In the marvelous sequel to the novel (and Cartoon Network series) MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT, Balsa returns to her native land to fight a corrupt ruler and face her own demons. Balsa returns to her native Kanbal to clear the name of Jiguro, her dear mentor, who saved her life when she was six years old. But what should be a visit of truth and reconciliation becomes a fight for her life when she learns that Jiguro had been a member of King Rogsam's personal bodyguard. After Jiguro fled Kanbal with her, Rogsam sent the other bodyguards after them one by one--Jiguro's best friends, whom he had to kill to protect Balsa. Now, with the help of two Kanbalese children, Balsa must unwind the conspiracy surrounding Jiguro and the mystery of the Guardians of the Dark. REVIEWS:"Once again, Uehashi immerses readers in the culture, traditions, mythology-even diet-of the populace, creating a full, captivating world...this growing series has something for everyone." -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred review "Though a sequel, Moribito II stands on its own as an engrossing story of redemption, with seasoned warrior and bodyguard Balsa back in the center of it all. . . . Both [human and mythological worlds] come alive with the wonderful attention to detail, from descriptions of the geography, food, and social structure to the ceremony where humans come face to face with their gods. . . . [T]his series serves as a smooth transition between manga and straight narrative." -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALAWARDS:An ALA Notable Book for Children, 2010Mildred L. Batchelder Honor for Translation, 2010USBBY Outstanding International Book, 2010 Nahoko Uehashi is the author of ten books in the Moribito series, which have sold more than a million copies and won many major literary awards in her native Japan. An associate professor at a Japanese university, she has a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology and studies indigenous peoples in Australia. She lives near Tokyo, Japan. REVIEWS:"Once again, Uehashi immerses readers in the culture, traditions, mythology-even diet-of the populace, creating a full, captivating world...this growing series has something for everyone." -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred review "Though a sequel, Moribito II stands on its own as an engrossing story of redemption, with seasoned warrior and bodyguard Balsa back in the center of it all. . . . Both [human and mythological worlds] come alive with the wonderful attention to detail, from descriptions of the geography, food, and social structure to the ceremony where humans come face to face with their gods. . . . [T]his series serves as a smooth transition between manga and straight narrative." -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALAWARDS:An ALA Notable Book for Children, 2010Mildred L. Batchelder Honor for Translation, 2010USBBY Outstanding International Book, 2010

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