Samurai Kids 3: Shaolin Tiger

Sandy Fussell (author)

Rhian Nest James (illustrator)

Walker Books, Australia: April 2009; 267pp

ISBN: 9781921150906

Genres: adventure, historical fiction

Issues: change, ethics, friendship, loyalty, teamwork, values

The students of the Cockroach Ryu are on their way to China to answer a call for help from the Shaolin Temple. Their journey is hazardous as a man in the Middle Kingdom is determined to kill their teacher. Qing-Shen was already the most highly trained warrior in China – and then Ki-Yaga taught him all he knew.

How can the Samurai Kids protect their beloved Sensei from such a powerful foe? Especially when Yoshi is struck down by guilt and their teacher and guide is taken from them by the flooded Yellow River? Forced to take on new roles, to reach deep within themselves and work together to overcome great adversity, the Little Cockroaches once again demonstrate that life is all about learning and resilience.

Fussell crafts strong, action-packed narratives that grab the reader's attention from the first paragraph. Shaolin Tiger begins with a dramatic attempt to rescue a drowning sailor and many more adventures follow; yet the Samurai Kids series is all about character. Fussell's writing – and not just in this series – always celebrates those who are different; she champions perseverance and endurance whilst encouraging teamwork, loyalty, courage and friendship. The Samurai Kids series uses the ancient traditions of the warrior training to promote ethical and honourable actions, compassionate and creative thinking and tolerance for all. All this in a rollicking good yarn expressed in concise prose sprinkled generously with humour.

The pairing of Rhian Nest James' illustrations with Fussell's writing is inspired. James' images are as layered and complex, communicate as concisely and eloquently as Fussell's writing. Each chapter heading hints at adventures to come in flowing, energetic lines that reference the ancient scroll illustrations. James has obviously done her research and readers are given
considerable information about costume, hairstyles, architecture and more – the physical and cultural world in which the Samurai Kids journey and learn. Perhaps most remarkable is the amount of information that James manages to convey through each image: facial expressions, hand gestures, posture – through such subtleties she manages to project not only personalities but the emotions each character is experiencing and subtleties of their relationships. Rarely do illustrations in a novel so enrich the story and engage the reader.