Last year I found an old book report with watercolor paintings I made after reading this book in high school, but I didn't remember much about it so when I saw it for sale I picked it up for a reread.

An excellent book that is sad but not too upsetting. There is a lot of talk about suicide, family, and culture. The book takes place in Japan and the story is very much embedded in that setting. I love the writing and the way memory blends with the present to create a rich and vivid picture of the protagonists grief and emotions. ( )

A low key, yet enjoyable book which reflects what I believe to be Japanese culture--that is: respect for elders and ancestors, always considering how your actions reflect on your family. We also learn about differences between Japanese society and American, e.g. that children are assigned to the father after a divorce, and the mother loses contact, that employers will consider family problems at home as a reflection of an employee's ability to do their job at work.
As a bright and energetic young child, Yuki received a lot of love, teachings, and positive affirmations from mother. Now teenaged Yuki resents her new stepmother because she feels her father's relationship with that woman contributed to her mother's suicide. Yuki has a lot of inner strength to be able to follow her inner truth despite the lack of support she receives.
Includes description of Japan's geography, so we can understand the distances between different places in the story, and a well-explained glossary of Japanese words use. ( )

I'm marking this a "really liked it" as I think it will stay with me for quite a while. I had to put it down a few times as the subject matter got a bit heavy.

Yuki Okuda is a bright, artistic and athletic 12 year old girl. Her mother, Shizuko, spend much time together drawing, painting, reading, enjoying the beauty of Nature and music. Yuki's father spends most of his time away from home working or otherwise busy. This world comes to an abrupt end when Yuki comes home from piano lessons to find her mother dead on the kitchen floor. Shizuko has committed suicide and left Yuki a note about it.

From this point on, the book tells of Yuki's dealing with this shattering of her life. She withdraws and becomes blunt to the point of rudeness with people. Her father continues to be distant and adds to it by taking a new wife only a year after Shizuko's death. The relationship between the new wife and Yuki never gets off the ground. Added to that is Yuki is no longer alloowed to spend time with her maternal grandparents, because it would be awkward with the new wife.

Yuki finds it hard to understand why her mother would leave her like she did. The stigma of suicide, a stepmother who can only criticize Yuki and who promptly disposes of anything related to Yuki's mother by storing it in the attic or throwing it away, the lack of contact with the only grandparents and aunts and uncles she has known is a lot for a child to work through.

The chapters were written at various times, so each is like a short story yet they tie together well. Starting at twelve years old and working on through college age, the book give an interesting look at Japanese culture and behaviour in this type of situation. A culture who is centered on not behaving in any that would give scandal or gossip for people to talk about, and the secrets that are concealed behind that façade.

Though it is a young adult book, it can easily be read by adults, both groups getting a goodread from it. ( )

Old Children's Book. Liked it as a kid, but haven't read it in years. ( )

For a YA novel I really enjoyed the story. I read this book for a reading challenge. It is a great book for young girls to read about being strong when things seem to go wrong around you. It is a story of growth. ( )