THE VILLAGE BEYOND THE MIST

In this translation of the 1975 Japanese classic that inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away, a child solves unusual problems with wisdom and kindness.

At her father’s suggestion, sixth grader Lina Uesugi makes her way to the magical hidden town known as Misty Valley. When she arrives at Picotto Hall, Ms. Picotto, a severe elderly woman dressed in black, puts her to work in exchange for board. Assisting the local shopkeepers isn’t tough, but Lina’s true assignment turns out to be healing the broken people she encounters. Tasked with picking up books loaned to Thomas, the owner of a marine store who lives in squalor with his angry parrot, Dummy, she finds herself cleaning up the mess and bonding with both of them. While working in the toy store, Lina finds a way to help the toymaker’s son, who’s yearning for his absent mother. And she even lends a hand when a frantic queen arrives on an elephant, looking for her princely son, who’s been turned into a piece of pottery. Empathetic Lina forges connections throughout this enchanted—and enchanting—world filled with gnomes and talking tigers. Black-and-white illustrations reminiscent of Shel Silverstein’s work bump up against the margins of the words and dance across the page, sprinkling the story with whimsy. Teetering on the edge of absurdity, the tale reads like a parable, simultaneously simple and profound, infused with a timeless message about the importance of community.

Captivating and magical, with a dash of goodness baked in.