03 Mar / One Bird by Kyoko Mori [in What Do I Read Next? Multicultural Literature]
At 15, young Megumi is left behind to live with her cold father and difficult grandmother when her desperately unhappy mother suddenly leaves the family. In Japan, tradition dictates that children must remain with the father in the case of separation or divorce. Children are not allowed any contact – whether by mail, phone, or in person – with the absent mother until they turn 22 years of age.
With the help of a local veterinarian and an older childhood friend who has also lost his mother, Megumi learns to fight against tradition and establish her own independence.
Review: “Asian American Titles,” What Do I Read Next? Multicultural Literature, Gale Research, 1997
Readers: Middle Grade, Young Adult
Published: 1995