THE BAMBOO SWORD

Agile and spirited—narrator James Yaegashi is both of these as he delves into the lives of two 13-year-old boys—Yoshi, a would-be samurai, and Jack, a cabin boy accompanying Commodore Perry on his 1853 voyage to Japan. Yaegashi’s voice is fresh and animated as he deftly switches from one scene to the next, from one boy to the other, and to the moments when he provides background for the time period. For the multitude of supporting characters, ranging from sailors to dignitaries, schemers to artists, Yaegashi creates distinct voices. Lives intertwine, and listeners come away from this adventure with a sense of the magnitude of change awaiting both boys and their countries. A.R. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2016]