Nao, having moved to the United States at a very young age, is caught feeling too Japanese while in the US (growing up facing many racist comments and microaggressions from peers), yet too American to feel she can fit in now that she lives in Japan to study the language. While the story weaves between the lives of the three women-Nao, Hyejung, and Tina-living in Himawari House, the book is framed around Nao’s arrival and time there. ‘ I feel like I'm mourning a twin I lost in childhood.
Quietly powerful, Himawari House is an exquisitely empathetic look at language barriers, the nuances of identity and finding strength in friendship all told through an art style that will keep you constantly entertained. Becker perfectly captures the youthful journey towards identity formation, one already fraught with pitfalls of self-doubt that are only enhanced for many of the characters as they struggle to find their place both culturally and socially living in a foreign country. Himawari House follows the lives of five college-aged students living under one roof in Japan as they take classes, work various jobs, bond with one another and share their cultural traditions. Becker, who previously worked with George Takei for the artwork in They Called Us Enemy, has a real gift for bringing her wonderfully written story to life in graphic form through a fluid art style that is able to represent the spectrum of emotions and keep a relatively introspective story engaging and forward moving. Scroll down to view all the content on the page.A beautiful slice-of-life, coming-of-age tale, a story about community and the struggles of fitting into a new culture while learning the language, Harmony Becker’s Himawari House is a moving feat of visual storytelling. The Ocean State Libraries catalog listing contains a book profile, professional reviews, reader reveiws, reading level, subject headings, and awards. The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle
Though each of them has her own motivations and challenges, they all deal with language barriers, being a fish out of water, self discovery, love, and family. Nao came to Japan to reconnect with her Japanese heritage, while Hyejung and Tina came to find freedom and their own paths. The three of them became fast friends through living together in the Himawari House in Tokyo and attending the same Japanese cram school.
Living in a new country is no walk in the park-Nao, Hyejung, and Tina can all attest to that. Publisher Information: New York, NY: First Second 2021
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