Summary: Rin was a war orphan living in a poor town in Nikan (based on China) when she aced the Keju, the test to find the most talented children across the country to study at the academies. She goes to Sinegard, the most elite school in all of Nikan. There, she is hated by her classmates for her poverty and dark skin. But then she discovers that she has powers that may be able to stop Nikan’s enemy, the Federation of Mugen (based on Japan). Her powers may be the only thing that can save her people, but she fears that she might lose herself in the process.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami is a complex contemporary novel with elements of mystery and magical realism. The story follows a young man named Toru Okada who, at the beginning of the novel, is told by his wife to look for their missing cat. His journey takes him from the suburbs of Tokyo to a supposedly haunted house to the bottom of a well to a strange dream world that somehow affects reality. In the process of looking for their lost cat, he loses his wife as well.
Yotsuba is about a small girl named, well, Yotsuba! In this book follow her as she comprehends criticism about her art, swears revenge after watching a gangster movie, and goes to buy cake! From the creator of Azumanga Daioh, Kiyohiko has done amazing work on this book.
Tsukimi Kurashita is a young girl living in Tokyo, Japan. Ever since she was little, she’s had a fascination with jellyfish. She lives in an apartment called Amamizukan, a haven for girls with strange interests. But one day, she runs into a “stylish” or at least that’s what everyone in Amamizukan calls them. But little does she know that there may be more to this woman than she thinks. . .
Elle Zoellner is a foster kid who, on her 16th birthday, finds out her father owns a hotel in Japan. Her father wants her to come live with him. When she arrives to Japan, she excited for her new life but finds out it doesn't live up to what it's supposed to. Her grandmother doesn’t accept her. Will Elle's life become better? This book was a 10 out of 10 in my opinion. I got to learn about Japanese culture through this novel. The author definitely put detail and thought throughout the whole book. I would recommend this novel to people who love the Japanese culture.
The main character, Waka, is a straight-A student from Kansas who is sent to Tokyo for five months to focus on her Kanji, when her parents suspect she can’t read nor write basic Japanese. She is forced to live with her strict grandmother, and has to say goodbye to her friends for the summer. While she’s in Japan, Waka gets made fun of by her classmates and struggles to make true friends.
