It wasn't just that I grew up in Southern California or that I'd recently been to Japan, but in the details: Kimi's search for the answer to the Big Question "Who am I?" is at once universally relatable and specifically Asian American. Kimi's search for the answer to the Big Question 'Who am I?' is at once universally relatable and specifically Asian American.Īs I read the book, I felt a deep sense of recognition, not because I'd read it before but because there are so many details in it that felt familiar. But I'd recommend having a snack handy while reading Kuhn describes the Japanese food Kimi eats with such gusto, I found myself wishing I had my own fresh-from-the-fryer croquette or black sesame sofuto kurimu - soft serve.
Kuhn's prose is conversational - it feels like Kimi's spilling her secrets to you, the reader, a trusted friend. Kimi is a likeable and relatable protagonist, even when I found her indecision and obtuseness frustrating, and her "spring fling" with Akira feels natural and easy, a fantasy that teen me would have savored like Kimi's favorite treats.
The book is light and sweet - easy to nibble slowly but equally easy to gobble (I gobbled, finishing it during a relaxing Saturday afternoon). And as if meeting her grandparents for the first time, in a country she's never been to weren't enough, Kimi stumbles into a cute and charming boy named Akira, kicking off a whirlwind vacation romance.
When Kimi's estranged maternal grandparents invite her to stay with them in Japan for spring break, she jumps at the opportunity, hoping the trip to her ancestral home will spark some big life revelations. But here's the thing: She's not so sure anymore that she wants to be a painter like her mom. Her last spring break of high school is coming up, she's about to graduate and start attending a prestigious art school. Sarah Kuhn's I Love You So Mochi begins with Japanese American student Kimi Nakamura at a crossroad. Your purchase helps support NPR programming. Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title I Love You So Mochi Author Sarah Kuhn
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