About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the tension between loyalty to their family and their own evolving sense of right and wrong. Seikei, a young man born into a merchant family but adopted into the samurai class, returns to his childhood home to investigate a smuggling ring. He soon finds himself caught in a web of murder and false accusations involving his own sister's boyfriend. It is a sophisticated historical mystery that challenges readers to think about what it truly means to be a person of honor. Set in eighteenth-century Japan, the story explores the weight of tradition and the courage required to stand up for justice when it conflicts with social expectations. While it features the action of a samurai tale, the focus remains on Seikei's internal growth and his commitment to the truth. It is an excellent choice for middle schoolers (ages 10 to 14) who enjoy historical fiction or detective stories and are ready for themes of integrity, duty, and the complexity of justice.
