Reviews

Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba

herials's review

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I have never read translated Japanese fiction before, and I’m so glad a children’s book was my first! The style was a bit different to what I’m used to, but still really lovely! This is a quiet story that I would say would suit older middle grade readers, just because of the concepts that are dealt with. I also loved the story within the story and the illustrations paired with it. 

This is a quiet novel, charming and heartfelt, for fans of Kiki’s Delivery Service and The House with Chicken Legs.

quokkaboba's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“Everybody in this world gets one lifetime, Kazu. One chance. We all try to live in such a way that we have no regrets.”

i had heard this book to be like a Ghibli film, and it was. such a pure, refreshing summer read taking us readers through a small town in Japan and it’s festive temples. a ghost story of a sort, following Kazu, a 5th grader on an adventure with his friends, working on his school summer project. 

the characters were heartwarming, loved the bickering between a certain granny and the mc, and the friendships Kazu had. i also really liked the idea of a story within a story; both were so distinct from each other that i almost wished the magazine novel was an entire book in its own. 

“People have to live as if there is no second chance—so they’ll make the most of every day.”

magic, summer, ghosts, adventure, friendship. TEMPLE ALLEY SUMMER, a middle grade book that is so good i read it in an afternoon.

skyturtles's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

beebliofiles's review

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

erilynko13's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bike_mike's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

therearenobadbooks's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So beautiful. It is a very different ghost and uplifting story of dreams coming true. A legend of a temple with a small statue that could bring someone back to life after a prayer. The spirits return as someone else, making the prayer selfless. 
A story within a story and a boy who will do his best to help a spirit and by helping the girl he helps an author, too. Loved it.

stephlq's review

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

gillthequill's review

hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

 1.5 Stars. Temple Alley Summer follows two stories: one focusing on the titular Temple Alley and the ghost story it tells, while the other is a story within a story that mirrors themes in the main story. Frankly, the story at first had me intrigued. The characters were written realistically for their ages... almost too realistically. Once the McGuffin Statue is stolen, the main character is powerless to do anything about it like a real child. Then the story suddenly shifts to the story within a story, which is the weaker of the two narratives. Both stories feel weaker as a result.

Why didn't the narrative just focus on describing what happens during this fateful summer? Why not focus on the ghost and enjoying this new situation its found itself in? Did the author just run out of steam and incredibly abruptly end both stories? How the heck did that ending happen?

What started off as a neat premise ended up souring its own experience. If you are thinking of getting this one, borrow it from a library.

 

litchyn's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

3.25