The Master Puppeteer
Encyclopedia
The Master Puppeteer is a 1975 work of children's literature written by U.S. novelist Katherine Paterson
. The book is set in Osaka, Japan during a period of famine in the 18th century. A young boy named Jiro takes a job at a theater run by the puppeteer Yoshida, who proves to be a demanding employer. However, Jiro discovers there is a connection between the theater and a local thief who has been stealing rice from the municipal authorities and merchants and giving it away to the starving poor.
In 1975, The Master Puppeteer won the National Book Award
for Children’s Literature.
Hanji: Jiro's father, a craftsman who makes puppets for a living.
Isako: Jiro's grouchy mother. She blames Jiro for the deaths of his two brothers and sister.
Yoshida: the puppet master of the Hanaza. He has a nasty attitude, and beats Kinshi with a bamboo stick.
Kinshi: Yoshida's son who tutors Jiro in the way of the puppet.
"Saburo": a bandit who robs rice and money from the rich to feed the poor.
Okada: the blind, wise reciter at the theater. He plays a part as Saburo.
Taro: Jiro's neighbor's son, Jiro finds Taro at Jiro's house when his parents are gone.
Katherine Paterson
Katherine Paterson is an American author of children's novels. She wrote Bridge to Terabithia and has received several of the major international awards for children's literature.- Early life:...
. The book is set in Osaka, Japan during a period of famine in the 18th century. A young boy named Jiro takes a job at a theater run by the puppeteer Yoshida, who proves to be a demanding employer. However, Jiro discovers there is a connection between the theater and a local thief who has been stealing rice from the municipal authorities and merchants and giving it away to the starving poor.
In 1975, The Master Puppeteer won the National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
for Children’s Literature.
Characters
Jiro: the protagonist who apprentices himself at the Hanaza. He's a clumsy 13 year old.Hanji: Jiro's father, a craftsman who makes puppets for a living.
Isako: Jiro's grouchy mother. She blames Jiro for the deaths of his two brothers and sister.
Yoshida: the puppet master of the Hanaza. He has a nasty attitude, and beats Kinshi with a bamboo stick.
Kinshi: Yoshida's son who tutors Jiro in the way of the puppet.
"Saburo": a bandit who robs rice and money from the rich to feed the poor.
Okada: the blind, wise reciter at the theater. He plays a part as Saburo.
Taro: Jiro's neighbor's son, Jiro finds Taro at Jiro's house when his parents are gone.