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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Himawari House was a delight from start to finish. I’m not Japanese, but I found myself relating to Nao’s experience of navigating between two identities. The accented English was such an excellent choice! It reminded me of my childhood, and the many voices of broken English.
I really enjoyed this book which tells the story of several students who live in Himawari House in Japan while they study Japanese, at least while three of them study. Of the five residents, two are Japanese and good friends. The other three are exchange students, one from South Korea, one from Singapore, and one from the United States. I will not, however, add this to my classroom library because this is a YA or NA novel not middle grade.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
What a heartwarming graphic novel. Shoutout to my friend Moira for recommending this one! The art is friendly and welcoming, and I loved the way that Harmony Becker weaved different languages and cultures together between our three leads: Nao, born in Japan but grew up as an American; Tina, a bubbly Singaporean studying in Japan; and Hyejung, a Korean art student. They also have two other housemates, Japanese brothers named Masaki (shy, anxious about the language barriers) and Shinsan (more extroverted). As I said, I enjoyed the art style though I would sometimes get confused and backtrack when a flashback scene started happening.
It deals with Nao's struggles of identity, portraying a sort of Asian diaspora brilliantly with all of the characters who never feel like they fit in, especially when trying to learn Japanese and deal with Japanese locals resentment of "gajins". It's a complicated issue, especially today with Japan experiencing the highest amount of tourism it ever has. I have an interest in East Asian culture (though hopefully not in the cringe weeb American way that Nao laments in the book). And I watch a lot of Japan-based YouTubers; many of their own experiences living abroad align with Nao and her Himawari House roommates. The theme of isolation rings true, but you feel so happy for these characters that can find solace in each other, creating a sense of home within Japan despite the clear divisions that they're culturally experiencing.
It deals with Nao's struggles of identity, portraying a sort of Asian diaspora brilliantly with all of the characters who never feel like they fit in, especially when trying to learn Japanese and deal with Japanese locals resentment of "gajins". It's a complicated issue, especially today with Japan experiencing the highest amount of tourism it ever has. I have an interest in East Asian culture (though hopefully not in the cringe weeb American way that Nao laments in the book). And I watch a lot of Japan-based YouTubers; many of their own experiences living abroad align with Nao and her Himawari House roommates. The theme of isolation rings true, but you feel so happy for these characters that can find solace in each other, creating a sense of home within Japan despite the clear divisions that they're culturally experiencing.
Waaaaiiiiit I loved this
Everyone had so much depth and heart. I read it in one (long) sitting and I'm genuinely sad it's over
Everyone had so much depth and heart. I read it in one (long) sitting and I'm genuinely sad it's over
my chronic inability to read the blurb of books before checking them out coming in clutch ~~~
i was pleasantly surprised by this one! it was a beautiful exploration of exchange students learning japanese and navigating their way through life in a country who's language they are not fluent in. i related a lot to the main character, who felt not close enough to her culture because she didn't grow up in japan and couldn't speak the language as well as everyone else.
i was just rooting for all of the characters and wanted the best for each of them :,).
also, love the feeling of found family in the book. they all found each other and needed the support of other people who understood what they were going through (and vice versa! a character who can't speak English as well and is embarrassed to speak with all the roommates) and having the support system of those around them.
really wish the story went on a bit more, or at least tells us what happens after nao leaves japan. i was finally starting to like her love interest ahahah.
i was pleasantly surprised by this one! it was a beautiful exploration of exchange students learning japanese and navigating their way through life in a country who's language they are not fluent in. i related a lot to the main character, who felt not close enough to her culture because she didn't grow up in japan and couldn't speak the language as well as everyone else.
i was just rooting for all of the characters and wanted the best for each of them :,).
also, love the feeling of found family in the book. they all found each other and needed the support of other people who understood what they were going through (and vice versa! a character who can't speak English as well and is embarrassed to speak with all the roommates) and having the support system of those around them.
really wish the story went on a bit more, or at least tells us what happens after nao leaves japan. i was finally starting to like her love interest ahahah.
I made this last as long as I could because I wanted to live in Himawari House for the rest of my life. I need 10000+ more pages, plz. What a *feeling* Becker creates in these four walls/on this giant island/in this potential life. I loved the illustrations (the blushing! the *kill me* frames, the sweat/anxiety and how it was portrayed, the gentle moments, the FOOD!), I loved the insight into each main character's family life before the house (honestly, I feel like readers could benefit from a bit more backstory for Nao, Tina, and Hyejung, but...that's probably more of my desire to just get more out of this story!) and I loved Becker's approach to characters with accents.
What a beautiful story. Loved it. Hell yeah.
What a beautiful story. Loved it. Hell yeah.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read this book slowly. Take in each panel, each word, each moment. The story is good, but it's great when you, the reader, live it with them. I made the mistake of reading everything too quickly, and I missed out on feeling half of the emotion. Himwari House is about the bonds forged on words, despite how "broken" they may seem and the cultural cues that hold them back. It is only fitting to carefully and thoughtfully listen like the characters in the book as they speak through their five languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Singlish, and body.
Something I admire about this book is the design. I like how it's drawn like a Japanese manga but the book still reads left to right like an American book. This reflects the Japanese-American heritage of the main character and demonstrates that both identities can exist in one entity.
I also appreciate the combination of languages used within each conversation. When Japanese is spoken, most of the time the English is written directly below it so readers can understand what is being said. It also visualized what bilingual think when translating their second language into their first language mentally. Plus, whenever a language was spoken/written without the English was spoken, the reader got to experience what it was like to be in that moment with the character who couldn't understand that language. While it holds the downside of enticing readers to disengage from the book and translate it (either mentally or with a translator app), the conversational design creates an authentic moment and learning experience.
Something I admire about this book is the design. I like how it's drawn like a Japanese manga but the book still reads left to right like an American book. This reflects the Japanese-American heritage of the main character and demonstrates that both identities can exist in one entity.
I also appreciate the combination of languages used within each conversation. When Japanese is spoken, most of the time the English is written directly below it so readers can understand what is being said. It also visualized what bilingual think when translating their second language into their first language mentally. Plus, whenever a language was spoken/written without the English was spoken, the reader got to experience what it was like to be in that moment with the character who couldn't understand that language. While it holds the downside of enticing readers to disengage from the book and translate it (either mentally or with a translator app), the conversational design creates an authentic moment and learning experience.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- Illustrations are penciled, inked, and toned in Clip Studio Paint
multicultural, and engaging, ive never had so much fun with reading and understanding another book containing 3 languages