Temple Alley Summer

May 24, 2021
Japanese novelist Kashiwaba (The Marvelous Village Veiled in Mist) introduces Kazu, a nervous Japanese fifth grader who’s sure the girl in a white kimono he sees slipping out of his house one night is a ghost. Then she appears, normally dressed, in his classroom the next morning. His classmates all seem to know her, and they’re baffled by his questions about her provenance. Kazu soon discovers that his family’s old house contains a small Buddhist statue with the power to bring the dead back to life—a statue that may have some connection to Akari, the mysterious girl. Under the guise of a summer project, Kazu turns detective in a story that reveals an entirely separate nested fairy tale—one that has unsettling parallels to Akari’s own. The more he discovers about her, the more deeply Kazu comes to care about Akari, and readers will, too. Though a detailed, exposition-heavy initial 50 pages may stymie readers, the sturdily translated story eventually recovers, bringing Kashiwaba’s imaginative power, and Satake’s occasional comics-style b&w vignettes, to English-speaking readers. Ages 8–13.

Starred review from May 1, 2021
One curious boy, the ghost of a long-dead girl, a mysterious old temple, an unfinished story, and several weeks of summer vacation add up to an unforgettable adventure. Kazu and his family live in a sprawling old house in Japan. One night, Kazu is shocked to see what seems to be a ghost in a white kimono leaving the altar room. He's even more shocked when his friends insist this girl, Akari, has always been around. Meanwhile, Kazu decides to do his summer homework project on local history, an idea sparked by an old map that labeled his street Kimyō Temple Alley, a name whose meaning implies the dead can come back to life. Kazu is led deeper into the puzzle through conversations with older community members--some of whom actively discourage his investigations--and befriending Akari and learning where she really came from. A story within a story to which Kazu and Akari seek the ending, a fantasy tale about a girl held hostage by a witch, reinforces the book's overarching theme of living life so that you have no regrets. This imaginative tale, enchantingly written and charmingly illustrated by veteran Japanese creators for young people, has a timeless feel. Its captivating blend of humor and mystery is undergirded with real substance that will provoke deeper contemplation. Udagawa's translation naturally and seamlessly renders the text completely accessible to non-Japanese readers. An instant classic filled with supernatural intrigue and real-world friendship. (Fiction. 8-12)

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July 1, 2021

Gr 3-7-It all starts with a ghost story show on TV one night, a show self-proclaimed scaredy-cat Kazuhiro Sada knows he has no business watching. Late that night, Kazu sees a pale figure sneaking out of his family's altar room. Could it be a ghost? Then he sees the same figure in his class the very next day-a girl known as Akari who all of his friends insist he's known since kindergarten. When he learns the street he and Akari live on used to be called Kimyo Temple Alley, a name that implies the dead coming back to life, Kazu's sure something fishy is going on. But as he spends the summer delving deeper into this mystery and befriending Akari, things will become even more complicated and strange than he could've imagined. A humorous yet thoughtful mystery chock-full of the fantastical, this is a must-read for young fans of Studio Ghibli-an especially warranted comparison, as another book by Kashiwaba served as inspiration for Spirited Away. Lovingly translated into English from the original 2011 text, this version is completely accessible to an English-language audience while retaining a classic Japanese sensibility and storytelling style. All characters default as Japanese. VERDICT An excellent choice for fantasy lovers of all ages, particularly those who enjoy magical realism and a dose of the supernatural. Highly recommended.-Kaitlin Frick, Darien Lib., CT

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2021
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* When an author and an illustrator with ties to books associated with renowned Studio Ghibli masterpieces such as Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away join forces on a middle-grade fantasy adventure, you can count on it being something truly special. Main character Kazu discovers, quite by accident, that his home is the location of an ancient temple that can bring people back to life, when the ghost of a girl steps out of its entrance in the middle of the night. He tries to learn more, but he attracts the attention of village elders who would rather the temple be put to rest. Determined to keep the girl, Akari, safe, he does everything he can to help her and shows her plenty of new experiences along the way. Beautifully translated, this sweet tale has a story-within-a-story tied in to convey a theme of living a full life with no regrets, and it nicely reflects one village elder's changing attitude. Satake's crisp illustrations are sprinkled throughout the book and add to the magical atmosphere of the story. Her exquisite, immediately engaging cover art, too, will certainly lure in readers. Heartwarming with a supernatural touch, this beautifully captures the magic of childhood.

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