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rorikae's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
'The Secret of the Blue Glass' by Tomiko Inui, translated by Tapley Takemori follows the story of a small family that lives up on a shelf in a library in Tokyo and the family that takes care of them.
Originally from England, the Ashes are a family of small people that were carried to Tokyo in a handbasket. Entrusted to the Moriyama family and their children, they live out their life in the Moriyama's library. But as World War II draws closer and threatens Tokyo, the Moriyama's young daughter may be sent away to the countryside and the Ashe's may need to flee with her.
'The Secret of the Blue Glass' is an interesting middle grade novel that mixes the story of a Borroweresque family in Japan with the daily experience of a Japanese family during World War II. It balances the horrors of war with the whimsy of a fantastical family. Because we spend time with both, there is less of a focus on the Ashe family than I expected. Unlike the Borrowers where there is a lot about the family's life and different situations that they get into, this story focuses more on the relationship between them and the Moriyama family. I wish that there had been more plot as it felt more like characters reacting to events than being active participants.
This story is short and relatively to the point. Though it isn't particularly exciting, I do think that it does a good job of balancing the aspects about the war with a family story.
Originally from England, the Ashes are a family of small people that were carried to Tokyo in a handbasket. Entrusted to the Moriyama family and their children, they live out their life in the Moriyama's library. But as World War II draws closer and threatens Tokyo, the Moriyama's young daughter may be sent away to the countryside and the Ashe's may need to flee with her.
'The Secret of the Blue Glass' is an interesting middle grade novel that mixes the story of a Borroweresque family in Japan with the daily experience of a Japanese family during World War II. It balances the horrors of war with the whimsy of a fantastical family. Because we spend time with both, there is less of a focus on the Ashe family than I expected. Unlike the Borrowers where there is a lot about the family's life and different situations that they get into, this story focuses more on the relationship between them and the Moriyama family. I wish that there had been more plot as it felt more like characters reacting to events than being active participants.
This story is short and relatively to the point. Though it isn't particularly exciting, I do think that it does a good job of balancing the aspects about the war with a family story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Grief, and War
Minor: Incest
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