Moribito : Guardian of the Spirit

Synopsis

Balsa was a wanderer and warrior for hire. Then she rescued a boy flung into a raging river — and at that moment, her destiny changed. Now Balsa must protect the boy — the Prince Chagum — on his quest to deliver the great egg of the water spirit to its source in the sea. As they travel across the land of Yogo and discover the truth about the spirit, they find themselves hunted by two deadly enemies: the egg-eating monster Rarunga . . . and the prince's own father.

Children's Literature

Trustworthy bodyguard and fierce warrior, Balsa finds her life endangered when the Second Queen of New Yogo hires her to protect her son, the Second Prince, Chagum. As she and Chagum escape the palace and seek a safe refuge before their journey, Balsa realizes that she "pitied him (Chagum). Through no fault of his own, his father was trying to kill him; he had been wrenched away from his mother, deprived of all the tenderness that had always enveloped him, and thrown out into the world with no familiar faces. He must be pretty tough not to have dissolved in tears by now." While the journey intensifies, Chagum grows more courageous and strong, two traits necessary for survival, and Balsa realizes there is something special about the prince that stretches beyond his royal blood, something worth protecting. Filled with action from one chase scene to the next, this piece offers an engaging plot with endearing characters against a backdrop of magic and lore, which young adults will enjoy; however, caution must be exercised when recommending this piece to children younger than age twelve because of the thematic supernatural and magical elements as well as the occasional use of mild profanity. A list of characters, places, and terms provided in the back of the book prove a helpful resource for keeping track of otherwise complicated, yet important, information. Reviewer: Jamaica Johnson Conner