A lonely girl must find her way out of the underworld and back home.It's Obon, a holiday for celebrating ancestors, but Anzu is feeling miserable. Her family just moved, and when a neighbor child tries to befriend her, she becomes angry and self-conscious and runs away, reminded of the girls who used to tease her about her Japanese name. A stray dog appears, jumping up and snatching the special necklace that belonged to her late grandmother from around Anzu's neck. While pursuing the dog, Anzu falls and loses consciousness, waking up in Yomi. The dog, who's the Gatekeeper of this Shinto underworld, tells her to leave, but Anzu doesn't know how. Izanami no Mikoto, Queen of Yomi, offers to guide her-after Anzu joins her Obon banquet. But Anzu winds up cursed and bound to remain. Together with the Gatekeeper, whose role is to "guide souls to their destined realm," Anzu must save the lost souls of children kidnapped by Izanami and find her way home before sunrise marks the end of Obon. Colored in muted green, orange, and purple, this beautifully illustrated work is full of magic as it follows Anzu's journey of self-discovery after experiencing bullying, grief, and isolation. The fascinating and original spirit world is inspired by Nguyen's family's mix of Vietnamese and Japanese cultures and elements of Shintoism and Buddhism.An enchanting fantasy about finding the confidence to take up space in the world. (author's note, guide to Japanese folklore) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

Gr 6–10 —Anzu feels lost and alone in her new hometown. She's sad about being teased because of her Japanese name and traditions, and misses being consoled by her late obaan (grandmother). While out walking, Anzu hears a voice that whispers comforting words about finding the place where she belongs. Distracted by the voice, she is surprised by a dog who snatches her necklace—a gift from Obaan—and runs off with it. Anzu chases the dog and falls through a portal into the underworld. She discovers the dog is actually the gatekeeper to the underworld, and that comforting voice has not so comforting plans for her. So begins Anzu's perilous journey through the underworld, in search of a way home and to understand who she wants to be. This action-packed story explores young people's struggle with identity and fitting in. The kami (deities and spirits) and yokai (tricksters and shapeshifters), Anzu meets as she traverses the otherworldly realm enhance the narrative. Dialogue in untranslated Japanese along with the helpful guide to kami and yokai in the back matter are a plus. The art is so dynamic, readers will practically see movement and hear sounds. The spare use of color—shades of green, purple, and orange—is effective in showing intensity of both action and emotion. VERDICT This thrilling tale of claiming identity, rooted in a fascinating exploration of Japanese culture and folklore, will appeal to a wide range of readers.—Carla Riemer