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A review by quinnster
Shizuko's Daughter by Kyoko Mori
4.0
I read a book years and years ago about a woman who had a contentious relationship with her father after her mother died young. She was not allowed to see her mother's family anymore and he father remarried right away. As soon as she was able she moved out of Japan and away from her father and stepmother. This was the YA book of that except that it was through the eyes of the child as she's going through it and it was just really sad.
The one thing I don't enjoy about Japanese culture is the idea that it is disrespectful to anyone that a child should want to see her grandparents or aunts and uncles of their deceased parent. I understand why, I just couldn't imagine not having a relationship with half my family. Especially for Yuki, who had no other family. Her stepmother was a monster, no two ways around it and her father was not any better.
Thankfully, the book ended on a hopeful note and we do see Yuki let go of the material reminders of her mother so her father and stepmother couldn't hurt her with them, but the book left me feeling melancholy, though grateful for my parents and family.
The one thing I don't enjoy about Japanese culture is the idea that it is disrespectful to anyone that a child should want to see her grandparents or aunts and uncles of their deceased parent. I understand why, I just couldn't imagine not having a relationship with half my family. Especially for Yuki, who had no other family. Her stepmother was a monster, no two ways around it and her father was not any better.
Thankfully, the book ended on a hopeful note and we do see Yuki let go of the material reminders of her mother so her father and stepmother couldn't hurt her with them, but the book left me feeling melancholy, though grateful for my parents and family.