro, a spirited yet clumsy boy, goes to the theater to work as an apprentice to get money to help his family. An old blind man, the reciter Okada, tells him he can stay. Here he meets a cast of interesting characters.
Yoshida - A harsh and short tempered man. He is the head of the puppet theater and a master at controlling and giving life to puppets.
Kinshi - The leader of the boys at the theater. He is an optimistic, funny, and good-natured boy loved by the other boys. He cares about the night rovers (poor people who riot and attack places to get food) and tries to help them.
Minoru - a fat boy who loves to eat.
Tehji - A rather timid boy who is good at working but shy and talks with a stutter.
Wada - An older boy who is rough and thinks he is the best.
Okada - A blind but kind man who recites the plays in the theater.
Jiro gets suspicious and sees a connection between Yoshida and Siboru, the very famous Robin Hood-like bandit. Soon the theater becomes the start of an adventure of hopes and losses, and even life and .
Over all I think Paterson had unique characters. The story really shows what life was like in Japan at that time. She does an amazing and beautiful job of describing the art of puppetry. The climax is also very exciting. I recommend this book to anyone.
The Master Puppeteer Overview
Who is the man called Sabura, the mysterious bandit who robs the rich and helps the poor? And what is his connection with Yosida, the harsh and ill- tempered master of feudal Japan's most famous puppet theater? Young Jiro, an apprentice to Yosida, is determined to find out, even at risk to his own life.
Meamwhile, Jiro devotes himself to learning puppetry. Kinshi, the puppet master's son, tutors him. When his sheltered life at the theater is shattered by mobs of hungry, rioting peasants, Jiro becomes aware of responsibilities greater that his craft. As he schemes to help his friend Kinshi and to find his own parent, Jiro stumbles onto a dangerous and powerful secret....
Available at Amazon Check Price Now!
Related Products
- The Sign of the Chrysanthemum (Harper Trophy Book)
- The House of Sixty Fathers
- Daughter of the Mountains (Newbery Library, Puffin)
- Seven Daughters and Seven Sons
- Journey to Jo'burg: A South African Story
Customer Reviews
Pretty awful book - -
Our 6th grade language arts class had to read this book, and it was pretty horrible. I found it boring and I couldn't get myself to continue reading it, other than the fact that it was a school assignment. I highly do not recommend this book.
Not very good, boring - -
This book was assigned to me for school, and it never really drew me in. Good detail about Japan, though. Otherwise, I wish I didn't have to read it.
Great for the classroom - Kevin S. Ward - Berea, KY
The Master Puppeteer is a great choice to use in an upper elementary or middle school classroom. Katherine Paterson does a great job of describing the inner workings of a traditional Japanese puppet theatre, while at the same time weaving a "Robin Hood" type story in that is sure to keep the students interested, as well as attempting to solve the mystery of just who our "Robin Hood" or in this case Saburo. In my own classroom I use it to first explore elements of culture, and secondly to introduce elements of the theatre. The students can attempt to recreate some of the puppet shows described in the book, although with less elaborate puppets. Besides this the book has some important lessons to teach. As Young Jiro, the protagonist, is learning to become a puppeteer and to be a man, he is faced with many difficult decisions about right and wrong and being able to trust those around him. Students can relate to many of the moral dilemmas Jiro finds himself in, both with his peers and his mother. I definitely recommend bringing this one to class.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 09, 2010 03:17:08
No comments:
Post a Comment