Jet Black and the Ninja Wind

August 26, 2013
In this meticulously researched adventure, the husband-and-wife team of Oketani and Lowitz evoke the atmosphere and richness of Japanese culture and mythology, delving into the lore of the ninja. When 17-year-old Jet Black’s mother dies, Jet travels to the ancestral home she’s never known to meet unfamiliar kin and uncover her own mysterious heritage. She soon learns that a powerful organization is after her, certain that she holds the key to a long-hidden treasure of immense value. As Jet embraces her mystic skills as a rare female ninja, she tries to uncover the secret her family has held safe for centuries, while unraveling her complicated feelings toward Takumi, the young man in charge of hunting her down. The physical descriptions are lush, the action sequences almost cinematic, and the details are steeped in authenticity. However, there’s a certain academic stiffness to the writing that, when combined with certain pacing problems (the amount of detail the authors attempt to include can impede the story’s momentum), detracts from the overall sense of wonder. Ages 12–up.

November 1, 2013

Gr 8 Up-At her mother's insistence, Rika Kuroi, nicknamed Jet Black, has spent her young life training in the art of combat and ninja techniques-with no idea why. Her mother dies before explaining, and when Jet travels to her family's village in Japan to lay her mother's ashes to rest, she is plunged into a complicated web of ancient mysteries and family secrets. She learns that the women of her family guard a treasure passed down through generations and sought by ruthless enemies. Action-driven and rich in history, this novel is akin to a teen Da Vinci Code with ninjas; the high-stakes plot is woven with layers of mythology, intrigue, and romance. Jet's adventures take readers through a variety of lushly described settings, from the deserts of New Mexico to the verdant mountains of northern Japan and the crowded streets of Tokyo. In its quieter moments, between breathless combat and narrow escapes, the narrative carries a strong message about the rights of indigenous peoples to protect their cultures and beliefs, drawing parallels between Native Americans and the Emishi, one of Japan's Native groups, and explores the sacred feminine as Jet awakens to her role as female ninja. Though the cinematic plot will hook readers, the third-person omniscient point of view is somewhat distancing, and a lackluster forbidden romance subplot could easily have been omitted. Jet's journey of self-discovery stands strong without a love interest. Give this book to anime fans or anyone seeking an engaging and thought-provoking read.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
After her mother's death, seventeen-year-old Jet Black travels to Japan and finally learns why her mother had secretly trained her in ninja and survival techniques. Jet is a compelling character, and the complicated story, involving indigenous cultures, a family secret, dangerous enemies, and, of course, lots of martial-arts action, is well researched. Constant explanation of terms and history, however, bog down the narrative.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)