Of Nightingales That Weep — Katherine Paterson

The daughter of a samurai never weeps. But Takiko, whose warrior father has been killed in the civil wars between the Heike and Genji clans, finds this a hard rule, for she resents and even fears her mother's new husband. When she is offered an exciting position at the Japanese court, Takiko is happy to accept.

Her beauty and musical talent win her many admirers, among them the dashing young warrior -- and enemy spy -- Hideo. But her happiness is short-lived as the war between the clans again erupts, and Takiko is caught in a conflict between love and loyalty.

Once again Katherine Paferson, author of The Sign Of The Chrysanthemum, conveys the beauty and drama of feudal Japan in an illuminating portrayal of a crucial point in Japan's history and a young girl caught in its sweep.