BORN IN THE YEAR OF COURAGE, by Emily Crofford

Manjiro was now the master of his family since his father had died but his new fear of failing them did not last very long. The thing that interfered with him and his fear happened while he joined his friends,Goermon, Juusuke, Fudenojo and Toraemon, on a fishing trip. They were catching a lot of fish when Manjiro noticed a storm collecting. Soon the wind came down hard and their boat was out of control. After a while they were caught in the Black Current which lead strait into an island made of stone. They had to eat raw albatross because they had nothing else to eat since there were no plants because of the rock that covered the whole island. After a couple months an American ship saved them from their hunger and thirst. Will Japan's barbarians (Americans) be unfriendly to them? Will Manjiro ever see his family again? The answers are in the book!!!!!!!!!!