In 1841, rescued by an American whaler after a terrible shipwreck leaves him and his four companions castaways on a remote island, fourteen-year-old Manjiro, who dreams of becoming a samurai, learns new laws and customs as he becomes the first Japanese person to set foot in the United States. Interest Level: YA ATOS Book Level: 5.4 AR Interest Level: MG AR Points: 8 AR Quiz: 139383EN Reading Counts Level: 4.6 Reading Counts Points: 14 Lexile Measure: 760 Fountas & Pinnell: W.