JLC19 - The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba, translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa

(Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

My first read for the JLC19 is Sachikio Kashiwaba's marvelous book, The Village Beyond the Mist. I was feeling rather low and decided to give this lovely story a full go. I had started it a few days earlier, but couldn't seem to focus so I had set it aside. And now, here I was on 'blue Monday' picking it up and finally immersing myself in it. Talk about the perfect remedy for uplifting me from my current gloomy mood. 

A tiny village hidden behind a misty forest chock full of quirky characters and whimsical shops. How fun does that sound? Especially when you have a character like, Lina, a sixth-grade girl who is sent into this magical place for her summer break. She soon finds herself living in a dream room with a host of people that pique her interest. Well, except for Ms. Picotto, who Lina can't seem to befriend. Truthfully, no one seems to be on Ms. Picotto's good side. Regardless, Lina winds up enjoying her stay and working for the shops in town as a way to earn her keep. She gets caught up in a variety of unusual situations that push her to work hard, think of others, and lend a helping hand. It's fun, exciting, and sweet to read all about. Plus, the illustrations by Miho Satake were a highlight of the book. I loved turning the page and finding a drawing of Ms. Picotto - who is described as a 'stain' on the couch by Lina. Children really do say what's in their heads, eh? 

I won't share much more, because this book is a definite must-read. Make sure to grab a copy and dive on in - you are going to love it. I know that I did. Plus, I thought it was fun to learn that the book was the 

inspiration for the film Spirited Away. Written in 1975, The Village Beyond the Mist, was re-released by Yonder, an imprint of Restless Books in May of 2025. And, I'm so happy and grateful for this, because I absolutely fell in love with this book. I've only read one other book by Kashiwaba - The House of the Lost on the Cape - which I adored. So, I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her work. 

Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this awesome book!