Title: The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy, Box Set
Book Read for Review: Coming Home
Genre: Children/Fantasy/Historical Fiction
To Purchase the Book, Click: The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy, Box Set
**Courtesy of OnlineBookClub**
Summary: Set in Japan, two children hold a very special gift. They are not only typical children, but can also live the life of birds. Azuki, who can turn into a Toki bird, and Shota, who can turn into a sparrow, have found love and peace with their human parents.
That is, until one day the wrong person hears about Azuki’s special gift (Shota is more hidden) and will stop at nothing to claim her as his own. Once this one greedy person tries to accomplish the kidnapping, a slew of unfortunate events take place. Then in turn, brings down Azuki’s spirit and she questions if being a human is even worth the trouble.
Along with the main storyline, there is another. It is between a young Japanese woman, named Anko, and a young naval officer, named Benjamin. These two have an attraction to each other, but their butting countries and traditions may prevent them to further their friendship.
The two storylines do converge towards in the end.
Reactions: To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this read. I really enjoyed the bird children side of the story; it was creative and fun. Also, the journey that Azuki takes of self-acceptance is touching and can be a great discussion with children. So many of the youth (and even some adults) question if who they are is good enough. This story takes this lesson and makes it more accessible for children since it is done with a fantasy touch.
There are a couple of aspects of the book that I was shocked and thought could use some improvement. For instance, (SPOILER ALERT) I did not realize that there would be a death by shooting nor a death by someone being beaten up. For some children, this is a bit harsh to talk about and understand. Also, at the same time, parents and/or teachers may not want to open that discussion with their children/students. The other aspect I thought could be further improved is the introduction to the Anko and Benjamin storyline. I did a double-take when I read the first chapter of these two characters. It seemed like an abrupt transition because for a good portion of the beginning chapters, the focus was solely on Azuki and Shota.
I will say that I loved seeing the drawings that came from children who had entered a contest and submitted it for this series.
Recommendation: Even with the couple of points previously mentioned, I would recommend this read for children who enjoy fantasy novels with some cultural learning. I will also advise those who read the book about the deaths mentioned above and to keep in mind this is a made up story.
jimmyeatworldofficial
germansingergirl
turnnoffyourmind
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