Himawari House

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Himawari House

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$11.99

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$11.99

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Overview

Winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Fiction Literature
Winner of the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature
Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

A heartwarming young adult graphic novel about three foreign exchange students and the pleasures, and difficulties, of adjusting to living in Japan.

Living in a new country is no walk in the park—Nao, Hyejung, and Tina can all attest to that. The three of them became fast friends through living together in the Himawari House in Tokyo and attending the same Japanese cram school. Nao came to Japan to reconnect with her Japanese heritage, while Hyejung and Tina came to find freedom and their own paths. Though each of them has her own motivations and challenges, they all deal with language barriers, being a fish out of water, self discovery, love, and family.

Product Details
About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250861054
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	11/09/2021
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
File size:	210 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Harmony Becker was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the illustrator of George Takei's graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy. Himawari House is her original, solo graphic novel debut. She currently lives in Mexico City.
Harmony Becker was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the illustrator of George Takei's graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy. She currently lives in Mexico City.

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Editorial Reviews

Winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Fiction Literature
Winner of the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature
Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
A Junior Library Guild selection
"There is humor and charm in the intersection of languages and understandings. Harmony Becker's story resonates with humanity and deep wisdom. Himawari House is a tantalizing peek into the future of our global society." — George Takei, author of New York Times-bestseller They Called Us Enemy
"Becker’s art is intricate and rich at times, quick and playful at others. The story will tug at your heartstrings and make you laugh. All told, “Himawari House” will comfort young readers who are imagining their lives ahead and trigger nostalgic joy in older readers looking back." —New York Times
"This emotionally and culturally rich YA story that puts the author's range of talents on full display...adventures rendered with a masterful hand and an impressive ear for dialogue." —Washington Post
"This work exemplifies what the graphic novel format can achieve. An unforgettable story of personal growth in an exquisitely rendered setting." —Kirkus, starred review
"This lighthearted yet serious-minded journey of discovery will delight, educate, and challenge teens interested in language and cultural exploration." —School Library Journal, starred review
"[Becker] makes her stupendous solo debut in what will prove to one of the best graphic titles of the year....Audiences can expect absolute delight." —Booklist, starred review
"...An immersive graphic novel that explores cross-cultural identity and the power of language to separate and to unite." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
"In this stunningly layered graphic novel debut, Becker crafts a warmly actualized world in which the multiplicities of diasporic Asian identity are examined and held close." —Publisher's Weekly, starred review
"Both hilarious and tender situations abound as this insightful graphic novel explores, among other topics, how language can either separate or bring people together." —Horn Book, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 2021-07-13
A shared house in Tokyo brings five young people together.
After moving to the U.S. as a child with her Japanese mother and White American father, Nao has returned to Japan for a gap year before college to explore the language and cultural heritage that she deliberately shed—at great emotional cost—in an effort to assimilate. She moves into Himawari House, which she shares with Korean Hyejung and Chinese Singaporean Tina, girls who are attending the same Japanese language institute as Nao. Also resident are two Japanese brothers, outgoing, friendly Shinichi and taciturn, broodingly handsome Masaki. Blending English, Japanese, Korean, and Singlish, the group bonds over meals, excursions, K-dramas, and never-ending conversations about life, love, and family. Becker perfectly captures the heady roller coaster of feelings that accompanies cross-cultural immersion, with ordinary activities serving as barometers of successful adaptation in a new country. The personal stakes of each encounter with Japanese life are even higher for Nao, throwing into relief her internal struggles over her identity. Nao is the focal point, but Hyejung and Tina are well developed, with complex, heartstring-tugging backstories. Most of the text is bilingual, but the occasional use of Japanese or Korean alone effectively mirrors the dislocation of language learners. The predominantly photorealistic art is enhanced with a range of stylized techniques that masterfully communicate emotion. Altogether, this work exemplifies what the graphic novel format can achieve.
An unforgettable story of personal growth in an exquisitely rendered setting. (note on accents) (Graphic fiction. 13-adult)

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