An apprentice puppeteer joins his friends at their theater to investigate a mysterious bandit.

Who is the man called Saburo, the mysterious bandit who robs the rich and helps the poor of the Japanese city of Osaka? And what is his connection with the Hanaza, the puppet theater run by the harsh master of Yoshida? Young Jiro, an apprentice puppeteer, is determined to find out even though this could be very dangerous.

Meanwhile, Jiro must devote himself to learning his magnificent art. The sympathetic blind chanter, Okada, and the master's son, Kinshi, help him. Then their sheltered life at the theater, where the members live and work, is suddenly disrupted by rioting night rovers. Finally, the seething world of the street collides with the make-believe world of the puppet theater in an unforgettable climax.

Historical fiction for those who don't think they'd like the genre. I really should reread Paterson's Japanese juveniles - they made such an impression on me when I was in teacher-training. ( )

Jiro becomes apprenticed to a harsh puppeteer at the Hanaza Theater in Osaka, where a series of thefts become the source of excited speculation.
Lexile: 860 [view chart]

An interesting introduction to medieval Japan. I'd love for this book to have more historical background as to the time period it takes place during, but I love the story. A good book for a teen (some pre-teens) who is interested in the culture of Japan ( )

This is an excellent piece of historical fiction dealing with one of the famine periods in Japan in the 18th century. Jiro is a young boy whose family is almost starving. His father makes puppets for Yoshida, the master puppeteer and owner of the Hanaza Theater. When the volatile Yoshida offers to take Jiro as an apprentice, Jiro leaps at the chance and runs away from home to the Hanaza. Soon he learns that the theater is a difficult place to succeed. No one will teach him what he is supposed to do; he must learn by watching. Jiro is befriended by Yoshida's son Kinshi, who dislikes the cutthroat culture of the theater world. Kinshi helps Jiro and the other boys as they learn the art of puppetry, although he himself is constantly being derided and punished by his angry father.

In the world outside, the famine continues to press the people and spark hatred toward the wealthy rice merchants. A bandit with honor called Saburo makes occasional appearances to trick and steal from the rich to distribute some of the food to the poor. As he struggles to make his way in the theater and take care of his bitter mother, Jiro finds himself caught up in the mystery surrounding Saburo's identity. He asks Okada, the theater's blind senior reciter and Yoshida's former master, for help. This draws him even further into the intrigue as the city roils with the starving peasants and the Master Puppeteer — the elusive bandit called Saburo — moves his puppets in a complicated dance with danger.

This story is written with Paterson's trademark emotional intelligence and deft phrasing. 18th-century Japanese culture is convincingly portrayed, and Paterson takes the time to weave the plots of the more famous Japanese plays into the tale. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book and I recommend it highly. ( )