A friend handed me this novel around Christmas time and it's just been sitting on my desk. I'm seeing her next weekend so I thought I'd better get cracking but... I didn't really know what I was getting into. I knew it was magical realism and translated from Japanese so I'm thinking kinda like [author:Haruki Murakami]'s which I love. However, as soon as I stared reading, I wasn't sure if it's something I could continue reading. One reason being I just had a chat with a colleague the day before about her son complaining of stomach pain or discomfort and not going to school (school has only just returned) and this novel begun in a similar strain. I'm just not keen on a teen bullying stories. It hurts my heart too much; more concerned of the possibility of such for my kids then my past.

Setting all my personal unease aside, I ended up quite liking this novel. While throughout the reading, I found that I don't particularly love the story or the prose, it was easy to read. And the main issues each of these teens face didn't come out til near the end and I did love who it was all brought together in the end. An okay read that turns out to be quite fascinating as you stepped back and place the topic in today's situation especially with Japanese students. I appreciated that hope exists and <i>"It's only school"</i>.