y separately published work icon Samurai Kids series - author   children's fiction   children's   historical fiction  
Issue Details: First known date: 2008... 2008 Samurai Kids
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Affiliation Notes

  • This series is affiliated with the AustLit subset Asian-Australian Children's Literature and Publishing because it has Asian settings.

Includes

1
y separately published work icon White Crane Sandy Fussell , Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2008 Z1473027 2008 single work children's fiction children's historical fiction (taught in 1 units) 'Niya Moto is the only one-legged Samurai kid in Japan, famous for falling flat on his face in the dirt. None of the samurai schools will teach crippled Niya, until an offer arrives from the legendary samurai warrior Ki-Yaga, sensei of the Cockroach Ryu. Together with the other Cockroaches, Niya must defeat the fierce Dragons Ryu at the Samurai Trainee Games.' (From the publisher's website.)
2
y separately published work icon Owl Ninja Sandy Fussell , Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2008 Z1523454 2008 single work children's fiction children's historical fiction

'The second instalment in a unique series set in Feudal Japan about a special group of kids training in the ways of the samurai. Across the valley, a drum beat echoes. Thum. Thum. For ten days, this drum will call the mountain ryus to war. When it stops, the fifty year peace will be over and only the Emperor can prevent this from happening.

'So begins a new challenge for the samurai kids of the Cockroach Ryu. Lead by their Sensei, Ki-Yaga, the samurai kids travel west to the Emperors castle with the aim to silence the war drum and prevent their friends from becoming enemies. And with only ten days until the war begins, they must move quickly! However, on their travels, they discover a greater challenge is waiting for them when they reach the castle: long ago, the Emperor banished their Sensei from his presence and told him that he would chop off his head if he ever saw him again.

'Knowing the threat to their beloved teacher, they arrive at the castle, unsure of how they can convince the emperor to call off the war before he cuts off Sensei's head. All seems hopeless until they join forces with the Owl Ninja clan and learn the ways of the ninja.

'As samurai and ninja work together, the samurai kids succeed in ending not only the conflict at home, but also the long war of mistrust between the samurai and the ninja.' (From the publisher's website.)

3
y separately published work icon Shaolin Tiger Sandy Fussell , Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2009 Z1573190 2009 single work children's fiction children's historical fiction 'Long before Sensei Ki-Yaga built the Cockroach Ryu, he travelled to China and studied at the Shaolin Temple in the north-western Song Shan Mountains of China. Sensei promised to return to help the abbot in the Temple's time of need. Telling the Samurai Kids that the abbott has a treasure in need of safekeeping, they set off on a journey to China.' (Source: publisher's website.)
4
y separately published work icon Monkey Fist Sandy Fussell , Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2009 Z1610398 2009 single work children's fiction children's historical fiction ‘Kyoko is kidnapped in the middle of the night – but by whom? Who has the skill and ability to sneak up on Sensei and slip him a sleeping drug? Sensei immediately knows it is the mark of an old enemy, Lu Zeng, who is an evil and self-important minister of the Forbidden City, obsessed with eternal life. After helping their friends Mei and Du Feng and the other Shaolin Monks to escape danger, Yoshi keeps the whereabouts of the Shaolin monks a secret from Niya causing a rift among the kids. And it seems Sensei is keeping secrets from his students too. Will these secrets rip apart their trust and prevent them rescuing Kyoko before Lu Zeng performs one of his contemptible experiments on her? With the help of the Lin people, a mysterious group of forest people, the kids learn a valuable lesson about trust and honour, but will they ever be able to leave China and get back to the Cockroach Ryu in the Tateyama Mountains?’ (Source: Author’s website)
5
y separately published work icon Fire Lizard Sandy Fussell , Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2010 Z1734094 2010 single work children's fiction children's historical fiction 'Lessons, lessons and more lessons. Miko hates lessons, but when he is chosen by Ki-Yaga's former teacher, Pak Cho, as an apprentice he is taught the value of another skill. The Little Cockroaches and their teacher are travelling to Daeheon City to deliver a message from the secret training camp of the Hwarang warriors. But when the samurai kids are caught in the middle of much unrest in the Nine Valleys, they quickly learn that old ways must embrace new.' (Source: Publisher's website.)
6
y separately published work icon Golden Bat Sandy Fussell , Sydney : Walker Books Australia , 2011 Z1799463 2011 single work children's fiction children's historical fiction 'The Little Cockroaches are stuck on Cheju Island until they fulfil a promise made to the famous Chinese pirate captain, Dreaded Oong. The Daejeong County magistrate has kidnapped Dreaded Oong’s nephew and Sensei and his students must convince the power-hungry magistrate to release the boy. But when Sensei is badly injured, everything changes – including Sensei’s agile mind. Can the samurai kids continue the journey and help Sensei?' (Source: Publisher's website)
7
y separately published work icon Red Fox Sandy Fussell , Sydney : Walker Books Australia , 2012 Z1903065 2012 single work children's fiction children's adventure "On the way to India, the Sea Dragon is shipwrecked. Niya is washed up on a deserted beach, fearing that his friends may all be dead. He is reunited with Chen, but the other Little Cockroaches are nowhere to be found. Niya and Chen soon learn there is only one path their friends would have taken. It leads through the dangerous jungle to the decaying temple city of Angkor. Who has survived? Will the Samurai Kids ever be the same again?"--Back cover.
8
y separately published work icon Black Tengu Sandy Fussell , Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2013 8571288 2013 single work children's fiction children's

'The Samurai Kids are finally back in Japan. But not at their ryu in the Tateyama Mountains. Instead, Sensei has taken them to the snowy lands of Ezo - the place of his birth. The place where Sensei must face his demons and right the terrible wrong that has tormented him. Will Niya have the courage to help Sensei as he promised? Is Sensei really a black Tengu?' (Publication summary)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 2008

Works about this Work

Sandy Fussell – Author Interview 2010 single work interview
— Appears in: The Australian Literature Review , July 2010;
Wizards, Vampires and Elbow Grease Susanne Gervay , 2010 single work column
— Appears in: Australian Author , December vol. 42 no. 3 2010; (p. 20-22)
'Writing for children and young adults requires an ability to inspire wonder combined with deep reserves of patience, says Susanne Gervay.' ()
y separately published work icon Samurai Kids Official Website Samurai Kids Sandy Fussell , 2008 Z1625099 2008 website The website contains additional information on the series Samurai Kids by Sandy Fussell. It includes teacher resources, newsletters, author interviews and interactive games for viewers.
Three New Female Writers Nansi Kunze , Sandy Fussell , Rowena Mohr , 2008 single work column
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , May 2008 vol. 52 no. 2 2008; (p. 3-4, 6-7)
Three New Female Writers Nansi Kunze , Sandy Fussell , Rowena Mohr , 2008 single work column
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , May 2008 vol. 52 no. 2 2008; (p. 3-4, 6-7)
y separately published work icon Samurai Kids Official Website Samurai Kids Sandy Fussell , 2008 Z1625099 2008 website The website contains additional information on the series Samurai Kids by Sandy Fussell. It includes teacher resources, newsletters, author interviews and interactive games for viewers.
Wizards, Vampires and Elbow Grease Susanne Gervay , 2010 single work column
— Appears in: Australian Author , December vol. 42 no. 3 2010; (p. 20-22)
'Writing for children and young adults requires an ability to inspire wonder combined with deep reserves of patience, says Susanne Gervay.' ()
Sandy Fussell – Author Interview 2010 single work interview
— Appears in: The Australian Literature Review , July 2010;
Last amended 12 Sep 2011 11:07:04
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