All the Ways Home

May 17, 2019

Gr 4-7-When Kaede's world is thrown upside down by a car crash that killed his mother, he has no idea how to cope with the loss. After making several bad choices that could have gotten him into serious trouble, he is faced with a summer assignment to define what home means to him in order to avoid repeating seventh grade. He isn't sure if he fits with his friends in Vancouver, B.C., any longer, and living with his grandfather doesn't feel right either. Kaede ventures to Tokyo, a city that was his home until his parents split when he was three, in hopes of reconnecting with his estranged father. To his disappointment, Kaede's much older half-brother is the one waiting for him. As the summer progresses without any word from their father, Kaede isn't sure he will ever understand the meaning of home. Chapman weaves a tale of a boy who is broken and lost, trying to redefine who he is in what is left of his family. Scenic descriptions are vivid and unique, and blend with frequent Japanese terms throughout to take the reader on a virtual experience of Tokyo's sights, sounds, and culture. Kaede's brother Shoma is a star of the story as a calm and stable force for the protagonist, whether he trusts him or not. VERDICT A heartbreaking yet vibrant journey through Japan that would make a great summer read. Offer to strong and adventurous readers.-Erica Deb, Matawan Aberdeen Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2019
Grades 4-7 Grief stricken following the death of his mother, 12-year-old Vancouverite Kaede Hirano makes some poor decisions (setting fire to a house and bashing his best friend's face) that result in his being sent to Japan to reconnect with his estranged father. Dad is a no-show, however, leaving Kaede's older half brother, Shoma, to shoulder the family responsibility. Kaede is drawn to this cool older sibling, even as he fears rejection if he dares to trust him. Additionally, Kaede has a school assignment, "What Home Means," which drives his keen observations of his geographic and cultural experiences. Journal entries addressed to his mother, father, and former best friend reveal much of the back story and help Kaede to eventually accept that his father is incapable of a relationship. Chinese Canadian Chapman writes convincingly about both Vancouver and Japan (where she now resides), and her lyrical text successfully addresses loss, family, and cultural identity. Although there's more navel-gazing here than in typical middle-grade fare, the homage to Japan and Japanese culture makes up for it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)