Reviews

Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba

puterica's review

adventurous 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

wngrdleviosa's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

this middle grade ghost/mystery story had major Studio Ghibli vibes! 

it's a fantastical story within a ghost-mystery story that tells of second chances and living a life without regrets. it has illustrations on several pages too, which make it even more enjoyable to read!! ⋆˙⟡ 🐈‍⬛ ྀ

purging's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious

4.5

Cerita fantasi ringan tentang seorang anak bernama Kazu yang ingin membantu ‘arwah’ untuk melakukan hal-hal yang terlewat semasa hidup.

Meskipun genrenya misteri dan ada hantu-hantunya, membaca buku ini sangat menyenangkan. Diceritakan melalui sudut pandang anak kecil, kamu dibawa untuk melihat dunia dari sudut pandang mereka yang kadang terlewat oleh orang dewasa😂😂.

herials's review against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

erilynko13's review against another edition

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

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 against another edition

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.