Tomo

February 15, 2012
A big but consistently engaging pro bono anthology of authors with direct or indirect Japanese "heritage or experience." The 36 tales (all but six of which are new) were gathered as contributions to the relief effort for victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. They feature Japanese--or, frequently, haafu, half-Japanese--teenagers engaged in the business of growing up. Two stories are set in the past: a Pearl Harbor episode from Graham Salisbury and Mariko Nagai's probing free-verse view of the prejudice and internment faced by Japanese Americans shortly thereafter. Otherwise nearly all of the stories have contemporary settings. Only one story refers directly to the 2011 disaster; in the rest, situations and experiences blend familiar tropes with some that may be new to U.S. audiences. Some concern making or missing friends and coping with bullies or demanding parents. Others find their characters reading absorbing cellphone mini-novels on a long commute to school or finding common ground through dance and kendo as well as baseball. Fantasy also makes a strong showing in tales of dragons and eerie samurai dolls, a supernatural Lost Property Office, a magic toaster that predicts the manner of one's death and more. The closing capsule bios will be particularly helpful to young readers on this side of the Pacific. A broadly appealing mix of the tragic and droll, comforting, disturbing, exotic and universal, with nary a clinker in the bunch. (glossary) (Short stories. 11-13)

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2012

Gr 7 Up-The title of this anthology, meaning "friend" in Japanese, is apt. The collection was conceived to benefit young people in the areas affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and, in turn, the stories encourage an awareness and appreciation of Japanese culture among English-speaking teens. As with most anthologies, the quality of the selections varies, but the eclectic mix of genres ensures that there is something for most readers. Stories range from contemporary to historical to fantasy and horror, providing a well-rounded glimpse into Japanese culture. Two particularly engaging stories are told in graphic-novel format, and another tale gracefully unfolds in choka, a type of traditional verse. Most stories do not reference the 2011 disaster, but several address other hardships such as war or internment. Some are lighthearted. The one thing they have in common is that they are set in Japan or are about people of Japanese descent, often bicultural, and all feature elements that are uniquely Japanese. Most stories require some degree of familiarity with the country. Cultural references go largely unexplained, and Japanophiles will appreciate casual mentions of things that are common knowledge, like the Yamanote line, idol singers, and Ghibli. However, there is a sense of universality, too. The youth in these stories have the same hopes and concerns shared by teens all over the world. They play baseball, have crushes, and get bullied. A solid addition to any YA fiction collection, especially where anime and manga circulate well.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2012
Grades 7-10 Published to help support young people victimized by the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, this anthology includes 36 stories that relate to Japan in some way. Told in prose, verse, and graphic narrative, the selections feature ghosts, superheroes, earthquakes, ordinary students, aspiring pop singers, and unusual gadgets, such as a toaster that predicts a person's way of death with uncanny accuracy. Organized by such broad themes as Friends and Enemies, Talents and Curses, and Powers and Feats, the stories have been written and illustrated by an international group of artists and writers who share a connection to Japan by heritage or experience. Back matter includes a glossary of Japanese words and phrases and brief information about the contributors. With slices of Japanese language, folklore, history, popular culture, and other ethnic references, Tomo, which means friend in Japanese, offers a unique and wide-ranging taste of Japanese life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)