SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

June 8, 2010 by Lori Henderson

Review: Hiro’s Quest Volume 1-2

June 8, 2010 by Lori Henderson   1 comments

A boy ninja without an orange jumpsuit? Inconceivable! But here is Hiro, the youngest son in a family of ninjas charged with protecting their village. When the evil ninja Fujita threatens not just their village, but the entire kingdom, Hiro must join his family in a race to stop Fujita despite still being in training.

Hiro’s Quest Volume 1-2
By Tracey West; Illustrated by Craig Phillips
Grades 2-5
Scholastic, Sept. 2009, ISBN: 978-0-545-16288-3
90 pgs., $4.99

The Hiro’s Quest books are not graphic novels, but prose books with illustrations included in every chapter. The text is not embellished, but the illustrations have a comic feel to them, as they have dialog and narration from the text included. Hiro’s Quest is an action/adventure tale that also manages to weave a life lesson into the story.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

These first two volumes are two parts of one story. Hiro and his family must recover two powerful medallions before the evil ninja Fujita does. It must be Hiro’s family because their family history is related to the medallions. They are the only ones that can properly use them. The family consists of both parents and two older brothers to Hiro. It’s a good, stable family dynamic with caring parents and annoying brother that tease. Each member of the family feels familiar, but not in a way as to feel stereotypical. Each character has a spirit animal that helps to characterize them, in such a way so that it feels natural rather than tired.

The first book, Enemy Rising, is about finding yourself. Hiro is the only member of his family and friends who has not discovered what his spirit animal is, so he must do so along the way. He discovers it at a pivotal point at the end of the story, which seemed a little cliché to me, but was appropriate to the story and message. Hiro finally succeeds by just being himself and not trying to push himself.

The second book, Into the Fire, picks up where the first left off with Hiro and his family going after the second medallion. This time, the story is about working together. Their parents have been taken, and it up to the kids to find the medallion and save their parents. Though it seems impossible at first, but through trial and error, Hiro and his friends discover a way to get everyone working together and to their strengths.

Overall, I enjoyed reading both of these books. Tracy West seems to have a good feel for what makes a good action story appealing to kids and adults. The action moves at a good pace, never becoming overwhelming, or slowing down too much. Hiro is a very accessable character with his doubts about himself and his ability at first, and his slow growth throughout book 2. He makes a good role model for kids to want to emulate. The messages in the stories do not become preachy or obvious, even though their presence is felt. This is a great series for elementary school students, that both boys and girls can enjoy.

This review is based on a complimentary copy supplied by the publisher. All images copyright © Scholastic.

Filed under: Reviews, Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Lori Henderson

Lori Henderson is a mother of two teenage daughters and an avid reader. She blogs about manga at her personal blog Manga Xanadu as well as contributing and editing for Manga Village. She blogs about all things fandom (mainly Doctor Who) at her other personal blog Fangirl Xanadu. She's been at it so for over 5 years now and counting!

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

October 2022

Review: Parachute Kids

by Lori Henderson

July 2011

Review: Drawing From Memory

by Lori Henderson

May 2011

Review: The Zabime Sisters

by Lori Henderson

May 2011

First Second Reviews

by Lori Henderson

March 2011

Review: Skullkickers, vol 1

by Lori Henderson

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

2023 Caldecott Jump

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Bonds and Books: An Interview with Megan Dowd Lambert About Building Connections Through Family Reading

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Recent Graphic Novel Deals, Early Mar 2023 | News

by Johanna

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Playing to our Strengths (and Other Insights on Co-Authoring a Novel): A Conversation with Nicole Melleby and A. J. Sass

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

First-Person Graphic Memoirs: 17 Recommended Titles

Exclusive Excerpt of "The Baby-Sitters Club" Graphic Novel 'Jessi's Secret Language'

From 'Gender Queer' to ‘New Kid', Graphic Novels Are Targeted by Censors

The Publishing Industry Adapts to COVID-19 While Offering Support

PEN America and Trust Project Release Newsroom Transparency Tracker | News Bites

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Tuesday Evening Links, 6/8/10 « The Manga Critic says:
    September 2, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    […] Comics for Kids, we have a fresh crop of reviews that includes the new Mugen Spiral omnibus and volumes one and two of Hiro’s Quest… over at Comic Attack!, Kristin posts a thoughtful critique of Saturn Apartments. If […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023