I agree with the reviewer who wrote, "With the rise of manga amongst kids today, fascination with Japan has reached an all-time fever pitch amongst our tween and adolescents. I know kids who study the language with the sole dream of someday getting to visit Japan themselves someday. But if I look on my library's shelves, I don't see much of anything speaking to this need. How many contemporary novels for kids can you name that take place in Japan? The pickings are slim to none. ... Those kids meant to find it, will."I too am studying Japanese and would like to find more books that focus on real Japanese culture. In that sense, I am glad that I read this book. But as for the story, it was a fun ghost story but not for serious readers. I really enjoyed this book. Hannah an Australian teen is spending some time in Japan with old family friends while her mom is working in Japan. She'd rather stay home in Australia with her dad and brother, but her mom wants her to practice her Japanese kanji. While there Hannah gets involved with a ghost haunting the house she's staying at. Can she & the rest of the household set the ghost's soul free? This was a really great book to learn about Japanese culture and everyday life in Japan. It also dealt with a lot of Japanese history in relating to the ghost.
What do You think about Hannah's Winter (2001)?
intriguing and mysterious, well enough written, and a good book for cold and dark day
—katiebuse
