Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (children in peril, animal attack).
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Stuck inside at recess, 5th grader Kazu and his friends are trying to find their streets on an ancient map, and Kazu discovers his street name has changed. It used to be called Kimyo Temple Alley. Temple? He didn't know there used to be a Temple on his street! And Kimyo means "back from the dead" But when he starts asking some of the older community members about it, they seem to ask him more questions than they answer. Now, there's a new girl living in a house near his, a girl he saw come out of his own house in the middle of the night. Could she be a ghost "back from the dead?" A series of emails with his uncle confirms that there is a connection between his house/family and this Kimyo Temple, but Kazu soon finds out the truth is hard to discover, and lives may be at stake.
What a terrific ghost story! Not scary or creepy all, but mysterious and exciting. Kazu is a feisty kid, not afraid to tell off an adult when he feels he can get away with it. There's a story within the story, a fairy tale of sorts that was also really good. I struggled a bit initially engaging with the cultural references, as I have limited knowledge of Japanese customs, but the story pulled together quickly and I found myself immersed. Sachiko Kashiwaba is a renowned children's author in Japan, I'm so happy to see "Temple Alley Summer" translated and available for US readers, too.
Lisa Librarian
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