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ABOUT THE BOOK

Kazu knows something odd is going on when he sees a girl in a white kimono sneak out of his house in the middle of the night—was he dreaming? Did he see a ghost? Things get even stranger when he shows up to school the next day to see the very same figure sitting in his classroom. No one else thinks it’s weird, and, even though Kazu doesn’t remember ever seeing her before, they all seem convinced that the ghost-girl Akari has been their friend for years! 

When Kazu’s summer project to learn about Kimyo Temple draws the meddling attention of his mysterious neighbor Ms. Minakami and his secretive new classmate Akari, Kazu soon learns that not everything is as it seems in his hometown. Kazu discovers that Kimyo Temple is linked to a long forgotten legend about bringing the dead to life, which could explain Akari’s sudden appearance—is she a zombie or a ghost? Kazu and Akari join forces to find and protect the source of the temple's power. An unfinished story in a magazine from Akari’s youth might just hold the key to keeping Akari in the world of the living, and it’s up to them to find the story’s ending and solve the mystery as the adults around them conspire to stop them from finding the truth.

VIEW THE ILLUSTRATIONS

Praise for Temple Alley Summer

“A sweet ghost story, a mystery, an eerie and unsettling story-within-a-story: Finally, the work of the great Sachiko Kashiwaba, one of Japan’s most revered children’s authors, is available in English translation! I’m so pleased that young people who read in English can now enjoy Kashiwaba's Temple Alley Summer, and experience the pleasure and wonder of viewing the world from a less familiar angle.”

—Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestselling author

“This imaginative tale, enchantingly written and charmingly illustrated by veteran Japanese creators for young people, has a timeless feel. Its captivating blend of humor and mystery is undergirded with real substance that will provoke deeper contemplation. Udagawa’s translation naturally and seamlessly renders the text completely accessible to non-Japanese readers. An instant classic filled with supernatural intrigue and real-world friendship.”

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review, Best Middle Grade Fiction of 2021

“When an author and an illustrator with ties to books adapted into renowned Studio Ghibli masterpieces such as Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away join forces on a middle-grade fantasy adventure, you can count on it being something truly special. . . . Heartwarming with a supernatural touch, this beautifully captures the magic of childhood.”

—Kristina Pino, Booklist, Starred Review

 “A fantastic story by an excellent (and important) writer, translated by a great translator . . . Quite a page turner.”

—Alison Fincher, Read Japanese Literature

“A humorous yet thoughtful mystery chock-full of the fantastical, this is a must-read for young fans of Studio Ghibli—an especially warranted comparison, as another book by Kashiwaba served as inspiration for Spirited Away. Lovingly translated into English from the original 2011 text, this version is completely accessible to an English-language audience while retaining a classic Japanese sensibility and storytelling style. . . . Highly recommended.”

—School Library Journal

“Imbued with a delightfully old-fashioned atmosphere, Temple Alley Summer gives its readers a wonderful glimpse of Japanese culture and traditions. And while the inner story has its scary moments, the outer one does not. The two tales form a satisfying and surprisingly deep whole that addresses questions of life, death, meaning, and friendship, all wrapped up in a supernatural summertime mystery.” 

—Nanette McGuinness, Global Literature in Libraries Initiative

“When fifth-grader Kazu starts his summer vacation project looking into the history of his neighborhood, Temple Alley, he soon realizes that he might be putting his friend’s life in danger. His urgency to save her makes this multilayered story of friendship, family, ghosts, kings and princes, castles and dungeons, a fast-paced read. Avery Fischer Udagawa’s translation of this classic novel by Sachiko Kashiwaba is superb.”

—Helen Wang, award-winning translator of Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan

“Fans of Hayao Miyazaki will love Temple Alley Summer, which takes a series of supernatural turns as young Kazu seeks to discover the truth about a mysterious classmate and help her learn the end to an unfinished story. This beguiling tale—skillfully translated and charmingly illustrated—imparts haunting, hopeful lessons about second chances and what it means to fully embrace life.” 

—Leza Lowitz, author of Up from the Sea and Jet Black and the Ninja Wind

 “A charming, suspenseful tale that grabbed my imagination and kept me turning the pages to the very end!”

—Cathy Hirano, translator for Hans Christian Andersen Award–winner Nahoko Uehashi 

“What a thrilling discovery this book is. There are unexplained legends, ghosts, and plenty of twists and turns to keep those pages flying, but at its heart it’s a story about a sensitive boy who wants to do the right thing, even when things get strange and his ordinary life is suddenly filled with the most unsettling mysteries. It’s a story about friendship and about believing, and a thoroughly captivating read.”

—Daniel Hahn, award-winning translator and author

“Utterly enchanting! Part mystery, part ghost story, this magical tale has the makings of a classic.”

—Suzanne Kamata, author of Pop Flies, Robo-Pets, and Other Disasters

 “As a kid, I would have loved reading this compelling story within a story grounded in a Japanese boy’s school and home life as he protects a girl ghost. I love it now!”

—Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu, award-winning author of Beyond Me and Somewhere Among 

“[Kazu’s] search for answers pushes him out of his comfort zone and has him face deep questions on death and morality. In this absorbing, multi-layered story, the past, the present and an unfinished fairy tale are all satisfyingly connected. Though not scary, the uncanniness of the situation lingers. This bewitching book makes me hope more of Sachiko Kashiwaba's works will be translated into English.” 

—Suzanne Morgan, Politics and Prose (Washington, DC)

“This middle-grade novel exemplifies the joys of reading children's books in translation: experiencing cultures other than one's own. Kids familiar with Japanese culture from Studio Ghibli films, though, will feel right at home in this contemporary ghost story. I hope the author’s other works will be translated into English as well!” 

—Robin Stern, Books Inc. (Campbell, CA)

“It’s summer break! There’s time for fun and friends, but Kazu has decided to investigate a paranormal occurrence tied to the history of his street, Temple Alley. . . . Complete with a story within a story, this summertime sleuth is mischievous and magical.” 

—Cat Chapman, Oxford Exchange (Tampa, FL)

“I loved the ghost girl, Akari, and the genuine Kazu. This could be a read-aloud or a standalone book. One of my SUMMER PICKS!!!” 

—Kira Wizner, Merritt Bookstore (Millbrook, NY)

“A tenderly written and thoughtfully translated book about family, friendship, grief and new beginnings which made me laugh and cry—sometimes at the same time.”

—Denise Tan, Closetful of Books (Singapore)

“In this engrossing translation by Avery Fischer Udagawa, Sachiko Kashiwaba’s Temple Alley Summer delivers a page-turner of a mystery, a paean to the transformative power of stories, and one intrepid fifth-grader’s quest to discover how those we have lost might return . . . and whether they should!”

—Philip Nel, Director, Program in Children’s Literature, Kansas State University

“Middle grade readers (and beyond) will love this thrilling and heartfelt book.”

—Melek Ortabasi, Chair, Department of World Languages and Literatures, Simon Fraser University

“In Temple Alley Summer, Sachiko Kashiwaba spins an intricate yarn that celebrates the power of story to overcome even the greatest obstacles. . . . A story for anyone who has ever lost themselves in a good book and will do anything to learn how it ends!”

—Jennifer MacDonald Whitman and Nathaniel Forrest Whitman, co-authors with Margaret Read MacDonald of Teaching with Story: Classroom Connections to Storytelling 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sachiko Kashiwaba is a prolific writer of children’s and young adult fantasy whose career spans more than four decades. Her works have garnered the prestigious Sankei, Shogakukan, and Noma children’s literature awards, and her novel The Marvelous Village Veiled in Mist influenced Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away. Her works have recently been animated as the films The Wonderland and The House of the Lost on the Cape, and her novel Temple Alley Summer, illustrated by Miho Satake and translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa, won the American Library Association’s 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Award. She lives in Morioka, Iwate.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Miho Satake is a Japanese artist and illustrator. She is best known for illustrating the Japanese editions of several classic children’s books including Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, three books in the Kiki’s Delivery Service series by Eiko Kadono, and the twentieth-anniversary edition of the Harry Potter series.

ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR

THIS BOOK IS PUBLISHED WITH SUPPORT FROM THE JAPAN FOUNDATION

BOOK DETAILS

Hardcover ISBN: 9781632063038 • $18
Publication date: Jul 6, 2021
Paperback ISBN: 9781632063793 • $12
Publication date: May 28, 2024
5.5" x 8.25" • 240 pages
Middle Grade Fiction—Japan / Mystery / Fantasy / Legend
Rights: World English, Audio

Books by Sachiko Kashiwaba