Temple Alley Summer

From renowned Japanese children's author Sachiko Kashiwaba, Temple Alley Summer is a fantastical and mysterious adventure filled with the living dead, a magical pearl, and a suspiciously nosy black cat named Kiriko featuring beautiful illustrations from Miho Satake.

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 neighbour 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.

'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

'This charming story is both a layered, profound reflection on living life with purpose and a funny, suspenseful book with all the hallmarks of classic middle-grade literature.' Lauren Simeon, Kirkus Reviews

“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

“When an author and an illustrator with ties to books adapted to 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 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

“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 best-selling author

“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

“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

"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, founder of the TA First Translation Prize

“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

"A fantastic story by an excellent (and important) writer, translated by a great translator... Quite a page turner." —Alison Fincher, Read Japanese Literature

“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 strange mysterious ghost girl, a young boy discovering the hidden secrets of his neighborhood, and a tale about the power and importance of stories; Temple Alley Summer is an excellent middle grade novel with charm and heart to spare. I loved the unraveling mystery that Kashiwaba slowly reveals, the amazing story-within-a-story element, and the beautiful illustrations of Satake throughout. A truly special and unique book that I can't wait to recommend to readers young and old.” —Caleb Masters, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC)

“Wonderful spooky tale with perfect summer vibe and great illustrations.” —Anton Bogomazov, Politics and Prose (Washington, DC)

"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

“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)

“Ghosts terrify Kazu and when he finds one in his house, he begins a young detective's journey that will change his life forever. Can he keep the secret and help a lost soul? In Temple Alley Summer, Sachiko Kashiwaba spins an intricate yarn that celebrates the power of story to overcome even the greatest obstacles. Miho Satake’s thoughtful illustrations weave the two worlds of this tale within a tale into a delightful narrative tapestry. How lucky we are that Avery Udegawa’s nuanced translation brings Kazu’s neighborhood and all of its rich characters to life for a new group of young readers in this English language version of Temple Alley Summer. 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

“A charming, suspenseful tale that grabbed my imagination and kept me turning the pages to the very end! “ —Cathy Hirano, translator of Batchelder Award winners The Friends by Kazumi Yumoto and Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi

“A ghost, a mystery and a new friend. Temple Alley Summer is a wonderful middle grade novel that readers won't want to end!” —Trista Wilson, Watermark Books and Café (Wichita, KS) and author of Sometimes Brave

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 Mysterious Village Veiled in Mist influenced Hayao Miyazaki's film Spirited Away. She lives in Iwate Prefecture.

Miho Satake is a Japanese artist and illustrator. She is best known for illustrating the classic fantasy novel Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones, three books in the Kiki's Delivery Service series by Eiko Kadono, and also illustrated the twentieth anniversary Japanese editions of the Harry Potter series.

Avery Fischer Udagawa grew up in Kansas and studied English and Asian Studies at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She holds an M.A. 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.

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