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A review by spyralnode
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
While my cover contains a blurb that likens 'Lonely Castle in the Mirror' to 'The Wind-up Bird Chronicle' and 'The Virgin Suicides', I'm going to argue that it is nothing like either of these books. So much so that I really struggle to understand how the reviewer on the Guardian has even read this book (yes, I have read all three so I am justified to comment upon this). In fact, this book is so original, that I struggle to compare it to anything else. The closest I have come to is the series 'Ciresarii', a wonderful series written by Constantin Chirita about the adventures of a group of friends. But this is only one part of this absolutely lovely, endearing and cosy story. Yes, there is a group of friends that nurtures trust and protection, but alongside this comes a mesmerising castle accessed through a mirror, and several other elements of magical realism with the background of fairy tales.
Kokoro has been suffering through bullying, the severity of it even manifesting physically through stomach pains. So, she's decided not to go to school. Her mother is trying to find her a suitable alternative, a more supportive space because while Kokoro keeps her secrets, her mum does detect something is abundantly wrong. After her mum leaves for work, Kokoro notices that the mirror in her room is shining. Upon touching it, she is transported to a castle, where she meets the Wolf Queen, a young girl wearing a wolf mask, who explains the rules of the place and acts as somewhat of a game master, and the other six teens in the same situation as her. What evolves from here is a touching narrative of mental health, strong friendship and a clever plot-lining and intrigue. There is most definitely character growth and emotion that vibrates throughout. I loved it.
Books with children as the main protagonists are frequently a theme that doesn't work for me, with preoccupations I can't relate to, tantrums and quick irritations, and a way of thinking that is not as nuanced as what I usually enjoy reading about. But here while they do read as teens, they are written so intricately that even in them problem solving, sure, I anticipated the twists before they actually figured things out, but even that not everything (for example the very ending I really didn't see coming, maybe the last 20-30 pages), and they were not far behind me. I followed their steps and could empathise with how they got there too.
There is a note at the back of the book explaining that Mizuki Tsujimura wanted to bring more attention to mental health issues in children and teenagers: 'According to a UNICEF report, Japanese children were ranked second-to-last in an international survey assessing children's mental health across thirty-eight developed and emerging countries'. This is alarming. Between loneliness in adults and the difficulties portrayed in this novel, more attention needs to be given in Japan to the emotional and psychological struggles that people encounter. The writing here is reflective and thoughtful, without ever diagnosing, but it is more of an exploration that pokes as what these struggles might be, their causes and potential support systems.
The fantasy elements I thought were super clever! And it features a change in hero that I never knew I liked so much. It's a fantasy / magical realism that contains a firm mystery at the heart of it, because it not only begs the question of why or how things are happening, but also the effects of these developments on real life.
Yes, my review is very much superlative! It spoke to me on a personal level, and left me with a feeling of hope and warmth, it even addressed my 'inner child' if you want to call it that. But I sincerely wish I could read in Japanese, because the translation was not to as high a standard as I'd expect. There are some strange turns of phrases, for example 'she realized a beat later' (to me 'moment' sounds like a better word choice than 'beat') or on the back of my edition 'there time here would not be without glitches' (I'd say the word 'glitch' relates more to a system, technical or not, so it reads off to me). Plus the blurb on the front I mentioned which I really wonder if the reviewer even read this. But alas, seeing beyond these details into the story, the characters, what I perceive of the writing, it's magnificent.
Kokoro has been suffering through bullying, the severity of it even manifesting physically through stomach pains. So, she's decided not to go to school. Her mother is trying to find her a suitable alternative, a more supportive space because while Kokoro keeps her secrets, her mum does detect something is abundantly wrong. After her mum leaves for work, Kokoro notices that the mirror in her room is shining. Upon touching it, she is transported to a castle, where she meets the Wolf Queen, a young girl wearing a wolf mask, who explains the rules of the place and acts as somewhat of a game master, and the other six teens in the same situation as her. What evolves from here is a touching narrative of mental health, strong friendship and a clever plot-lining and intrigue. There is most definitely character growth and emotion that vibrates throughout. I loved it.
Books with children as the main protagonists are frequently a theme that doesn't work for me, with preoccupations I can't relate to, tantrums and quick irritations, and a way of thinking that is not as nuanced as what I usually enjoy reading about. But here while they do read as teens, they are written so intricately that even in them problem solving, sure, I anticipated the twists before they actually figured things out, but even that not everything (for example the very ending I really didn't see coming, maybe the last 20-30 pages), and they were not far behind me. I followed their steps and could empathise with how they got there too.
There is a note at the back of the book explaining that Mizuki Tsujimura wanted to bring more attention to mental health issues in children and teenagers: 'According to a UNICEF report, Japanese children were ranked second-to-last in an international survey assessing children's mental health across thirty-eight developed and emerging countries'. This is alarming. Between loneliness in adults and the difficulties portrayed in this novel, more attention needs to be given in Japan to the emotional and psychological struggles that people encounter. The writing here is reflective and thoughtful, without ever diagnosing, but it is more of an exploration that pokes as what these struggles might be, their causes and potential support systems.
The fantasy elements I thought were super clever! And it features a change in hero that I never knew I liked so much. It's a fantasy / magical realism that contains a firm mystery at the heart of it, because it not only begs the question of why or how things are happening, but also the effects of these developments on real life.
Yes, my review is very much superlative! It spoke to me on a personal level, and left me with a feeling of hope and warmth, it even addressed my 'inner child' if you want to call it that. But I sincerely wish I could read in Japanese, because the translation was not to as high a standard as I'd expect. There are some strange turns of phrases, for example 'she realized a beat later' (to me 'moment' sounds like a better word choice than 'beat') or on the back of my edition 'there time here would not be without glitches' (I'd say the word 'glitch' relates more to a system, technical or not, so it reads off to me). Plus the blurb on the front I mentioned which I really wonder if the reviewer even read this. But alas, seeing beyond these details into the story, the characters, what I perceive of the writing, it's magnificent.