An uneven reimagining of a classic story.
A lonely boy and his childhood friend embark on a dreamy and philosophical train ride across the galaxy in this translated graphic novel from Japan.
This adaptation of Night on the Galactic Railroad, Miyazawa’s classic fantasy novel published posthumously in 1934, follows Giovanni, a sensitive and awkward boy in a village that evokes continental Europe, who works to support his sick mother while his father is away at sea. Too tired from work to engage, he’s isolated from classmates, who, save for Campanella, are often unkind to him. While on an errand to get milk, Giovanni contemplates going to the riverside Galactic Festival, but an encounter with class bullies sends him running to the hills. There, he’s transported onto a train that’s departing Galaxy Station; somehow, Campanella is also on board. Although they’re perplexed, the two embark on an ethereal journey across the Milky Way, encountering intriguing travelers and gradually unraveling a hidden truth. The story delicately engages with themes of death, loss, and friendship. While Kitahara faithfully adapts the original storyline, some nuances are lost between the sometimes clunky and vague language and the poor layout of text within the speech bubbles. The beautiful art can be detailed to the point of overstimulation, making it easy to miss important information. Those unfamiliar with the original may find this presentation too opaque to convey the story’s full impact; previous fans will likely appreciate elements of this version.
An uneven reimagining of a classic story. (cast of characters) (Manga. 12-18)Pub Date: March 18, 2025
ISBN: 9784805318713
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Tuttle
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
An unwieldy but emotionally intense fantasy.
In the Riew siblings’ debut, inspired by their Korean grandparents’ experiences during Japan’s early-20th-century colonization of Korea, a hunt is on for the last surviving tiger.
In the Tiger Colonies, this fantasy world’s version of occupied Korea, tigers have been nearly wiped out by the Dragon Empire. These oppressive rulers believe that tiger ki, or powers, strengthen the Tiger people, and therefore, the animals must be exterminated. Lee Seung, who’s from a poor Tiger family, works for the wealthy Chois, a Tiger family who collaborate with the Dragons. Choi Eunji might live in material comfort, but her home feels like “a cage” thanks to her parents’ high expectations and control of her every move. She offers to tutor Seung for the Adachi Training Academy’s entrance exam; graduates attain elite, powerful positions. In return he’ll help Eunji experience life outside her cloistered manor. Despite their class differences, both teens long for freedom, but Seung fails the exam, and their paths diverge. They reunite during a frantic search for the last tiger—but are their motivations aligned? Some plot developments feel contrived, and the introduction of real historical elements at times feels deliberately educational rather than naturally emerging from the story. Nevertheless, the story vividly highlights the plight of Koreans during a traumatic era.
An unwieldy but emotionally intense fantasy. (authors’ note, diary excerpts) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: July 29, 2025
ISBN: 9798217002047
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Kokila
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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