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kappafrog's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book was recommended to me as being for fans of Studio Ghibli, and it definitely hit the mark. It's like Arrietty meets Grave of the Fireflies, though thankfully much less graphic than the latter. The delightful Borrowers-like story has a somber backdrop of Japanese nationalism and its victims. I enjoyed seeing that world through the eyes of Yuri and the Ashe family. The ending was a little abrupt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Chronic illness, Classism, Sexism, War, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Confinement
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
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