Ink and Ashes

May 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-Mystery lovers won't be able to put down Maetani's smartly written debut. Claire Takata hardly remembers her father, who died when she was a child, but when she finds an old letter of his, she realizes her mother and stepfather have hidden crucial details about their past. In digging for answers, she discovers her ordinary suburban Utah family may have yakuza ties that could put them all in grave danger. Suddenly, she's being trailed by an unfamiliar black SUV and receiving coded messages only understood by those who know Japanese customs-four white chrysanthemums signifying death and her name written in red ink. Claire also deals with more typical high school concerns as she faces growing feelings for her best friend, Forrest. Readers will fall for him too, as well as the rest of Claire's close-knit group of friends who bring humor and warmth to the suspenseful narrative. The authentic portrayal of Claire's Japanese American family, only partially in touch with their heritage, will resonate with many teens who straddle multiple cultures, and Claire herself is a breath of fresh air. Athletic and resourceful, she is determined to solve this mystery on her own terms, confronting her mother and stepfather directly with questions, reporting suspicious happenings to the authorities, and talking openly with her friends about her alarming discoveries. VERDICT This thoroughly engaging tale in the tradition of Nancy Drew or Veronica Mars ends on a satisfying note, but readers will hope for a sequel because it's just that good. Ed. note: See SLJ's Q&A with the author on p. 10.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 15, 2015
Claire's parents are keeping secrets that could kill her. Sixteen-year-old Claire Takata is a spirited, inquisitive amateur locksmith and sleuth. Claire and her brothers have always believed their father died of a heart attack 10 years ago and that their mother met their stepdad after he died. But when Claire finds an old letter in her father's journal and pictures locked away in her stepdad's desk that reveal otherwise, she is determined to find out the truth. Why have her mom and stepdad lied to her? Why does her mom never want to talk about her father? And what really happened to him? Through letters Claire has written to him over the decade since his death, Claire's father has served as her confidant, an outlet for her grief, frustrations, and longings. The author also makes smart use of these letters, interspersing them between chapters to deliver important back story. Claire's grief and sense of loss are compounded when she eventually discovers that her father had been a member of the yakuza, transnational Japanese organized crime syndicates-and then her sleuthing attracts the attention of someone tied to her father's past....The romantic tension between Claire and her best friend, Forrest, plays out authentically in a subplot, and the novel's twists and turns will keep readers riveted and guessing even after they finish the book. This fantastic debut packs a highly suspenseful blend of action, intrigue, and teen romance. (Thriller. 12 & up)

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July 1, 2015
Grades 7-10 Utah is one of the last places to expect a high-stakes Yakuza mystery, but when Claire discovers a letter in kanji from her deceased father to her stepfather, it sets off a chain of events that brings past crimes and secrets out of the dark. How did the two know each other? Why did her father anticipate an early death? Claire proves a savvy sleuth. By researching her Japanese heritage and her father's past, she begins to piece the puzzle together with the help of her brothers and friends, whose Japanese pop-culture knowledge (gleaned from manga and samurai films) helps Claire to decipher clues. The excitement and difficulties of the investigation are heightened when Claire becomes the victim of someone's anger at school. Additionally, she discovers that her brothers and friends have been messing with her love life, revealing that even more people in Claire's life aren't who she believed them to be. Maetani's fast-paced debut will appeal to readers who like their intrigue with a generous helping of romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2015
After finding a mysterious note linking the deceased father she barely remembers with her caring step-dad, Japanese American teen Claire embarks on a detective mission (slapdash yet somehow successful) that threatens her life. This tale of hidden identities, Japanese mobsters (yakuza), and revenge occasionally suffers from sluggish pacing and underdeveloped characters. Its unique set-up and Japanese-underworld setting, though, lend some intrigue.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)