Review Detail

A touching story of a girl and her community in the aftermath of sudden disaster, inspired by true events. From her school up on a the hillside, Hana witnesses a tsunami wash away her town, and in the wake of the wave she and her remaining family start to rebuild - and that starts with small ways to honor those they have lost.

This book quietly touches on many profound experiences, such as the suddenness of disaster and the slowness of grief and healing that comes after. Hana learns calligraphy from her grandmother, just as her mother used to, and her art demonstrates the importance of memorializing those who are lost. There is a void when people are gone, and part of living with that grief is recognizing that it can't immediately be filled.

While tragedy is at the heart, it is told gently, and if younger readers are still not of an age to engage with such heavy topics, they can still interact with the story.

In the natural world, beauty and sorrow can come side by side, and this story reflects that.