Tarō: Legendary Boy Hero of Japan
Feudal Japan, 1596. When his parents are attacked and killed by a rival lord, Tarō narrowly escapes with his life. He’s found by a witch whose magic helps Tarō grow uncommonly strong and muscular. However, Tarō can’t remember his life before he was found. With his strength, Tarō rescues a man from a supernatural being. The man, Lord Tokugawa, invites Tarō to his castle, but after being raised in a forest surrounded by magical animals, a world ruled by discipline, honor, and power is foreign to him. Accompanied by his raccoon/dog shapeshifting companion, Tanuki, Tarō is quickly thrust into a political struggle that will bring him face to face with his parents’ killer. Even Lord Tokugawa has a secret about the day Tarō’s parents were killed that could shatter their new-found alliance.
Tarō is a magical adventure told in the third person of a boy trying to find his place in the world. Spruell makes good use of the five senses while exploring the varied settings, especially sound and scent. Tarō’s journey from temples to cities and through the wilderness are all enchanting. Equally enhancing are Miya Outlaw’s illustrations. The artwork appears as if it’s in motion. The designs fit within the novel’s folklore style, and I was particularly captivated by the landscapes. Additionally, the characters are enjoyable, my favorites being Tanuki and Kamehime. The only thing I didn’t like were the footnotes, unusual for this genre. As the author includes a glossary, footnotes felt redundant. That said, this is a very enjoyable tale that will appeal to a wide range of readers with its fantasy elements and charming setting. Entwining the natural and human worlds, this story vividly recounts the life of a hero from Japanese legends named Tarō.
