Great Recommendations

Why You Should Put This Book in Your Library

Gail Tsukiyama writes her tale with beautiful elegance. The story revolves around a young Chinese teenager (Stephen) whose illness forces him to stay at his parents beach home in the small town of Tarumi, Japan. Japan is a war with China in the early years of World War II and the war provides a disturbing backdrop to the personal development of the various characters in the story.

Relationships are the core threads weaving throughout the story, told in a series of journal entries by Stephen as he meets new people or interacts with his family. Ms. Tsukiyama unfolds each character with care and kindness then enriches them throughout the novel. She also reveals a number of moral lessons gently, but with steady focus and force. She even provides some shocking surprises that never overwhelm the overall story, but do provide an opportunity to see the true mettle of all the characters.

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