The Last Chance

Gr 3—5—Viz has created simplified text versions of this popular series. In the continuing story, Squad Seven must locate both heaven and earth scrolls and bring them to a tower in the middle of the forest. The action shifts to the adventures of Squad Eight. While hiding in the brush, they witness a battle between the ninja teams from the Rain Village and the Sand Village. This contest continues for seven chapters. Readers finally meet up with Squad Seven's Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke in the final three chapters. Chapter 10 ends with a cliff-hanger, leaving unanswered questions regarding the final outcome. The slim offering begins with a plot synopsis and a location map. Written for early readers, the story consists of dialogue with simple descriptions. Use of large-size font, boldface, and alternative font types add interest and emphasis to the text. However, some of the words, such as "hazardous terrain," "surveillance," and "doppelganger," seem incongruous for the intended audience. Japanese words such as chakra and byakugan are defined within the story. The book is an unusual hybrid of paragraphs of text and illustrated panel art that varies in size from small inserts to full spreads. Images such as the Rain of Needles panels convey the story more effectively than words. Fans of Naruto may prefer to stick with the original manga format.—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY