Hello Lit by Akari

Akane, about to enter sixth grade, lost her mother at age five and developed a stutter. She sings a rapid tongue-twister from her memories and, today as always, heads to the library alone. Seen with special eyes and having no friends—Akane treats her stutter as proof of her love for her mother and cannot bring herself to pursue treatment. One day she receives an email on her computer from an unknown sender that reads, "Let's be friends." The sender is Akari, and the two quickly become close. Battling resistance to speaking and the fear of expressing her feelings—while troubled by how to relate to friends, she gradually reevaluates herself and deepens her trust in Akari. Meanwhile, Akane finds a picture book in her father's room...

[From Sakurayama-sha]

★Who do we want to read or buy this?

We want upper elementary to middle school students to read it. In practice buyers may be mostly adults, such as school librarians, teachers, and parents with children. It’s for anyone who has ever wanted to say "hello" but couldn't—just as I once couldn't.

★What is the best thing about this work?

I recommend the whole book. I often think, "What is life?" In the story there is a Ferris wheel. Although it moves forward, it looks as if it circles the same place. Even if it seems to be going down, that descent may be the path to rise again. That mirrors Akane's emotional movements. I found myself identifying with Akane and, for a while, losing track of time while thinking about life. Life felt like a Ferris wheel.

★What I fell in love with in this work

The entire work is exceptionally gentle. I became a fan of Akane. I also loved the presence of Mr. Anzai. The coming-of-age story of a sixth-grade girl who lost her mother and struggles with a stutter is portrayed very gently alongside her father; although the setting is everyday, the plot draws you into its extraordinary moments. While dealing with "things you can't say well," the book turns them into language that arrives very beautifully. Above all, it was the author's passion. I was truly glad when the author candidly said, "I have a work I cherish." I think I fell for the writer Noran's intensity along with the work.