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A review by jecoats
Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba
5.0
I discovered this wonderful title while searching the ala.org website for books that have won the Mildred L. Batchelder Award (which is awarded to “the most outstanding of those books originating in a country other than the United States and in a language other than English and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States”). I checked out a hardcover copy from my local branch of the Chicago Public Library.
The story begins when our protagonist, Kazu, witnesses the “ghost” of a young girl emerge from his house one rainy night. After overcoming his own fear of the supernatural (he is a self-described “scaredy cat”) and anxiety (he fears he may be losing his mind), Kazu learns that his house - and the street he lives on - may have once been known as Kimyō Temple Alley. And the word Kimyō just so happens to mean “return-to-life”. Although unsure if he even believes the legends surrounding Kimyō Temple Alley, Kazu dedicates himself to helping out the ghost, Akari, in any way he can. Unfortunately, that’s about the synopsis I can offer as there is a bit of mystery and intrigue in the book as well. Is Akari really a ghost? Why are elders from Kazu’s village suddenly interested in speaking to the young boy? And what’s the deal with the black cat that follows Kazu everywhere he goes? All these questions and more await discovery in this delightfully entertaining tale.
If it isn’t clear from my summary, I absolutely loved this book. It’s a quirky supernatural tale about friendship that also touches on topics like religion, superstition, and belonging. While the characters are not as round and fleshed out as I would have liked, they are by no means flat or static. However, the changes they go through seem a bit rushed and even feel forced at times. However, author Sachiko Kashiwaba’s storytelling and world building more than make up for that minor gripe. Kashiwaba has developed a world that feels real to the reader, and the lore surrounding Kimyō Temple Alley helps draw the reader into the lives of the characters. Brilliantly included in the story of Kazu and Akari is another tale that runs parallel theirs in several ways. It’s certainly unlike anything I have ever read as the story within a story takes up about a third of the book and is spaced out over two distinct sections. But the secondary story, which is a fairytale-like narrative, is wonderfully constructed. In fact, I enjoyed the story within a story a bit more than the main story line!
One of the strongest aspects of Temple Alley Summer is how Kashiwaba explains various cultural elements to the reader so it might be more comprehensible for young American readers. For instance, on page 72, Kazu’s mother briefly explains to him that a ceremony called Oban is “the celebration of the ancestors.” This line is clearly meant for an audience born outside of Japan as Oban has been part of Japanese Buddhist culture for over 500 years. However, the simplicity of the line helps American readers understand what the characters are discussing while not interrupting the narrative flow. As chapter 5 in Children's Books in Children’s Hands states, “...[references] to [things] unknown to young children…may feel like too much new information at one time, but the introduction to new concepts through a quality picturebook can be a welcome introduction to things newly encountered” (p. 124). By including lines like the one about Oban, young readers will not feel overwhelmed by new information they read in international literature and will instead be able to comprehend new ideas or concepts.
This book would be an excellent exemplar text for teaching the traditional plot structure (Children’s Books in Children’s Hands, p. 34). Temple Alley Summer contains not one, but two distinct story lines, and each one follows the plot structure very well. One could even just focus on the shorter fairytale within the text to demonstrate to students how a plot unfolds in a narrative. As stated above, Kashiwaba’s narrative style is a wonder to read, and I think this is due to the fact his parallel narratives so closely adhere to the rules and structure of the traditional plot.
Although Temple Alley Summer does not tackle issues of social justice and inclusion, I think using the story in the classroom would help communicate to students the importance and value of other cultures. The book can act as a kind of “window” into religious and cultural practices that are unfamiliar to most American students. Temple Alley Summer even helps normalize spiritual practices and what might be judged as superstition by presenting these elements as perfectly normal and accepted by the characters. Said another way, the book may help destigmatize the non-Western religious and spiritual beliefs it depicts. Similarly, the book could act as a “mirror” of sorts for students that are Japanese, and even for students that practice Buddhism or celebrate Oban. While this story might not capture their culture or beliefs perfectly, it does offer those students a chance to connect with a book that features characters that have a similar heritage to their own.
The story begins when our protagonist, Kazu, witnesses the “ghost” of a young girl emerge from his house one rainy night. After overcoming his own fear of the supernatural (he is a self-described “scaredy cat”) and anxiety (he fears he may be losing his mind), Kazu learns that his house - and the street he lives on - may have once been known as Kimyō Temple Alley. And the word Kimyō just so happens to mean “return-to-life”. Although unsure if he even believes the legends surrounding Kimyō Temple Alley, Kazu dedicates himself to helping out the ghost, Akari, in any way he can. Unfortunately, that’s about the synopsis I can offer as there is a bit of mystery and intrigue in the book as well. Is Akari really a ghost? Why are elders from Kazu’s village suddenly interested in speaking to the young boy? And what’s the deal with the black cat that follows Kazu everywhere he goes? All these questions and more await discovery in this delightfully entertaining tale.
If it isn’t clear from my summary, I absolutely loved this book. It’s a quirky supernatural tale about friendship that also touches on topics like religion, superstition, and belonging. While the characters are not as round and fleshed out as I would have liked, they are by no means flat or static. However, the changes they go through seem a bit rushed and even feel forced at times. However, author Sachiko Kashiwaba’s storytelling and world building more than make up for that minor gripe. Kashiwaba has developed a world that feels real to the reader, and the lore surrounding Kimyō Temple Alley helps draw the reader into the lives of the characters. Brilliantly included in the story of Kazu and Akari is another tale that runs parallel theirs in several ways. It’s certainly unlike anything I have ever read as the story within a story takes up about a third of the book and is spaced out over two distinct sections. But the secondary story, which is a fairytale-like narrative, is wonderfully constructed. In fact, I enjoyed the story within a story a bit more than the main story line!
One of the strongest aspects of Temple Alley Summer is how Kashiwaba explains various cultural elements to the reader so it might be more comprehensible for young American readers. For instance, on page 72, Kazu’s mother briefly explains to him that a ceremony called Oban is “the celebration of the ancestors.” This line is clearly meant for an audience born outside of Japan as Oban has been part of Japanese Buddhist culture for over 500 years. However, the simplicity of the line helps American readers understand what the characters are discussing while not interrupting the narrative flow. As chapter 5 in Children's Books in Children’s Hands states, “...[references] to [things] unknown to young children…may feel like too much new information at one time, but the introduction to new concepts through a quality picturebook can be a welcome introduction to things newly encountered” (p. 124). By including lines like the one about Oban, young readers will not feel overwhelmed by new information they read in international literature and will instead be able to comprehend new ideas or concepts.
This book would be an excellent exemplar text for teaching the traditional plot structure (Children’s Books in Children’s Hands, p. 34). Temple Alley Summer contains not one, but two distinct story lines, and each one follows the plot structure very well. One could even just focus on the shorter fairytale within the text to demonstrate to students how a plot unfolds in a narrative. As stated above, Kashiwaba’s narrative style is a wonder to read, and I think this is due to the fact his parallel narratives so closely adhere to the rules and structure of the traditional plot.
Although Temple Alley Summer does not tackle issues of social justice and inclusion, I think using the story in the classroom would help communicate to students the importance and value of other cultures. The book can act as a kind of “window” into religious and cultural practices that are unfamiliar to most American students. Temple Alley Summer even helps normalize spiritual practices and what might be judged as superstition by presenting these elements as perfectly normal and accepted by the characters. Said another way, the book may help destigmatize the non-Western religious and spiritual beliefs it depicts. Similarly, the book could act as a “mirror” of sorts for students that are Japanese, and even for students that practice Buddhism or celebrate Oban. While this story might not capture their culture or beliefs perfectly, it does offer those students a chance to connect with a book that features characters that have a similar heritage to their own.