DRAGON OF THE MANGROVES

INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS OF WORLD WAR II

Written by: Yasuyuki Kasai

Reviewed by: Christine I Speakman

Published: 2006 iUniverse  www.iuniverse.com
Genre: Fiction, based on true events

ISBN-13: 978-0-595-39026-7 (pbk)

ISBN-13: 978-0-595-83414-3 (ebk)

ISBN-10: 0-595-39026-9 (pbk)

ISBN-10: 0-595-83414-0 (ebk)

Pages: approx. 152
Price: $12.95 paperback; $6.00 Adobe eBook

2.5 out of 4 roses

Have you ever walked in someone else’s shoes?

“Dragon of the Mangroves” takes you to Ramree Island, off the cost of Burma, through the eyes of Superior Private Minoru Kasuga and Second LieutenantYoshihisa Sumi.

Here these men of Japan’s Imperial Army…my deepest apologies for any error in naming the country’s military, my knowledge and therefore understanding is limited in this area…not only face their enemies but also the saltwater crocodiles that have inhabited the area for centuries.  “Dragon of the Mangroves” is about these men as they follow their orders and do their best to survive.

This is not a tale of who was right and who was wrong.  Far from it, it is a retelling of one country’s history during a time we all lost so much.  I am reminded that each of us, no matter our views, still strive for those same wants and desires…to live our lives with those we love. 

As I mentioned, I have a very limited understanding of our world’s military history, and haven’t read much fiction or even non-fiction about this area.  However, I did enjoy Yasuyuki Kasai’s telling, and will need to visit it again in order to fully comprehend this part of Japanese history.

For those who are partial to military history, I believe “Dragon of the Mangroves” is for you.