Other buying options:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Book

A mountain town that’s not on any map, a messy bookstore with infinite doors, and a spoiled prince under a forgetful wizard’s curse . . . this summer might hold more than Lina bargained for! When a gust of wind carries off her umbrella, it leads Lina down a secret path between the trees to a strange and incredible world. In the hidden village of Misty Valley, centaurs roam the cobblestone streets and gnomes visit shops stuffed with spellbooks and enchanted desserts. All magic has a dark side, though, and sometimes even sorcerers need a human’s helping hand.

Now, fifty years after its debut in Japan, Sachiko Kashiwaba’s acclaimed novel is available in English and certain to delight readers of all ages.

VIEW THE ILLUSTRATIONS

Praise for The House of the Lost on the cape

“A beautiful and otherworldly tale. I loved the blend of myth and lore in this modern story of family and community.”

— Clare Vanderpool, Newbery Medalist and New York Times best-selling author

“With Sachiko Kashiwaba’s sensitive storytelling, Avery Fischer Udagawa’s wordsmithing, and Yukiko Saito’s poignant illustrations, this book will take readers into the magical world where humans and mythical creatures work together to fix what has become undone not just in the world, but also in their hearts.”

— Mariko Nagai, author of Under the Broken Sky

“This heartfelt novel by a popular Japanese children’s author . . . centers found family, weaving folklore and magic into a tale of healing in the wake of natural disaster.”

— Kirkus Reviews’ 10 Essential Middle-Grade Books for Fall 2023

“The tender emotions following collective trauma are skillfully blended with the riveting supernatural action. . . . A powerful story of healing.”

— Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Kashiwaba’s moody work teems with ambient wonder and grim portent, offering glimpses of darkness without overwhelming the narrative's uplifting tone.”

— Publisher’s Weekly

“In this lightly magical novel, three women from different generations are brought together in the aftermath [of the Tōhuku earthquake and tsunami]: an orphaned girl, a woman fleeing an abusive marriage, and an elderly grandmother with no immediate family. The story unfolds in flowing language, and the black-and-white drawings sweetly accompany the mystical tale. Hiyori’s desire to find her voice and save her new family unfolds beautifully and will be treasured by many. Kashiwaba’s novel was originally published in serialized form in 2014, with an anime film adaptation in 2021 commemorating the 10th anniversary of the tragedy; this English translation will reach even more young fans of Japanese fantasy and found-family stories.”

— Michele Shaw, School Library Journal

“Kashiwaba has a knack for world-building that seamlessly fuses the real with the fantastical. She gently guides readers through difficult subjects like trauma, death, and grief while offering a healthy dose of humor and hope. Avery Fischer Udagawa’s lucid English translation and Yukiko Saito’s charming black and white illustrations all help to make this beautiful, moving tale accessible to a global readership.”

— Kelly Zhang, Words Without Borders

“Folktales, fantasy, and reality collide in this magical and powerful story.”

— Paula Holmes, World Kid Lit

“Despite being, at its core, an engrossing and imaginative Good-versus-Evil fantasy story, the reality of the earthquake and the tsunami’s aftermath are never downplayed . . . Therein lies the skill of both writer and translator, conveying the true heart of the novel, with its beat that stays with us long after the last page is turned.”

 — Maureen Tai, Stories that Stay With Us

“Think Diana Wynne Jones . . . but with a firm grip on storytelling and Japanese folklore, interspersed with contemporary mystery fiction . . . it is a powerful combination.”

 — GeekDad

“Udagawa left a huge number of Japanese words and cultural references [in her translation] and explained them with stealth glosses. . . . The technique provides a [lot] of information about Japan in general and life in the Tōhoku region in particular and about Japanese folklore—it’s part of what I liked best about the book.”

— Alison Fincher, Read Japanese Literature podcast

“This is a heartwarming tale of healing through families found in unexpected places and through—sometimes—supernatural means. Filled with Kashiwaba’s gift for folkloric explorations and brimming with amazing artwork, this is a beautiful English translation.”

—Amanda Scroggins, Watermark Books (Wichita, KS)

“The House of the Lost on the Cape is a layered, heart-gripping story with characters that you cannot help but feel so much for. We are so lucky to have this, and Obāchan’s stories, with us.”

— Denise Tan, Closetful of Books (Singapore)

“Kashiwaba’s story focuses on a determined female trio who choose to create new lives for themselves in a town decimated by the tsunami, but still full of acceptance and resilience—both human and supernatural. An engaging read, ultra-smooth translation, illustrations that neatly set the scenes, and plenty to learn about life in a Japanese village.”

— Deborah Iwabuchi, SCBWI Japan Translation Group

“This magical found-family fantasy is nourishment for readers of all ages. It’s a story of healing for the characters, yes—but also the sort of book that heals the reader, too.”

— Marcia Lynx Qualey, translator of Wild Poppies by Haya Saleh

“A must read for fans of disasters, magical creatures, found families, and Studio Ghibli films.”

— Kristen Harvey, Mrs. Harvey’s Library

“This book arrived as an early reviewer copy for my wife, three days after she died. I was in NO mood to read a story about three generations of lost women overcoming grief together in Japan. But after the first couple of chapters, I found myself taking comfort in the narrative. The translation is at an appropriate middle-school level, and the suspense of the plot is not overwhelming. But the author and translator do an excellent job of conveying the wonder and creative forms of the rural Japanese Jizō, kappa, and henge spirits that we came to love during the years we lived there. I consider this book to be a gift, both from the author, but also from the native spirits of Japan, who sensed that this was the book I needed now to remind me that, in time, grief is joined by opportunity and new found families.”

— David, via April, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sachiko Kashiwaba is a prolific writer of children’s and young adult fantasy whose career spans more than four decades. Her works have garnered the prestigious Sankei, Shogakukan, and Noma children’s literature awards, and her novel The Village Beyond the Mist inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away. Her works have recently been animated as the films The Wonderland and The House of the Lost on the Cape, and her novel Temple Alley Summer, illustrated by Miho Satake and translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa, won the American Library Association’s 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Award. She lives in Morioka, Iwate.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Miho Satake is a Japanese artist and illustrator. She is best known for illustrating the Japanese editions of several classic children’s books including Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, three books in the Kiki’s Delivery Service series by Eiko Kadono, and the twentieth-anniversary edition of the Harry Potter series.

ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR

BOOK DETAILS

Hardcover ISBN: 9781632063922 • $18
Publication date: May 27, 2025
5.5" x 8.25" • 160 pages
Middle Grade Fiction—Japan / Legend / Fantasy & Magic / Action & Adventure / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Social Themes / Friendship
Rights: World English, Audio

Books by Sachiko Kashiwaba