Kaede's world was destroyed when his mother died in a car accident. His lingering anger and grief have made him do dangerous things he would normally never do, things that have estranged him from his best friend. Plus, living with his grandfather is difficult. The old man is not exactly warm and inviting. Kaede is left feeling untethered and on the brink of failing 7th grade.
His only hope is to complete a summer project good enough to make up the difference for all his failing grades. His topic? Home. He could do anything but that! He doesn't even know what home is anymore. When his estranged father invites him to spend the summer in Japan to reset, Kaede jumps at the chance. He hasn't spoken to his father or his older half brother in years, but he is longing for connection.
When he arrives, it's not his father but his brother Shoma who's there to greet him. His hurt and disappointed his father took a photography job out of town rather than spending time with his grieving son. He is happy to reconnect with Shoma who has made a life for himself as a music writer. He doesn't want to like Shoma or connect with him because it will be just that much harder when Shoma disappears from his life like he did the last time. Plus, he can't give up hope his father will return and actually want to be a father.
As he explores Japan and the Japanese music scene with Shoma, Kaede works on his summer project trying to figure out what home means. Can he feel connected to a family he thought he'd lost?
Elsie Chapman is Canadian and Japanese like Kaede and her love for Vancour and Tokyo come through in this book. This is an interesting book because it's easy to feel compassion for Kaede, but then he keeps making horrible decisions. There are a lot of readers who will identify with his contradictory desires for connection and self-preservation. Recommended.
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