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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 Village Beyond the Mist inspired 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 translator
Avery Fischer Udagawa grew up in Kansas and studied English and Asian Studies at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She holds an MA in advanced Japanese studies from the University of Sheffield. She has studied at Nanzan University, Nagoya, on a Fulbright fellowship, and at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies, Yokohama. She writes, translates, and works in international education near Bangkok, where she lives with her bicultural family.
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.
Book Details
Hardcover ISBN: 9781632063922 • $18
Publication date: May 27, 2025
5.5" x 8.25" • 152 pages
Rights: World English, Audio
Other buying options:
Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Audiobook | Ebook
Praise
“Kashiwaba’s novel is indeed transporting. . . . Pick up this book and be spirited away.”
— Gregory Maguire, The New York Times
“Filled with whimsy, wonder, and wisdom, Lina’s journey will have all of us looking for magical villages just a step away.”
— Wendy Mass, author of The Candymakers
“Ten minutes after closing the book, I was already wishing to return to the delightful Absurd Avenue in Misty Valley. This is a small, bright gem of a tale about bravery, kindness, care, and community, and wonder after wonder, in the very kind of magical town I adore. May we all, like Lina, be ready to follow when magic beckons, and take a chance on adventure. (Even—especially?—when we have to earn it!)”
— Kate Milford, author of Greenglass House
“Beautiful and whimsical, the mist of enchantment hangs in the air on every page as Lina discovers Absurd Avenue’s many wonders. A true celebration of the magic to be found in community.”
— Kate Albus, author of A Place to Hang the Moon
“Teetering on the edge of absurdity, the tale reads like a parable, simultaneously simple and profound, infused with a timeless message about the importance of community.”
— Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“The story is as charming and curious as an old bookstore cat.”
“Much like Eiko Kadono’s Kiki’s Delivery Service, . . . the magic isn’t really the point of the story—the magic only provides a set-up for Lina to grow. . . . By working in a kitchen and an inventor’s workshop, in a bookstore, a nautical goods store, and a toy store, Lina learns not only how to cook and clean, but also how to be attentive to other people’s needs and observant of the world around her. . . . Toward the end of the story, Lina discovers an hedge of azaleas she can access by taking an out of the way route to work. She considers it ‘another wonder of Absurd Avenue.’ And if The Village Beyond the Mist has a lesson, it’s this: those wonders, the delight in the mundane, is available to anyone who looks.”
— Alison Fincher, Asian Review of Books
“With seamless lessons on acceptance, sharing, and compassion, Kashiwaba’s hidden village is undoubtedly lighter and gentler [than Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away], ready to welcome new audiences for return visits.”
— Terry Hong, Shelf Awareness
“Accompanied by ink sketches offering glimpses of the surreal wonder associated with Studio Ghibli films, readers of all ages will gladly wander the pages of this imaginative dreamworld time and again.”
— Nick Mullenmeister, Booklist
“Kashiwaba’s beloved novel, seamlessly translated from Japanese to English by Udagawa and complemented by Satake’s intricate illustrations, invites young readers into a world filled with delightful whimsy, profound moments of self-discovery, and gentle reminders of the power of community. . . . While this book is driven by quiet moments of reflection rather than action, readers will appreciate a timeless, enchanting read and find themselves wanting to revisit the Misty Valley again and again.”
— The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A delightful, cozy, and whimsical story of meeting new people, enjoying the simple things in life, and showing kindness. Its otherworldly liminal space, odd inhabitants, and curious magic shows why this book inspired the film Spirited Away.”
“A delightful, multigenerational fantasy.”
— Nanette McGuinness, Global Literature in Libraries Initiative
“A new kind of Japanese fantasy with humorous episodes and a mixture of western and rustic atmosphere . . . [and] original charm in the details.”
— International Institute for Children’s Literature Osaka, One Hundred Japanese Books for Children
“Every moment and character is a delight with their little twists and quirks, which poke, prod, and even frustrate, but are so lovable, too. It’s the type of place, which lets imagination spread its wings while hitting the heart with warmth and cheer.”
— Tonja Drecker, Bookworm for Kids
“Kashiwaba’s quaint story is captured beautifully by Udagawa, and its old-fashioned and attractively unusual village and the inhabitants will completely charm readers. The playful morality and writing stealthily instruct the young while kindly reminding the old. Satake’s illustrations enchant my two-year-old (who has enjoyed the first chapter several nights in a row) and enhance the reading experience. We stare endlessly at the village’s main street illustration. . . . I am comforted to imagine The Village Beyond the Mist (and Nata’s bookstore) is waiting for me should I really need.”
— Hannah Amrollahi, The Bookworm“You can feel the whimsical energy that inspired Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, but this short fable is a masterpiece on its own. Adventurous and hopeful while conveying the rewards of hard work and community. This would make a delightful read-aloud.”
— Ashlee Null, Vroman’s Bookstore
“A truly delightful middle grade novel that reminded me, in the best possible way, of how I would get lost in the magic of Narnia as a kid. Lina spends a summer in magical town full of sorcerers—some of them kind, some of them prickly; and helps them run their strange shops. Kashiwaba’s 1975 novel, translated for the first time into English, also served as the loose inspiration for Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away and it was a real treat to see these threads and themes overlap. A pure wonderous delight!”
— Caleb Masters, Bookmarks
“Readers get to spend a wondrous summer in a magical village in this delightful Japanese classic in translation. Lina earns her keep working with magical pottery, mystical books, a friendly tiger, and so much more in this slim volume. Images from this book will stick with readers over their lives like a misty memory.”
— Robin Stern, Books Inc.
“The type of whimsical story that you read as a child, remember as an adult, and find yourself frantically searching for again. Perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones, Eva Ibbotson, and Patricia C. Wrede.”
— Katherine Nazzaro, Porter Square Books
“A charming and achingly nostalgic story—like stepping back into a (decidedly quirky) summer vacation. The setting is whimsical but Lina learns to be more independent and improves the community around her in very tangible ways. This one would be a great read aloud!"
— Abby Nissen, Brookline Booksmith
“Delightfully reminiscent of C. S. Lewis in both writing style and imagination. I had so much fun exploring Absurd Avenue during Lina’s magical summer adventure. People of all ages can enjoy this fun and heartwarming story, but fans/collectors of all things Studio Ghibli and Spirited Away will need to pick this up to add to their collection!”
— Bianca Eckhoff, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews
“This is a short, cozy, charmingly illustrated read about young Lina, who learns to adapt and thrive when sent by her father to the mysterious Misty Valley for summer vacation instead of going to her grandmother’s comfortable house as she usually does. It's a lovely book about making your way in a very strange place and the unexpected friendships and inner strength that are gained.”
— Suzanne Morgan, Politics and Prose
“Nostalgic charm covers this story nicely, including all the oddities that brings. I enjoyed seeing how it differs from Spirited Away and what was the same or similar. I liked the episodic nature of Lina’s various jobs, the interesting characters she interacts with, and the simple truth that contributing to your community in whatever way you can brings a lot of satisfaction.”
— Jenny Craig, Seattle Public Library
“A great ‘growing-up’ book about good social character (working hard, helping others, developing thick skin, advocating for oneself) in a hodge-podge fantasy village with lovable neighbors. Very cute.”
— Sam Ackerman, First Light Books
“I can see how this could inspire such a masterpiece like Spirited Away. I loved being carried away by the whimsy and getting to know such quirky and unique characters. The hidden magical village is a place I could go to again and again.”
— Kalli King, Rediscovered Books
“This is a gift of a book. Sweet story, delightful illustrations. Everyone should encounter an Absurd Avenue in their lives. Don't miss this one.”
— Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books
“It is a story that reminds us of the importance of finding out what we can do and interacting with each other . . . it warms the heart bluntly.”
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