MOMO ARASHIMA STEALS THE SWORD OF THE WIND

Momo must travel through the mortal and spiritual worlds and fight Japanese demons to save her mother—and the rest of humanity.

Twelve-year-old Momo Arashima is trying to be a normal kid, but that isn’t easy since she sees things others can’t, gets bullied at school, and takes care of her inattentive widowed mother. After Momo is attacked at the mall by a shikome, or death hag, then rescued by talking fox Niko, who at first appears as a redheaded boy wearing old-fashioned clothing, a tremendous secret is revealed: Mom is a kami, or Shinto goddess. As the guardian of the Island of Mysteries, Mom is tasked with protecting the gate between Earth and Yomi, where the dead dwell. But wicked demon oni are emerging from the portal and harming the island, which in turn is killing Momo’s mother. Being half-kami and half-human, Momo is the only one able to visit the island and then leave it; it’s up to her to save the day. She travels across the Sea of Heaven in the company of Niko and, unexpectedly, a former friend who gets swept up in their emergency departure. Japanese American transracial adoptee Danny used to be close to Momo until he fell in with the popular crowd. This hilarious, high-spirited tale blends Japanese legends, mythical creatures, and deities. Alongside the fantastical romps, themes of fear, anger, loneliness, belonging, friendship, and inner strength are thoughtfully explored.

Funny, relatable, and full of adventure.