The Legacy

Title:

The Legacy

Author:

Patricia Kiyono

About the Author: (ebook)

Patricia Kiyono is honored The Legacy is included in the Japan Relief Novella series. During her first career, she taught elementary music, junior high social studies, elementary classrooms, and junior high social studies. She now teaches part time at Grand Valley State University. 

She lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from her children and grandchildren. Current interests, aside from writing, include sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and music. A love of travel and an interest in faraway people inspires her to create stories about different cultures. She has written elementary school plays and educational materials. The Legacy is her first work of fiction to be published.

Summary: (Goodreads)

When Andy Tanaka finds an old wooden chest in a storage shed on his family's flower farm, he can't wait to share his discovery with his best friend, Leigh Becker.

Inside the dusty lacquered chest are a pair of swords, some Japanese clothing, and a mysterious scroll, which could provide links to his samurai ancestor. They find someone to translate the scroll and then research the significance of the other items, intent on ensuring the legacy isn't forgotten.
In the process, they learn not only about samurai history, but also some surprising truths about themselves.

I'd Recommend to...

people with an interest in japanese culture and/or samurai

My Rating:

4.7/5

My Thoughts:

Andy and Leigh are best friends. Andy finds a trunk full of old samurai family items in his shed. They take them to a family friend of Andy's, who tells them a story of Andy's ancestors. The swords and other items in the trunk rightfully now belong to Andy's grandfather, who refuses to take them, believing he is not enough of a samurai warrior. On the other hand, Leigh's stepfather is out of a job and is turning to alcohol to solve his problems. He is getting more drunk and more violent. What will happen to Leigh and/or her stepfather? Who will the swords go to? Will Andy and Leigh ever be more than friends? Read The Legacy to find out.

This is a sweet little love story. It's a novella, so it's a quick read. Patricia Kiyono definitely knows what she is talking about in it and definitely has some Japanese knowledge. I would totally read other books by her.