Letters from the Living (Flyways) - Tapa blanda

'A wryly introspective tale, draws the reader into a child's view of the daily life of a Japanese boarding house and its eccentric inhabitants.' -- Paper Tigers (www.papertigers.org) 'One might compare the subtle shifts of mood in Yumoto's sophisticated finely crafted narrative to the poplar tree outside the young Chiaki's window. She spends many hours watching the light and shadows shift across its leaves, but it never loses its ability to surprise her.' -- Riverbank Review 'I really enjoyed this book. It was completely different from any other book that I have read, as it looks at the whole issue of death, and how it can affect a person both as a child and also many years on. I would recommend this book to teenagers as it deals with a difficult topic in a non-frightening way.' -- Carol, Forrester High School, Teen Titles, December 2003 'When I first picked up this book, I thought that it would be rubbish and I put it down. A little while later I thought I should give it another chance and after the first three chapters I was totally hooked. Yumoto describes the characters really well. I found this book thoroughly enjoyable and not at all childish. It's a fantastic read.' -- Holly, Trinity Academy, Teen Titles, December 2003 'Quirkily engaging in the childhood sections, reflectively poignant in the final pages, this is one for the thoughful reader.' -- Mary Hoffman, Armadillo, Autumn 2003 'Floris Books deserves all credit for continuing to champion texts with a cultural difference in its Flyways series of "challenging books for the more able reader". This gentle, introspective tale draws the reader into daily life in Japan. Translator Cathy Hirano achieves a delicate balance between explanation and transcription (mamedaifuku -- a Japanese sweet) to maintain a sense of place and intrigue to the English language reader.' -- Gillian Lathey, School Librarian, Autumn 2003 'Extraordinary grace and dignity ... Yumoto conveys the tension and momentary connections between Chiaki and her mother with subtlety and exquisite pacing.' -- Publishers Weekly 'A thought-provoking examination of the nature and meaning of death.' -- School Library Journal 'I decided to try the first chapter, but thought I wouldn't go much further. Much to my surprise, I found myself pulled along by the story and quickly read all the way through to the end. Apart from the unusual plot, it is interesting to learn something about Japanese life and culture and Buddhist beliefs. I would recommend this book to mature readers aged 13 to adult.' -- Simon Hoggarth, age 14, Education Otherwise

Chiaki lives in Japan. Her father has died and she has to deal with her grief alone, as her mother is too distracted to help her. Old Mrs Yanagi is the landlady at Poplar House where Chiaki goes to live, and their relationship develops through the book. Mrs Yanagi tells her that she has been given a divine mission to carry letters to the dead when she herself dies, so Chiaki starts writing letters to her father. Through the story, we learn about daily life in a Japanese household. As Chiaki grows up, she has to come to terms with how her father really died, and work through her confusion about who she is to make a decision about her future.