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The Worst Ronin

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

When an unlikely pair of female samurai join forces, what begins as your run-of-the-mill quest for glory and revenge evolves into something much more complicated. Turns out fighting actual demons doesn't mean you're not running from your own internal ones. Nimona meets Attack on Titan in this edgy, unexpectedly hilarious, genre-defying young adult graphic novel.

Being a samurai isn't easy. Sixteen-year-old Chihiro Ito knows that more than anyone. Her father is renowned among the samurai, but the only thing Chihiro is known for is spending way too much time on her phone obsessing over Tatsuo Nakano, Chihiro's idol and the first woman to be accepted into Kesi Academy, a prestigious samurai school.

So, when Chihiro's father is conscripted for service and the opportunity arises to work with Tatsuo in his stead, Chihiro jumps at the chance to prove that she's worthy of a spot at Kesi Academy and the samurai title. Their mission: kill the yamauba demon terrorizing a village. With a legendary samurai like Tatsuo by her side, Chihiro is convinced victory is inevitable. But Tatsuo isn't at all like the hero Chihiro imagined. Foulmouthed, quick tempered, and a terrible drunk, Tatsuo completely turned her back on the samurai way and is now a ronin working for hire as a means of escaping the grief that haunts her. Forced to work together, the two are thrust on a treacherous journey filled with epic battles and twisted conspiracies as they must put aside their differences to save the village and face the demons of the past.

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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 12, 2024
      Female samurai with cell phones and Wi-Fi turn feudal Japan upside down in this humorous, genre-bending graphic novel by Tokuda-Hall (The Siren, the Song, and the Spy) and animator Schaffer. Nineteen-year-old Tatsuo Nakano’s status as
      the first female samurai results in awe and scorn from peers and strangers alike. When she’s unable to protect her best friend, she denounces her duties and becomes a ronin. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Chihiro Ito, who must undergo a military mission when her disabled father cannot, seeks a ronin to help successfully complete the task. A big fan of Tatsuo and hoping to learn
      the way of the samurai from her, Chihiro seizes the opportunity to hire Tatsuo when she encounters her during a brawl. Tokuda-Hall deftly balances serious examinations of gender roles and melancholy atmosphere with smart dialogue and toilet humor, and cynical Tatsuo and naive Chihiro’s oddball pairing results in witty exchanges and heartfelt scenes of personal reflection. Schaffer’s expressive figures adeptly convey emotionally heavy moments while flashbacks in dramatic b&w juxtapose vibrant present-day
      occurrences. Characters are portrayed with
      varying skin tones. Ages 14–up.

    • Kirkus

      April 1, 2024
      Everyone knows the legendary Tatsuo Nakano, the only girl ever to be accepted by Keisi Academy and the warrior who single-handedly defeated a feudal lord and 100 of his samurai. Fifteen-year-old Chihiro is determined to follow in Tatsuo's footsteps and train at Keisi Academy. The opportunity for Chihiro to prove herself arrives when Daimyo Teshima orders her father, a retired samurai, to kill a monstrous yamauba that has been kidnapping children. After some convincing, Chihiro's parents permit her to take her father's place on the condition that she hires a rōnin for support. When Chihiro ventures into town, she gets into trouble with ruffians--only to be saved by Tatsuo herself. Chihiro's awe and delight soon fade when it becomes clear that Tatsuo, who is 19, is a cynic with no interest in helping a sheltered teen fight a monster. Tatsuo is unmoved by Chihiro's pleas, until she learns that her home village is the one under attack by the yamauba. This is a classic coming-of-age adventure featuring an idealistic rookie and a jaded mentor that examines themes of sexism, honor, and revenge through Chihiro's quest and flashbacks to Tatsuo's past. The boldly colored art is clean and unfussy, emphasizing the characters' expressions. The anachronistic setting combines the appearance and social hierarchy of historical Japan with modern technology, a choice that has a surprising narrative payoff. The characters are depicted with varied skin and hair colors; Chihiro has dark brown skin and glossy black hair. Entertaining and empowering. (Graphic adventure. 12-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Booklist

      April 15, 2024
      Grades 9-12 This charming, wickedly funny adventure offers a feminist imagining of the hero's journey between two samurai and their offbeat quest for revenge and self-acceptance. Chihiro Ito, 16-year-old daughter of a renowned samurai, dreams of attending the prestigious, but male-dominated, Keisi Academy as a samurai trainee. Chihiro idolizes samurai great Kazuo Mirimoto and infamous rōnin Tatsuo Nakano, the first female Keisi student and now a drunken meme on social media. When Chihiro's disabled father is conscripted to save a village besieged by a yamauba demon, Chihiro jumps at the chance to prove her worth by taking her father's place. She hires the reluctant Nakano as a partner, and almost immediately, Tatsuo's sarcastic detachment clashes with Chihiro's naive and dogged determination. Along with a playful but plot-essential touch of anachronism, Tokuda-Hall's snappy dialogue complements Schaffer's concise drawings, in which she capably captures the push and pull of Chihiro and Tatsuo's relationship in their evocative body language just as handily as she renders action-heavy battle scenes. The story moves quickly but never loses sight of the humor and emotion that define the duo's relationship.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • The Horn Book

      July 1, 2024
      A pair of mismatched fighters embarks on a quest to vanquish a yamauba (a monster that devours children) in a graphic novel that seamlessly blends fantasy in a reimagined feudal Japan with trappings of contemporary technology. When fifteen-year-old Chihiro's father is asked to come out of retirement to fight the yamauba, he declines due to an injured leg, prompting his daughter to leap at the chance to take his place and perhaps gain entrance to the prestigious Keisi Academy. She sets out to find a ronin traveling companion -- her idol Tatsuo Nakano, the first girl accepted into the academy -- only to find that she's now a washed-up drunkard with an attitude. Donning ronin garb, with swords in hand along with their cellphones, they launch into their perilous journey, with malevolent monsters and threatening dangers lurking about. The backstory to Tatsuo's unraveling is revealed through intermittent episodes, switching between dramatic dark and light grays set in the past and boldly colored panels in the present. Combat scenes unfold through action-driven panels that slash across the page in cinematic jump-shot fashion. Themes of self-determination, betrayal, revenge, feminism, and social justice are at the core of this fast-paced, twisty adventure. Jerry Dear

      (Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

    • School Library Journal

      June 1, 2024

      Gr 9 Up-Past meets present in a samurai story for a new generation. Chihiro worships a samurai idol, Tatsuo, through social media, and she wants the opportunity to partner with Tatsuo to increase her chances of getting into the prestigious samurai school, Kesi Academy, to follow in her father's footsteps. What Chihiro doesn't know is Tatsuo is more interested in being a belligerent drunk who lives on her own terms. But their unlikely pairing becomes advantageous for both, especially in healing Tatsuo's old wounds. The book's richness is in the character development, which includes flashbacks to Tatsuo's childhood and explains her present situation. Her checkered past lends itself to episodes of drunkenness and mild cursing. But their combined strength and drive propels the story forward as devastating news reaches Chihiro and shifts her motivation, and thus, her actions towards revenge and confronting evil. Rising stars Tokuda-Hall and Schaffer partner to create an approachable, surprisingly funny, and female-forward story. Skilled panel layouts and epic action sequences add emotional tension while also creating a solid setting reminiscent of the worldbuilding in Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh's Squire. VERDICT Purchase for any graphic novel collection.-Alicia Abdul

      Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • The Horn Book

      July 1, 2024
      A pair of mismatched fighters embarks on a quest to vanquish a yamauba (a monster that devours children) in a graphic novel that seamlessly blends fantasy in a reimagined feudal Japan with trappings of contemporary technology. When fifteen-year-old Chihiro's father is asked to come out of retirement to fight the yamauba, he declines due to an injured leg, prompting his daughter to leap at the chance to take his place and perhaps gain entrance to the prestigious Keisi Academy. She sets out to find a ronin traveling companion -- her idol Tatsuo Nakano, the first girl accepted into the academy -- only to find that she's now a washed-up drunkard with an attitude. Donning ronin garb, with swords in hand along with their cellphones, they launch into their perilous journey, with malevolent monsters and threatening dangers lurking about. The backstory to Tatsuo's unraveling is revealed through intermittent episodes, switching between dramatic dark and light grays set in the past and boldly colored panels in the present. Combat scenes unfold through action-driven panels that slash across the page in cinematic jump-shot fashion. Themes of self-determination, betrayal, revenge, feminism, and social justice are at the core of this fast-paced, twisty adventure.

      (Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

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