Lost Ryu

BEST OF THE YEAR: Chicago Public Library Kids' Indie Next List A story of multigenerational pain, magic, and the lengths to which well go to protect the people we love. Kohei Fujiwara has never seen a big ryu in real life. Those dragons all disappeared from Japan after World War II, and twenty years later, theyve become the stuff of legend. Their smaller cousins, who can fit in your palm, are all that remain. And Kohei loves his ryu, Yuharu, but Kohei has a memory of the big ryu. He knows thats impossible, but still, its there, in his mind. In it, he can see his grandpa Ojiisan gazing up at the big ryu with what looks to Kohei like total and absolute wonder. When Kohei was little, he dreamed hed go on a grand quest to bring the big ryu back, to get Ojiisan to smile again. But now, Ojiisan is really, really sick. And Kohei is running out of time. Kohei needs to find the big ryu now, before its too late. With the help of Isolde, his new half-Jewish, half-Japanese neighbor; and Isoldes Yiddish-speaking dragon, Cheshire; he thinks he can do it. Maybe. He doesnt have a choice. P R A I S E ';A thought-provoking, magical middle-grade journey that explores sacrifices, faith in allies and the resilient hopefulness of a child. A boy, his new friend and their dragons travel across Japan in search of a giant dragon they believe may heal his grandfather in this hopeful and stirring middle-grade debut.' Shelf-Awareness (starred) ';A spellbinding mix of fantasy and alternate history that explores themes of generational trauma, resilience, and family love. Recommended.' School Library Journal ';A beautifulthough complexexploration of generational trauma.' Kirkus ';Cohen interweaves Japanese dragon imagery, history, and post-war culture in a story that muses on the legacies of emotion and family experiences in shaping identity after war. She blends her fantastical imagery with historical fact and realism, bringing readers commentary and questions on cultural identity, racism, friendship, and political activism.' Horn Book ';Kohei and Isolde are a dynamic pair, with contrasting skills and such different life experiences that they are constantly challenging and learning from each other. The thread of quiet agony that runs under the misery of Kohei's mother and the anger of his grandfather hints at the war and its devastating ripples across generations.' BCCB ';Emi Watanabe Cohen does an admirable job of breathing life into this story of multicultural identity, family secrets, the effect of guilt on family relationships, forgiveness, and hope for the future.' School Library Connection ';Gentle, humorous, and touching. A fantasy novel whose full-blooded mythology helps to emphasize the humanity of its characters.' Foreword