I’m still going through some of my reads from last year. This first part of January has already been busy. I had a family member go into the hospital so I needed to focus on that for awhile. I’m starting my medical terminology class tomorrow so if I disappear for a week that is where I went. I really enjoyed Himawari House I thought it was a great look into the exchange student life in Asia.
Synopsis
This great young adult graphic novel focuses on three friends who are adjusting to life as exchange students in Japan. Nao, Hyejung and Tina become fast friends as they are all staying together at Himawari House in Tokyo. They are also attending the same Japanese cram school together. Nao is at Himawari house to connect with her Japanese heritage. She is worried about how she is able to understand Japanese. While Nao grew up in America and while she has some book knowledge of Japanese. She soon finds herself in over her head when speaking with locals.
Her friends Hyejung and Tina came to find their own path. Hyejung had to deal with being Korean in Japan and having to escape from controlling parents. Meanwhile Tina from Singapore and is dealing with similar challenges of the other two. Tina has to deal with the language barrier and wanting to have the freedom to find her own path. Though each of them has their own issues and challenges. They soon become fast friends. Himawari House becomes a family as they spend a year together learning and growing as people.
Review
This novel was done in black and white. While I don’t normally like graphic novels with no color this one was an exception. I especially liked the use of the different languages when the characters were speaking. For example the Japanese, Korean or Singaporean characters were written along with the English over the character’s heads. I’ve seen this trend in books like Halfway There and Noodle and Bao and I really enjoy it. As someone who is trying to learn Chinese and Japanese it is very helpful to see.
I found Hyejung to be the most relatable character to me personally. I liked the way her family’s disapproval was dealt with. Her family and their expectations weren’t good for her. However the book still showed how much she missed her family and traditions that would be happening throughout the year. This is good to see as someone who comes from a toxic family environment. I appreciate how the idea is presented. The thought that it is alright to miss something even if it’s negative for you.
I also like how the book deals with Hyejung’s family showing up. She doesn’t back down about how she wants her life to be. Instead she holds her ground and stays in Japan, this is also another excellent example of dealing with boundaries.
Another thing I liked was the side characters. For example the woman who lived across the street from Himawari House. She helped with food for the students. The novel showed her own background and how interacting with the students enriched her life.
Overall, I would give this a five-star review. The art made it easy to distinguish the different characters. The story was rich, complex, and multilayered. A definite must read for any exchange student.
About the Author
Harmony Becker is an artist and illustrator. She is the creator of the comics Himawari Share, Love Potion, and Anemone and Catharus. She is a member of a multicultural family and has spent time living in South Korea and Japan
Do you like books about other cultures? If so what is your favorite culture to read about?
Amazon: Himawari House
Image by Hong daewoong from Pixabay
Rose's Book Garden 