Seven teenagers are invited to a world on the other side of the mirror. In the castle, where the rules of the game are set by the masked Wolf Queen, who is not much older than the protagonists, they are tasked with finding the key to a magical room. The one who finds the key will be able to make one wish.
We follow this story from the perspective of Kokoro, a junior high student who has not attended school for several months. Kokoro spends her days at home, afraid that even on an innocent walk she will meet one of her schoolmates. On the other side of the looking glass, Kokoro meets other kids who have had similar experiences – they are lost, lonely, often victims of senseless school violence and stigmatization. More valuable than the magical promise of fulfilling a wish is be the possibility of spending time together in an unusual castle.
Awarded with the Hon’ya Taishō in 2018 (that is, the booksellers’ award, which many years were awarded to The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa), the novel will be more appealing to young readers. It is written in simple, pleasant language and can be easily appreciated by younger readers. The author deals with the subject of school violence in a very subtle way – she focuses not so much on the bullying itself, but on everything that happens afterwards: attempts to deal with one’s own fears, extending a helping hand, compassion. The mystery of the magical castle and the introduction of game elements inspired by fairy tales will intrigue, and the ending is satisfying and gives a lot of hope.
It is worth gifting this book to your younger siblings, who may be experiencing tougher days among their school peers or maybe know someone who ineeds help… Or, like the characters of Lonely Castle in the Mirror, feels so helpless and alienated that they are looking for an escape.
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