The Village Beyond the Mist

Gr 4-6–Kashiwaba’s 1975 story provided the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s classic Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away, and now it has been beautifully translated into English by Udagawa. Readers will find it easy to immerse themselves in the rich descriptions of the magical world young Lina is blown into: the lush vegetation, summer heat, and a tricky wind all feel tangible from the start, and the immersive experience lasts throughout. The story, like the village, reveals itself slowly, with glimmers of the out-of-the-ordinary starting at the outskirts of Lina’s observations, and then flourishing in full view once she learns that magic and need propel people reaching the shops on Absurd Avenue. In the small, ethereal community, Lina learns to value herself in new ways, forging connections through hard work, empathy, and curiosity for the magical inhabitants around her. The story is as charming and curious as an old bookstore cat, and Satake’s playful illustrations at times evoke the whimsy of Dr. Seuss, especially the depictions of the cottages and shops on the avenue.