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A review by justagirlwithabook
Ink and Ashes by Valynne E. Maetani
challenging
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I want to preface my review by saying that I’m giving this one an arbitrary 5-star and do so from the perspective of an adult reading a YA book; I tend to rate YA a little more generously in knowing that my wheelhouse will always be adult, so I try my best to rate fairly and based off its merits and appeal to YA readers.
That said, I think it entirely deserves all the praise it has received and I’m honestly surprised I haven’t seen this book and author circulating more in the bookstagram world, because they should be!
Ink and Ashes is told from the perspective of Claire Takata, a smart, athletic, 17-year-old Japanese American. The Takata family consists of her mom, step-dad, and protective brothers. Her father died under questionable circumstances when she was younger, and as a few pieces of information come to light (mostly from Claire’s curiosity and ability to investigate without quite getting caught), things start getting a bit dangerous: it’s discovered that her dad was once a part of the yakuza, a Japanese organized crime syndicate, in his early years, but it seems that not all of it has been left in the past and laid to rest.
This was a fast-paced, mystery/thriller that I just couldn’t put down. As Maetani mentions in her authors note about learning more about her own Japanese heritage through the process of writing this book, I too really enjoyed learning a bit more as well and appreciating the culture and diversity that was shared through this story.
Ink and Ashes is written by Yalynne E. Maetani, a fourth-generation Japanese American (yonsei), and her experiences as someone whose family immigrated to the US in the early 1900s had a great impact on the way she chose to tell this story. Her author’s note was really meaningful, sharing how this writing experience allowed her to learn more about her own heritage and the purpose behind many things her family has always done. She wrote this story with her characters having a partial understanding of this, just as she did growing up, because she’s sure there are plenty other children and teens that are out there just like her.
I so appreciate the thought and consideration that went into sharing this story. It was a really well-done debut, and I can’t wait to see what will come next from Maetani.
That said, I think it entirely deserves all the praise it has received and I’m honestly surprised I haven’t seen this book and author circulating more in the bookstagram world, because they should be!
Ink and Ashes is told from the perspective of Claire Takata, a smart, athletic, 17-year-old Japanese American. The Takata family consists of her mom, step-dad, and protective brothers. Her father died under questionable circumstances when she was younger, and as a few pieces of information come to light (mostly from Claire’s curiosity and ability to investigate without quite getting caught), things start getting a bit dangerous: it’s discovered that her dad was once a part of the yakuza, a Japanese organized crime syndicate, in his early years, but it seems that not all of it has been left in the past and laid to rest.
This was a fast-paced, mystery/thriller that I just couldn’t put down. As Maetani mentions in her authors note about learning more about her own Japanese heritage through the process of writing this book, I too really enjoyed learning a bit more as well and appreciating the culture and diversity that was shared through this story.
Ink and Ashes is written by Yalynne E. Maetani, a fourth-generation Japanese American (yonsei), and her experiences as someone whose family immigrated to the US in the early 1900s had a great impact on the way she chose to tell this story. Her author’s note was really meaningful, sharing how this writing experience allowed her to learn more about her own heritage and the purpose behind many things her family has always done. She wrote this story with her characters having a partial understanding of this, just as she did growing up, because she’s sure there are plenty other children and teens that are out there just like her.
I so appreciate the thought and consideration that went into sharing this story. It was a really well-done debut, and I can’t wait to see what will come next from Maetani.