Under the Fading Sky

Gr 9 Up–Elijah, 16, is a multiracial Japanese American high schooler living in a suburban California beach town with his parents and five-year-old brother, Joshie. He’s a strong student, thinking about college, though not among the very highest achievers. He’s into stunt biking and hanging with his Asian American crew and helping Joshie learn how to ride a bike. And he loves history, winning several essay competitions for his thoughtful research. Almost from the very start, the story takes a dark turn. Elijah is experimenting with drugs, along with longtime best friend Lee, the smartest kid in school, and Banker, a high school graduate who seems always to be up to something suspicious. At first, they’re vaping THC and hanging out in Banker’s room. But Newbery-medalist Kadohata spools out a harrowing, slow-motion catastrophe that can be difficult to continue once readers see where it’s headed. Before long, Elijah is boosting pain pills from his grandfather and the boys are buying Percocet and Xanax, eventually stealing to feed their habit, setting up a devastating conclusion. While the story is not unremittingly harsh, extensive drug use and several references to sexual abuse make it more suitable for high school readers. Elijah’s love interest, Lee’s sister Su-Bee, is well developed but a relatively small part of the plot. Nearly all of the major characters are of Asian descent.