How Do You Live?

August 1, 2021
Grades 6-9 This Japanese classic, originally published in 1937 and a story beguiling enough to catch the eye of filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, sees its first English translation here, complete with an introduction by Neil Gaiman. It's the strange and ruminative coming-of-age tale of 15-year-old Honda Jun'ichi, whose nickname, Copper, is short for Copernicus. The boy's close relationships with his unnamed uncle (who is something of a pedant) and his three best friends are front and center in the book's slow-paced development. Its spare plot comprises a clutch of episodic stories interspersed with lectures by the uncle and extended essays in Copper's notebook about the meaning of whatever event has just transpired. These reflections cover the waterfront of thought: philosophy, economics, sociology, physics, and on and on. As a result, the book is rather didactic and sometimes moralistic. However, it is enough of a sui generis curiosity to excite interest and--happily--inspire thought, and the Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli connection will drum up more than a little interest among anime fans.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from September 20, 2021
First published in 1937, this deeply thoughtful Japanese classic—filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s favorite childhood book—is offered in its first English translation via Navasky’s quiet, carefully measured prose. Born and raised in Tokyo, 15-year-old Honda Jun’ichi, known as Copper and small for his age, “can be a bit too mischievous.” When his bank director father passed away around two years ago, Copper and his mother downsized and moved to a modest suburban home, now frequently visited by Copper’s maternal uncle, with whom he is “terribly close.” Interspersed with prosaic recollections of a year of Copper’s school days, interpersonal dramas, and developing friendships, entries from Uncle’s Notebook relay affirmative messages to Copper, covering topics such as science, philosophy, history, and poverty. What results is a gentle tale of self-discovery and reflection, and a compassionate guidebook on integrity punctuated by rich sensory details. If the book unfurls a bit slowly, Yoshino’s timeless lessons (“You must live your life like a true human being and feel just what you feel”), will resonate with sensitive readers young and old. Front matter includes a foreword by Neil Gaiman; back matter includes a note from the translator. Ages 10–14.

Starred review from July 1, 2021
A teen ponders the complexities of life, history, and humanity in this 1937 classic from Japan that is being animated by Hayao Miyazaki. Honda "Copper" Jun'ichi is an introspective 15-year-old living in Tokyo with his mother; his father died two years earlier. Like a typical teenager, Copper goes to school, spends time with his friends, and has experiences that affect his worldview and personal growth. Copper's analyses of his friendships and the bullying of a classmate from a poorer family, along with his youthful maternal uncle's thought-provoking conversations on science, ethics, and world history, add dimension to a spare plot. It is this latter relationship that produces Copper's nickname, shortened from Copernicus and reflecting his uncle's observation that, despite his age, Copper was already developing an expansive, Copernican approach to the world. The colloquial tone of the uncle's notebook entries and the omniscient narrator's occasional comments directed at readers are engaging. Simple and beautiful seasonal details reflect Copper's emotional journey. Small glimpses into prewar Japanese life and culture, including tofu making, school social hierarchies, city life, and the intricacies and symbolism of words, contribute to the atmosphere. A foreword by Neil Gaiman perfectly captures the mood and significance of this book, a childhood favorite of Miyazaki's and one that is sure to find a select, but eager, readership outside its original homeland. A quiet, introspective look at life and how to be human. (translator's note) (Fiction. 10-adult)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.