Publisher Description

A 2024 Mildred L. Batchelder Award HonoreeA 2024 USBBY Outstanding International BookOne of Kirkus Reviews' 10 Essential Middle-Grade Books for Fall 2023 - Starred ReviewOne of Kirkus Reviews' Best Middle-Grade Family Stories of 2023A 2023 Cybils Awards Finalist for Speculative Middle Grade FictionFrom the author and translator of the Batchelder Award-winning novel Temple Alley Summer comes the moving story of three generations of women adapting to their new home, and its mythical inhabitants, in the tragic aftermath of the 2011 Thoku earthquake disaster.In the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami, Yui, fleeing her violent husband, and Hiyori, a young orphan, are taken in by a strange but kind old lady named Kiwa in the small town of Kitsunezaki. The newly formed family finds refuge in a mayoiga, a lost house, perched atop a beautiful cape overlooking the sea. While helping to rebuild Kitsunezaki, the three adapt to their new lives and supernatural new home, slowly healing from their troubled pasts. Kiwa regales Yui and Hiyori with local legends-from the shapeshifting fox-woman who used to roam the mountains, to the demon Agam and a sea snake who once terrorized the townspeople, preying upon their grief and fears until they trapped the snake and the demon's claws in an underwater cave.But when mysterious and sinister events start happening around town, the three fear the worst. Did the earthquake release Agam and the sea snake into the world again? Kiwa, Yui, and Hiyori join forces with a merry band of kappa river spirits, a bold zashiki warashi house spirit, and flying Jiz guardian statues to save their new family and home and banish Agam and the snake once and for all. Now a hit anime film, The House of the Lost on the Cape is a heartwarming tale about the strength of family and friendship in the face of natural and mythical forces.

Author Biography

Sachiko Kashiwaba is a prolific writer of children's and young adult fantasy whose career spans more than four decades. Her works have garnered the prestigious Sankei, Shogakukan, and Noma children's literature awards, and her novel The Marvelous Village Veiled in Mist influenced Hayao Miyazaki's film Spirited Away. Her works have recently been animated as the films The Wonderland and The House of the Lost on the Cape. Her novel Temple Alley Summer, illustrated by Miho Satake and translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa, won the American Library Association's 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Award, was a July/August 2021 Kids' Indie Next Pick, and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. She lives in Morioka, Iwate.Yukiko Saito is a graphic designer and illustrator originally from Aomori, Japan. She studied textile arts in the fine arts and crafts teacher training program within the Faculty of Education, Iwate University. She lives in Iwate Prefecture.Avery Fischer Udagawa grew up in Kansas and studied English and Asian Studies at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She holds an MA in advanced Japanese studies from the University of Sheffield. She has studied at Nanzan University, Nagoya, on a Fulbright fellowship, and at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies, Yokohama. She writes, translates and works in international education near Bangkok, where she lives with her bicultural family.

Review

"The tender emotions following collective trauma are skillfully blended with the riveting supernatural action. . . . A powerful story of healing." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review"This heartfelt novel by a popular Japanese children's author . . . centers found family, weaving folklore, and magic into a tale of healing in the wake of natural disaster." —Kirkus Reviews' 10 Essential Middle-Grade Books for Fall 2023"Kashiwaba's moody work teems with ambient wonder and grim portent, offering glimpses of darkness without overwhelming the narrative's uplifting tone." —Publishers Weekly"In this lightly magical novel, three women from different generations are brought together in the aftermath of the Thuku earthquake and tsunami: an orphaned girl, a woman fleeing an abusive marriage, and an elderly grandmother with no immediate family. The story unfolds in flowing language, and the black-and-white drawings sweetly accompany the mystical tale. Hiyori's desire to find her voice and save her new family unfolds beautifully and will be treasured by many. Kashiwaba's novel was originally published in serialized form in 2014, with an anime film adaptation in 2021 commemorating the 10th anniversary of the tragedy; this English translation will reach even more young fans of Japanese fantasy and found-family stories." —Michele Shaw, School Library Journal"Kashiwaba has a knack for world-building that seamlessly fuses the real with the fantastical. She gently guides readers through difficult subjects like trauma, death, and grief while offering a healthy dose of humor and hope. Avery Fischer Udagawa's lucid English translation and Yukiko Saito's charming black and white illustrations all help to make this beautiful, moving tale accessible to a global readership." — Kelly Zhang, Words Without Borders"Think Diana Wynne Jones . . . but with a firm grip on storytelling and Japanese folklore, interspersed with contemporary mystery fiction . . . it is a powerful combination." — GeekDad"A must read for fans of disasters, magical creatures, found families, and Studio Ghibli films." —Kristen Harvey, Mrs. Harvey's Library"The House of the Lost on the Cape is a layered, heart-gripping story with characters that you cannot help but feel so much for. We are so lucky to have this, and Obchan's stories, with us." — Denise Tan, Closetful of Books (Singapore)"Folktales, fantasy, and reality collide in this magical and powerful story." —Paula Holmes, World Kid Lit"Udagawa left a huge number of Japanese words and cultural references in her translation and explained them with stealth glosses. . . . The technique provides a lot of information about Japan in general and life in the Tohoku region in particular and about Japanese folklore—it's part of what I liked best about the book." —Alison Fincher, Read Japanese Literature"This magical found-family fantasy is nourishment for readers of all ages. It's a story of healing for the characters, yes—but also the sort of book that heals the reader, too." —Marcia Lynx Qualey, translator of Wild Poppies by Haya Saleh"Kashiwaba's story focuses on a determined female trio who choose to create new lives for themselves in a town decimated by the tsunami, but still full of acceptance and resilience—both human and supernatural. An engaging read, ultra-smooth translation, illustrations that neatly set the scenes, and plenty to learn about life in a Japanese village." —Deborah Iwabuchi, SCBWI Japan Translation Group

Long Description

From the author of the Batchelder Award-winning novel Temple Alley Summer , comes The House of the Lost on the Cape , the moving story of three generations of women adapting to their new home, and its mythical inhabitants, in the tragic aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake disaster. In the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami, Yui, fleeing her violent husband, and Hiyori, a young orphan, are taken in by a strange but kind old lady named Kiwa in the small town of Kitsunezaki. The newly formed family finds refuge in a mayoiga, a lost house, perched atop a beautiful cape overlooking the sea. While helping to rebuild Kitsunezaki, the three adapt to their new lives and supernatural new home, slowly healing from their troubled pasts. Kiwa regales Yui and Hiyori with local legends--from the shapeshifting fox-woman who used to roam the mountains, to the demon Agam

Review Quote

Praise for Temple Alley Summer: "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." -- Kirkus Reviews , Starred Review "When an author and an illustrator with ties to books adapted to 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.... Heartwarming with a supernatural touch, this beautifully captures the magic of childhood." --Kristina Pino, Booklist , Starred Review "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.... Highly recommended." -- School Library Journal "A sweet ghost story, a mystery, an eerie and unsettling story-within-a-story: Finally, the work of the great Sachiko Kashiwaba, one of Japan''s most revered children''s authors, is available in English translation! I''m so pleased that young people who read in English can now enjoy Kashiwaba''s Temple Alley Summer , and experience the pleasure and wonder of viewing the world from a less familiar angle." --Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times best-selling author "Imbued with a delightfully old-fashioned atmosphere, Temple Alley Summer gives its readers a wonderful glimpse of Japanese culture and traditions. And while the inner story has its scary moments, the outer one does not. The two tales form a satisfying and surprisingly deep whole that addresses questions of life, death, meaning, and friendship, all wrapped up in a supernatural summertime mystery." --Nanette McGuinness, Global Literature in Libraries Initiative "Fans of Hayao Miyazaki will love Temple Alley Summer , which takes a series of supernatural turns as young Kazu seeks to discover the truth about a mysterious classmate and help her learn the end to an unfinished story. This beguiling tale--skillfully translated and charmingly illustrated--imparts haunting, hopeful lessons about second chances and what it means to fully embrace life." --Leza Lowitz, author of Up from the Sea and Jet Black and the Ninja Wind "What a thrilling discovery this book is. There are unexplained legends, ghosts, and plenty of twists and turns to keep those pages flying, but at its heart it''s a story about a sensitive boy who wants to do the right thing, even when things get strange and his ordinary life is suddenly filled with the most unsettling mysteries. It''s a story about friendship and about believing, and a thoroughly captivating read." --Daniel Hahn, award-winning translator and author, founder of the TA First Translation Prize "Utterly enchanting! Part mystery, part ghost story, this magical tale has the makings of a classic." --Suzanne Kamata, author of Pop Flies, Robo-Pets, and Other Disasters "As a kid, I would have loved reading this compelling story within a story grounded in a Japanese boy''s school and home life as he protects a girl ghost. I love it now! " --Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu, award-winning author of Beyond Me and Somewhere Among "[Kazu''s] search for answers pushes him out of his comfort zone and has him face deep questions on death and morality. In this absorbing, multi-layered story, the past, the present and an unfinished fairy tale are all satisfyingly connected. Though not scary, the uncanniness of the situation lingers. This bewitching book makes me hope more of Sachiko Kashiwaba''s works will be translated into English." --Suzanne Morgan, Politics and Prose (Washington, DC) "This middle-grade novel exemplifies the joys of reading children''s books in translation: experiencing cultures other than one''s own. Kids familiar with Japanese culture from Studio Ghibli films, though, will feel right at home in this contemporary ghost story. I hope the author''s other works will be translated into English as well!" --Robin Stern, Books Inc. (Campbell, CA) "It''s summer break! There''s time for fun and friends, but Kazu has decided to investigate a paranormal occurrence tied to the history of his street, Temple Alley.... Complete with a story within a story, this summertime sleuth is mischievous and magical." --Cat Chapman, Oxford Exchange (Tampa, FL) "I loved the ghost girl, Akari, and the genuine Kazu. This could be a read-aloud or a standalone book. One of my SUMMER PICKS!!!" --Kira Wizner, Merritt Bookstore (Millbrook, NY) "A strange mysterious ghost girl, a young boy discovering the hidden secrets of his neighborhood, and a tale about the power and importance of stories; Temple Alley Summer is an excellent middle grade novel with charm and heart to spare. I loved the unraveling mystery that Kashiwaba slowly reveals, the amazing story-within-a-story element, and the beautiful illustrations of Satake throughout. A truly special and unique book that I can''t wait to recommend to readers young and old." --Caleb Masters, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC) "Wonderful spooky tale with perfect summer vibe and great illustrations." --Anton Bogomazov, Politics and Prose (Washington, DC) "In this engrossing translation by Avery Fischer Udagawa, Sachiko Kashiwaba''s Temple Alley Summer delivers a page-turner of a mystery, a paean to the transformative power of stories, and one intrepid fifth-grader''s quest to discover how those we have lost might return... and whether they should!" --Philip Nel, Director, Program in Children''s Literature, Kansas State University "A tenderly written and thoughtfully translated book about family, friendship, grief and new beginnings which made me laugh and cry--sometimes at the same time." --Denise Tan, Closetful of Books (Singapore) "Ghosts terrify Kazu and when he finds one in his house, he begins a young detective''s journey that will change his life forever. Can he keep the secret and help a lost soul? In Temple Alley Summer , Sachiko Kashiwaba spins an intricate yarn that celebrates the power of story to overcome even the greatest obstacles. Miho Satake''s thoughtful illustrations weave the two worlds of this tale within a tale into a delightful narrative tapestry. How lucky we are that Avery Udegawa''s nuanced translation brings Kazu''s neighborhood and all of its rich characters to life for a new group of young readers in this English language version of Temple Alley Summer . A story for anyone who has ever lost themselves in a good book and will do anything to learn how it ends!" --Jennifer MacDonald Whitman and Nathaniel Forrest Whitman, co-authors with Margaret Read MacDonald of Teaching with Story: Classroom Connections to Storytelling "A charming, suspenseful tale that grabbed my imagination and kept me turning the pages to the very end! " --Cathy Hirano, translator of Batchelder Award winners The Friends by Kazumi Yumoto and Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi "A ghost, a mystery and a new friend. Temple Alley Summer is a wonderful middle grade novel that readers won''t want to end!" --Trista Wilson, Watermark Books and Caf

Description for Sales People

FOLLOW-UP TO THE BATCHELDER AWARD-WINNING TEMPLE ALLEY SUMMER: Kashiwaba's newest novel will hit home with readers who loved Temple Alley Summer and its charming cast of quirky characters, real world and fantasy settings, and elements of magical realism ANIME FILM OUT IN FALL 2022: The House of the Lost on the Cape was released in an anime film adaptation in Japan in 2021 in honor of the tenth anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake, the film will be released in NA this fall, and Kashiwaba will be attending events in person to promote the film for English audiences EAGERLY ANTICIPATED FOLLOW-UP: Indie booksellers and librarians who loved Temple Alley Summer which won the ALSC 2022 Batchelder Award, was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and was a Kids' Indie Next Pick will be eager to read Kashiwaba's next book REAL WORLD STORY INFUSED WITH JAPANESE FOLKLORE: In her signature style, Kashiwaba blends elements of Japanese folklore and mythology with the tragic events of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake disaster to deliver a heartwarming and powerful story of resilience, family, and the natural (and supernatural) world

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