Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus was another recipient of a 2011 Newbery Honor. I'm really liking this being caught up on all the Newbery Award Medalists so that at the beginning of each year I have time to check out the Honor books as well, because they're all amazing. I really don't know how you would decide between them.
Heart of a Samurai is too incredible of a story to be fiction. It is based on the true story of a young Japanese boy in the mid 19th century who is lost at sea on a fishing boat, deserted on an island with nothing but rocks and birds, rescued by blue-eyed barbarians (aka Americans), works on a whaling ship, and is likely the first Japanese person to step on American soil.
Can you imagine the kind of prejudice you would have to face from people who had never seen anyone who looked like you? Can you imagine the fear you would experience being rescued by blue-eyed barbarians whom you had been told also eat people?
Manjiro's story is fascinating and strange. This book covers many years, as it has to in order to give you a sense of how remarkable his life was. It also includes beautiful black and white drawings by Manjiro himself of many of the things he saw and did.
If you have any interest in history, in true stories, in adventures on the high seas, or in different cultures, you will enjoy this book.
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