Risuko A Kunoichi Tale by David Kudler

Set in Japan during the middle ages, Risuko, who is around 12 years old, has been sold to Lady Chiyome and is taken to a school in Mount Fuji where young girls are trained to be Kunoichi, although Risuko has no idea what a Kunoichi is nor why she is training to be one.  She and the two other initiate girls who were brought in with her begin by cleaning and cooking, and learning music, but are also given tasks that seem to have no purpose, like moving rocks from one pile to another and butchering chickens.  There is a mystery and Risuko must be brave to help to solve it.  Her skills at climbing and calligraphy come into play in a few areas of the book.  I have not seen any other middle grade historical fiction books set in Japan during this time period, so that makes this book a bit unique and the historical information is interesting.  It is the first in a series.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.