Rate this book

Samuraisommer (2005)

by Åke Edwardson(Favorite Author)

3.15 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction

publisher

Gyldendal

review 1: Samurai Summer is a YA novel by Ake Edwardson, three-time winner of the Swedish Crime Writers Academy for his Inspector Winter series for adults ( I recently read and reviewed Room No. 10). This is Edwardson's first YA novel; translator Per Carlsson also translates the Inspector Winter series.The setting is Sweden in the 1960's. The novel doesn't state the time and place initially, so I was curious and a bit confused, but the hints eventually materialize.Book Description: Looked at from the outside, the annual summer camp in the countryside might seem idyllic. But for Kenny, a boy with a Samurai's soul, it is no more than a prison camp, guarded by a sadistic woman who is sometimes helped by her terrifying adult son, Christian. Kenny and his "samurai" friends sneak out t... moreo the forest to build a secret castle that proves to be a needed compensation for the emotional deprivation each teen experiences at home. But when Kenny returns to camp, he befriends a female camper named Kerstin. She is a tall, fast-moving girl who is easy to talk to and begs to see the castle. But then suddenly she disappears, and Kenny realizes something terrible must have happened to her. Something that points to the old woman who runs the camp but even more so to her aberrant son.There were a number of things I liked about this novel, although there were a few things that remained vague and a little unsatisfying. Very different style from Edwardson's adult series--Room 10 deals extensively with Winter's thought process; yet, except for the confusing time/place at the beginning, Samurai Summer is a quick read with an interesting protagonist in Kenny. Kenny and his friends' interest in the history and lifestyle of Samurai warriors seems fitting for their age and circumstances. Their fantasy allows them a sense of power over situations beyond their control--as all of the campers come from less than ideal home lives, financially and emotionally.Young readers will enjoy this story that proves that adolescent fantasy can go a long way in helping confront the realities of life.A Net Galley ARC/Amazon Children's Publishing.YA/Mystery. publ. date June 25, 2013. ISBN-10: 1477816542
review 2: I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.In reading, and discussing this book I have had a life lesson. I will now wait a few minutes before hitting the request button on new and shiny books on Netgalley. I have been burned a few too many times of late due to my overzealous trigger finger. When I requested this book my brain was doing the happy dance, not only was this book somewhat about Japanese culture it was written by a Swedish author. Color me excited.Now after finishing the book after much skimming, not so much.This book filled me with ennui, which is great cause then I can use the word, but not so great cause it means terribly boring.Samurai Summer is about a twelve year old boy who has grasped onto the samurai code to help him with his anger issues, coming to terms with his father’s death, and the abandonment of his mother. This is Kenny’s last year at summer camp, and him and some of the other boys are building a castle in the woods while playing samurais.Now I probably could have really read the whole book, if not for one integral part that happened about twenty percent in. There is one instance where Kenny is cruel to another camper, one of his friends, and that just ruined it for me. I seriously hate when people are cruel, its one of my anger buttons. So in an instant I didn’t like Kenny anymore, and there went any possibly for me enjoying this book.So I skimmed to the ending, one that was just as boring as the rest of the book. Just there.So yes, the writing was well done. I just has issues with the plot.Two stars. less

Download links for: Samuraisommer

Advertising