Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gentle fantasy spotlights Japanese mythology.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Saki Yamamoto resents having to leave her friends in Tokyo to spend her family vacation at her grandmother's distant village. She's bored with the old, traditional ceremonies and misses good cell phone reception. When some troublemaking local kids dare her to disrespect a shrine and ring a sacred bell, Saki invokes a death curse -- and then has only three nights to undo it. She will have to depend on three mysterious spirit guides to save herself and her family.
Is It Any Good?
More contemplative than many modern fantasies, this middle-grade novel ably evokes Japanese mythology and Shinto traditions. Some readers may find it hard to warm up to Saki Yamamoto, the self-centered main character, but as she matures over the course of her three-day quest, readers will come to root for her.
Author Kathryn Tanquary keeps the plot moving by introducing interesting new characters -- a four-tailed fox, a bird-like creature called a tengu, and a "raccoon/dog" tanuki -- at regular intervals. Some of the lessons learned are a little obvious, but Tanquary uses a lighter touch to resolve some of the conflicts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why tradition is so important. What kinds of rituals do you follow in your own family to remember those who have passed away?
What do you think of the author's mix of fantasy, Japanese mythology, and Shinto religion? Do you like books that explore traditions different from your own? Which others have you read?
What are good ways to make friends in new settings? What behaviors promote friendship among strangers?
Book Details
- Author: Kathryn Tanquary
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
- Publication date: January 5, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 14
- Number of pages: 320
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Read Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate