The Emperor of Any Place

Gr 9 Up—While going through his deceased father's belongings, Evan, 16, finds an unpublished manuscript and begins to read. His estranged grandfather, Griff, is a retired Marine and wants nothing to do with the book, which turns out to contain two different stories: one from the point of view of a Japanese soldier and one from an American soldier—both set on Kokoro Jima, the Heart Shaped Island. At times the stories are surreal and feature ghosts of the unborn, the Jikininki, or eaters of the dead, and the most intriguing character, Tengu—also known as "the monster." Todd Haberkorn proves to be a talented reader as he navigates three different stories, the past and present, and characters who are different ages, ethnicities, and genders. Haberkorn keeps the tone steady, and there is no doubt about which characters or time period he is voicing. Listeners will want to know if the creatures are real and if Evan and his grandfather reconcile.