Little Sister by Kara Dalkey

[TeaAndSpooks]

Little Sister by Kara Dalkey is one of my favorite books. It was published way back in 1996, so not a lot of people remember it. It follows the story of Fujiwara no Mitsuko, a Japanese child of a noble family in the 9th year of Emperor Shirakawa's reign.The setting is beautifully painted in watercolor strokes by the author, who writes as Mitsuko. We follow her as she and her family go through fires and scandal, and she befriends Goranu, a Tengu. Tengu are a particular kind of Japanese Oni, or demon, that can shape shift, but are most often shown in paintings as men with the head of crows.

This book is particular in the way it describes daily life in feudal Japan, and is careful to pay homage to how things were and are. The Japanese mindset are very different from western mindset, but somehow the author conveys it purely and clearly. The mythology and religion in both Shinto and Buddhism is referenced constantly, as in Japan the religion is more of a lifestyle and therefore are integrated into all parts of every day life. From the haiku poems that her sister exchanges with suitors in the Imperial court, to the furisode kimono sleeves she hides her face behind, the setting of Mitsuko's world takes center stage in this hauntingly beautiful story.

Mitsuko is such an interesting and dynamic character, who sees herself as nothing more than a dutiful sister and daughter. She embarks on a journey into the underworld to save her sister with the help of Goranu. But Mitsuko is so much more, and Goranu sees that. She is brave and creative. Their relationship goes from being a reluctant partnership to a willing friendship-and later much more. The interactions between the two are definitely my favorite thing about this book, aside from the historical and vivid setting.

The author is a master of immersion, and it is not difficult to get lost in the story and forget reality for a while. It falls just short of 200 pages, and is easy to breeze right through. To this day, I wish it was longer. The first time I read it, I was in middle school, and now at age 22, I still reread it once a year. It never gets old, and the story stays with you. It is a truly beautiful tale of honor, love and duty, with the added splash of historical accuracy and regional beliefs.

I give it a 4 out of 4 and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Japanese culture and is curious to learn more about their mythology from a fictional character's point of view. It is a truly amazing book! Please consider looking it up and giving it a read. It is always a sad thing when such a lovely piece of literature is left to gather dust in the annals of time.