Overview
BEST OF THE YEAR:
Chicago Public Library Ā· Kidsā Indie Next List
A story of multigenerational pain, magic, and the lengths to which we'll go to protect the people we love.
Kohei Fujiwara has never seen a big ryuĢ in real life. Those dragons all disappeared from Japan after World War II, and twenty years later, they've become the stuff of legend. Their smaller cousins, who can fit in your palm, are all that remain. And Kohei loves his ryuĢ, Yuharu, butā¦
ā¦Kohei has a memory of the big ryuĢ. He knows that's impossible, but still, it's there, in his mind. In it, he can see his grandpa ā Ojiisan ā gazing up at the big ryuĢ with what looks to Kohei like total and absolute wonder. When Kohei was little, he dreamed he'd go on a grand quest to bring the big ryuĢ back, to get Ojiisan to smile again.
But now, Ojiisan is really, really sick. And Kohei is running out of time.
Kohei needs to find the big ryuĢ now, before it's too late. With the help of Isolde, his new half-Jewish, half-Japanese neighbor; and Isolde's Yiddish-speaking dragon, Cheshire; he thinks he can do it. Maybe. He doesn't have a choice.
P R A I S E
ā āA thought-provoking, magical middle-grade journey that explores sacrifices, faith in allies and the resilient hopefulness of a child. A boy, his new friend and their dragons travel across Japan in search of a giant dragon they believe may heal his grandfather in this hopeful and stirring middle-grade debut.ā
āShelf-Awareness (starred)
āA spellbinding mix of fantasy and alternate history that explores themes of generational trauma, resilience, and family love. Recommended.ā
āSchool Library Journal
āA beautifulāthough complexāexploration of generational trauma.ā
āKirkus
āCohen interweaves Japanese dragon imagery, history, and post-war culture in a story that muses on the legacies of emotion and family experiences in shaping identity after war. She blends her fantastical imagery with historical fact and realism, bringing readers commentary and questions on cultural identity, racism, friendship, and political activism.ā
āHorn Book
āKohei and Isolde are a dynamic pair, with contrasting skills and such different life experiences that they are constantly challenging and learning from each other. The thread of quiet agony that runs under the misery of Koheiās mother and the anger of his grandfather hints at the war and its devastating ripples across generations.ā
āBCCB
āEmi Watanabe Cohen does an admirable job of breathing life into this story of multicultural identity, family secrets, the effect of guilt on family relationships, forgiveness, and hope for the future.ā
āSchool Library Connection
āGentle, humorous, and touching. A fantasy novel whose full-blooded mythology helps to emphasize the humanity of its characters.ā
āForeword
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This book title, The Lost Ryu, ISBN: 9781646142750, by Emi Watanabe Cohen, published by Levine Querido (November 21, 2023) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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