THE VERY UNFORTUNATE WISH OF MELONY YOSHIMURA

A shape-shifting demon takes over an Oregon girl’s life in this chilling tale.

Twelve-year-old Melony is sure life would be better if her strict, overprotective parents gave her the same freedoms as other kids, not to mention cool clothes and a new phone, and if her real name, Uriko, wasn’t fodder for bullies. Melony’s parents have lived in the U.S. for years, and she hates the way they constantly talk about Japan and how things were different there. So Melony fights back by being the opposite of the “good girl” she’s supposed to be—and it feels amazing! Unknowingly, this opens the door for an Amanjaku, a demon who feeds on a person’s most base desires. At first, Melony is drawn in by its playful nature. But as time goes on, its horrifying true nature begins to sour everything good, including Melony herself. Can she realize the error of her ways and save her family and friends before it’s too late? Based on the Japanese folktale “Urikohime to Amanjaku,” or “The Melon Princess and the Amanjaku,” this modern Japanese American version is woven throughout with intergenerational, as well as cultural, tension and specificity. This well-paced story uses foreshadowing to create suspense and build anticipation while exploring themes of independence and autonomy so important to tween development. Blurring the lines of reality, it relies on psychological elements, rather than leaning on blood and gore, before ultimately leading to a safe, comforting homecoming.

A satisfyingly scary story about pushing boundaries.