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4.0 out of 5 stars
A Story Full of Ancient Japanese Folklore, Jul 10 2002
Little Sister is rich with Japan's history and folklore. It tells the story of Mitsuko, a young thirteen year old girl who lives at Court. But when stories are heard about dangerous monks setting fire to councillors houses, Mitsuko and her family are sent into hiding by her father. Yet, while journeying on the road, they are attacked by monks, and Mustako's brother-in-law is killed. Her sister Amaiko, who was married to the dead man, was saddened so much by her husband's death that her soul traveled elsewhere, leaving her body an empty shell.Mustako knows she must save her sister, and she runs away, leaving her mother and other sisters alone. She takes Amaiko with her, hoping to find help. She stumbles upon some tengu (Japanese shapeshifting "demons") and befriends one of them, who is named Goranu. Goranu helps her to retrieve her sister's soul, and their adventures take them to the king of the sea, a Japanese "hell" and so on until she finds her brother-in-law's ghost. She knows that unless she finds a way to let his soul rest in peace, his ghost will go on haunting and her sister will never be able to go on with her life. Yet still, what can she do? She doesn't know where her family has gone, and her only friend is a demon. Little Sister is a wonderful tale, well-written and full of Japanese history and folklore. Good for any ages, boy or girl, whatever. Anyone would like it. If you read it and like it, go on with its sequel, The Heavenward Path. ***If you like Kara Dalkey's writing, read her Water Trilogy, which contains the three books Ascension, Reunion, and Transformation. These three books tell of the lost city of Atlantis. Read them all!!!
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