Somewhere Among

During her mother's difficult pregnancy, Ema andher parents move in with her Japanese grandparents. Usually, in August, Ema andher white, American mother visit Nana and Grandpa Bob in California. But Mom'spregnant and weak, so they move in with Papa's parents on the other side ofTokyo. A new neighborhood's hard, especially for a biracial kid who's called"foreigner" by strangers but identifies as Japanese. Ema describesher life and cares in thoughtful, quietly detailed free-verse poems. Sheworries about the baby ("Other babies have almost come but werelost"), the judgment of her domineering Obaasan (grandmother), and thefrailty of sweet Jiichan (grandfather); she misses Papa, who's almost always atwork. Carefully, she refrains from burdening anyone with her concerns. Wovenright into this family's heart are events past and present, local andfar-flung. One is Jiichan's boyhood trauma during World War II, "in thehills / watching / outside Nagasaki, "and how that bombing means thatJiichan's ancestors have nothing like a grave: "There is nothing / nothing / left of Jiichan's family." Another is the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which they watch unfold from Japan and which threaten her fragile mother'speace of mind. An occasional one-sentence poem, starkly alone on a page, strikes hard. Ema's profound choice of her baby sister's name brilliantlytouches all the themes, including peace. A tender piece about connectedness. (Verse historical fiction. 9-12)

a well-crafted, deeply absorbing novel.

Ema's life is in flux: her pregnant mother needs rest, so they've left Ema's father in Tokyo while they stay with her grandparents, Obaasan and Jiichan, in the country. Ema misses her home and friends, as well as visiting her maternal grandparents in California in the summer. Meanwhile, her American mother clashes with Obaasan frequently; Ema has trouble getting to know her stern grandmother, too, though she connects with kindhearted Jiichan. As fifth grade begins, sensitive Ema has difficulties at school, including a bully, but her main concern is the health of her mother's baby. Debut novelist Donwerth-Chikamatsu makes good use of the verse novel format to emphasize that "binational/ bicultural/ bilingual/ biracial" Ema is still learning English while revealing an intimate portrait of her daily struggles in an unfamiliar place. The novel is set over the course of several months in 2001, and while the 9/11 connection feels a bit tenuous, it provides a moving outside perspective on the tragedy and helps shape a universal message of "peace among nations/ peace among peoples/ peace in the heart." Ages 9-12. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Apr.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 4-7--Ema's mom is expecting a new baby, and the pregnancy has been a tricky one, so her parents decide that she and her mother will stay in Japan with her paternal grandparents until the baby arrives. Complicating matters is the fact that her grandparents are very traditional and strict, which makes the biracial tween feel like even more of an outsider. She cannot keep herself from missing her old life of spending summers with her American maternal grandparents or relaxing with her father after work. To make matters worse, it seems she can never make her Japanese grandmother happy. Then tragedy after tragedy strike--all set against the backdrop of September 11, 2001. Everything starts to fall apart. After receiving a small gift during a chance meeting on a train, Ema realizes that she must do her best to remain positive and endure. Written as a first-person novel in free verse poetry, this is an engaging, quick read. Readers will relate to Ema's struggles to grow up and understand how different people react to grief and conflict. Those unfamiliar with Japanese culture will get a glimpse into how other students grow up. Though the topic is heavy, Donwerth-Chikamatsu's writing style will keep even reluctant readers wanting to know more about Ema's life long after the novel's end. This debut is sure to get young students thinking about global connections and how remaining positive through adversity in their own lives may make things a little better. VERDICT An absorbing and affecting story featuring a biracial middle grade protagonist.--DeHanza Kwong, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.