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Shadow Child
For fans of Tayari Jones and Ruth Ozeki, from National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Rizzuto comes a haunting and suspenseful literary tale set in 1970s New York City and World War II-era Japan, about three strong women, the dangerous ties of family and identity, and the long shadow our histories can cast.
Twin sisters Hana and Kei grew up in a tiny Hawaiian town in the 1950s and 1960s, so close they shared the same nickname. Raised in dreamlike isolation by their loving but unstable mother, they were fatherless, mixed-race, and utterly inseparable, devoted to one another. But when their cherished threesome with Mama is broken, and then further shattered by a violent, nearly fatal betrayal that neither young woman can forgive, it seems their bond may be severed forever--until, six years later, Kei arrives on Hana's lonely Manhattan doorstep with a secret that will change everything.
Told in interwoven narratives that glide seamlessly between the gritty streets of New York, the lush and dangerous landscape of Hawaii, and the horrors of the Japanese internment camps and the bombing of Hiroshima, SHADOW CHILD is set against an epic sweep of history. Volcanos, tsunamis, abandonment, racism, and war form the urgent, unforgettable backdrop of this intimate, evocative, and deeply moving story of motherhood, sisterhood, and second chances.
Twin sisters Hana and Kei grew up in a tiny Hawaiian town in the 1950s and 1960s, so close they shared the same nickname. Raised in dreamlike isolation by their loving but unstable mother, they were fatherless, mixed-race, and utterly inseparable, devoted to one another. But when their cherished threesome with Mama is broken, and then further shattered by a violent, nearly fatal betrayal that neither young woman can forgive, it seems their bond may be severed forever--until, six years later, Kei arrives on Hana's lonely Manhattan doorstep with a secret that will change everything.
Told in interwoven narratives that glide seamlessly between the gritty streets of New York, the lush and dangerous landscape of Hawaii, and the horrors of the Japanese internment camps and the bombing of Hiroshima, SHADOW CHILD is set against an epic sweep of history. Volcanos, tsunamis, abandonment, racism, and war form the urgent, unforgettable backdrop of this intimate, evocative, and deeply moving story of motherhood, sisterhood, and second chances.
Hardcover
First published May 8, 2018
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About the author
Rahna Reiko Rizzuto
4 books90 followersRahna Reiko Rizzuto's third book, Shadow Child, will be published by Grand Central in May 2018. Her memoir, Hiroshima in the Morning, was selected as a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Asian American Literary Award, and named the winner of the Grub Street National Book Prize. She is also the author of the novel, Why She Left Us, which won an American Book Award in 2000. Reiko is a recipient of the U.S./Japan Creative Artist Fellowship, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including the L.A. Times and Salon, and she has been a guest on The Today Show, 20/20, The View, among others. She was Associate Editor of The NuyorAsian Anthology: Asian American Writings About New York City, and teaches in the MFA program for creative writing at Goddard College. She is the founder of the Pele's Fire Writing Retreat on the Big Island of Hawaii.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
February 2, 2020
Shadow Child by Rahna Reiko Rizzuto is a beautifully written tale about the struggles of a set of twins.
When I sat down and started this book, I was absolutely floored. The writing style was so stunningly beautiful, I couldn't help but metaphorically describe it as fine wine. Rahna has a wonderful sense of story and her word choice is magnificent. I didn't want to put the book down.
But then I got to the meat and plot of this story.
I didn't fully know what was going on and my questions weren't answered. So many parts of this story were hinted at but then just fell through. There's also four different story lines going on so it required a lot of brain power to keep track of what was going on. On top of that, Koko is a nickname of both girls, so those sections had me using extra brain power to try to figure out if this was one or both girls or neither.
I liked learning about their Mother's back story, but I didn't think she was the main protagonist of this story. I was far more interested in the twins' stories than hers. While their Mother's narrative was interesting to follow, I just didn't care as much. I wanted to know what was going on now since there was a lot more drama during the present time in the story. Hana and Kei had such a thrilling narrative that I needed that story more.
This book felt more like a novel I'd read in an English class than one I would enjoy in my hobby reading. I seriously want someone to pick apart this novel and explain it to me. Is there a reason why we didn't get all of the information about what happened? Is there a reason why we needed to know so much about the Mother and not the girls? I'd absolutely love if the author even explained the themes. I think I'd appreciate this book more if I could pick it apart and analyze it.
Honestly, I have the feeling that there is a piece of this book missing somewhere. The two halves of this book don't intertwine perfectly and it just gives me this strange feeling. The story isn't finished so I don't totally feel satisfied. While I think the writing is beautiful and Rayna's talent is obvious, I'm not one for cliffhangers or non-endings. I need to know what happened, so I don't feel strongly about this book.
Overall, this book is interesting. I'd love to see it in an English class setting or have a BookTuber explain all the ins and outs so I can appreciate it more.
Two out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
When I sat down and started this book, I was absolutely floored. The writing style was so stunningly beautiful, I couldn't help but metaphorically describe it as fine wine. Rahna has a wonderful sense of story and her word choice is magnificent. I didn't want to put the book down.
But then I got to the meat and plot of this story.
I didn't fully know what was going on and my questions weren't answered. So many parts of this story were hinted at but then just fell through. There's also four different story lines going on so it required a lot of brain power to keep track of what was going on. On top of that, Koko is a nickname of both girls, so those sections had me using extra brain power to try to figure out if this was one or both girls or neither.
I liked learning about their Mother's back story, but I didn't think she was the main protagonist of this story. I was far more interested in the twins' stories than hers. While their Mother's narrative was interesting to follow, I just didn't care as much. I wanted to know what was going on now since there was a lot more drama during the present time in the story. Hana and Kei had such a thrilling narrative that I needed that story more.
This book felt more like a novel I'd read in an English class than one I would enjoy in my hobby reading. I seriously want someone to pick apart this novel and explain it to me. Is there a reason why we didn't get all of the information about what happened? Is there a reason why we needed to know so much about the Mother and not the girls? I'd absolutely love if the author even explained the themes. I think I'd appreciate this book more if I could pick it apart and analyze it.
Honestly, I have the feeling that there is a piece of this book missing somewhere. The two halves of this book don't intertwine perfectly and it just gives me this strange feeling. The story isn't finished so I don't totally feel satisfied. While I think the writing is beautiful and Rayna's talent is obvious, I'm not one for cliffhangers or non-endings. I need to know what happened, so I don't feel strongly about this book.
Overall, this book is interesting. I'd love to see it in an English class setting or have a BookTuber explain all the ins and outs so I can appreciate it more.
Two out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
June 6, 2018
“Shadow Child” might have more accurately been named “Shadow Plot.” One is never quite sure who the characters really are or even what really happens to them.
The story is ostensibly about twin sisters, Hana and Kei, born in Hawaii. Their mother, Miya, is laughed at by the community as “the town’s crazy lady who had breakdowns in public and talked to ghosts.” With the narration periodically switching to the years during World War II, we gradually learn how she got to be that way.
Much of the story takes place in the past - not only of the mother but of the twins. When the book begins, however, it is the present day; the twins are grown, and Hana has an apartment in New York City. She lives a mostly solitary life, explaining: “When you have no one, no one can hurt you.” Something traumatic had happened to her six years earlier, and she left her family in Hawaii soon afterward, barely in communication with them since. But her mother and stepfather died recently, and Kei called and said she was coming to New York to bring Hana her “inheritance.”
On the day of Kei’s arrival, things take an unexpected turn. When Hana comes back to her apartment after work, expecting to see Kei, she finds Kei unconscious in the shower with strangulation marks on her neck. She calls the police, and then accompanies Kei, now in a coma, to the hospital. The possibility of her recovery is uncertain, and Hana feels increasingly desperate not to lose her only surviving family member.
Discussion: We get to know a bit about the life of the mother, but her children know virtually nothing about it. Do the girls ever ask? Is the stepfather aware of it? We have no idea. Nor are the characters of the girls very clear. We can’t even always tell which is which, as sometimes the narration claims to be by “Koko” which is a single nickname for both of them. As for the two central events that drive Hana’s life - the trauma six years ago, and the attack on Kei - we don’t really get satisfying explanations of those either.
Evaluation: Half the time I did not know what was going on in this book, including when I finished it. It might just be me, but because of the murkiness of the story I didn’t enjoy it much. "Shadows" seemed to be a theme of the book, but I thought it could have used quite a bit more illumination.
The story is ostensibly about twin sisters, Hana and Kei, born in Hawaii. Their mother, Miya, is laughed at by the community as “the town’s crazy lady who had breakdowns in public and talked to ghosts.” With the narration periodically switching to the years during World War II, we gradually learn how she got to be that way.
Much of the story takes place in the past - not only of the mother but of the twins. When the book begins, however, it is the present day; the twins are grown, and Hana has an apartment in New York City. She lives a mostly solitary life, explaining: “When you have no one, no one can hurt you.” Something traumatic had happened to her six years earlier, and she left her family in Hawaii soon afterward, barely in communication with them since. But her mother and stepfather died recently, and Kei called and said she was coming to New York to bring Hana her “inheritance.”
On the day of Kei’s arrival, things take an unexpected turn. When Hana comes back to her apartment after work, expecting to see Kei, she finds Kei unconscious in the shower with strangulation marks on her neck. She calls the police, and then accompanies Kei, now in a coma, to the hospital. The possibility of her recovery is uncertain, and Hana feels increasingly desperate not to lose her only surviving family member.
Discussion: We get to know a bit about the life of the mother, but her children know virtually nothing about it. Do the girls ever ask? Is the stepfather aware of it? We have no idea. Nor are the characters of the girls very clear. We can’t even always tell which is which, as sometimes the narration claims to be by “Koko” which is a single nickname for both of them. As for the two central events that drive Hana’s life - the trauma six years ago, and the attack on Kei - we don’t really get satisfying explanations of those either.
Evaluation: Half the time I did not know what was going on in this book, including when I finished it. It might just be me, but because of the murkiness of the story I didn’t enjoy it much. "Shadows" seemed to be a theme of the book, but I thought it could have used quite a bit more illumination.
May 24, 2018
3.5 stars..
EDIT 5/24
Shadow Child begins with a pair of estranged twins, one in Hawaii and one in New York City. Kei, who lives in Hawaii, journeys across the country to visit her sister, Hana, for an unknown reason, which fills Hana with dread. Yet when Hana gets home, ready to confront Kei, she finds her sister has been attacked, and left unconscious in the bathtub. As Hana cares for her ailing sister, she begins to dredge up their past in an attempt to figure out what brought Kei back into her life. The book switches between Hana and Kei, both in the present and past, which can be slightly confusing on its own. However, interspersed with Hana and Kei's stories is that of their mother, who is referred to by a variety of names, making reading even more confusing.
As I mentioned in my first update, I felt that there were two different stories going on in this book. The story of Hana and Kei's mother, who I will call Lillie, felt alienated from their story and of a different genre (more classical historical fiction). While Lillie's history and journey were the most compelling part of the book for me, I felt that it didn't fit into the focus of the book, which was Hana and Kei's own reckoning with their past (in my point of view). I think Lillie's story could have been fleshed out more and made into its own novel, and be taken out of this one.
Hana and Kei's narration bored me at first, but as the story went on, and they grew older (and thus the writing more understandable) I found myself more interested in what was happening. The balance between present and past narration, mostly in Hana's chapters, was lacking. It was as if the present sections were colored grey, but the sections about her past were filled with color, and drew my interest more. I think this has to due with Hana's characterization, and how she kind of wilted after she left Hawaii, which I think is kind of a cop-out and possibly even out of character for the younger Hana. I am on the fence about Hana, and whether I think she aged realistically... Something for me to think about more, I suppose.
While Lillie's story, and family history in general, play into Hana and Kei's stories and how they deal with what happened to them, I think this book is more about their relationship as sisters. I wish the story had been trimmed more to focus more intensely on that relationship, and maybe even given them some time as adults to discuss their past together (which does not happen in the book at all!! I really wanted this...). I enjoyed pieces of this novel, but together, it was a bit disjointed. While I think the cover captures that duality nicely, the book doesn't quite pull itself together.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for an ARC of this book!
--
5/22: I feel like there were two stories here that didn’t quite belong in the same book. Will write more later!
EDIT 5/24
Shadow Child begins with a pair of estranged twins, one in Hawaii and one in New York City. Kei, who lives in Hawaii, journeys across the country to visit her sister, Hana, for an unknown reason, which fills Hana with dread. Yet when Hana gets home, ready to confront Kei, she finds her sister has been attacked, and left unconscious in the bathtub. As Hana cares for her ailing sister, she begins to dredge up their past in an attempt to figure out what brought Kei back into her life. The book switches between Hana and Kei, both in the present and past, which can be slightly confusing on its own. However, interspersed with Hana and Kei's stories is that of their mother, who is referred to by a variety of names, making reading even more confusing.
As I mentioned in my first update, I felt that there were two different stories going on in this book. The story of Hana and Kei's mother, who I will call Lillie, felt alienated from their story and of a different genre (more classical historical fiction). While Lillie's history and journey were the most compelling part of the book for me, I felt that it didn't fit into the focus of the book, which was Hana and Kei's own reckoning with their past (in my point of view). I think Lillie's story could have been fleshed out more and made into its own novel, and be taken out of this one.
Hana and Kei's narration bored me at first, but as the story went on, and they grew older (and thus the writing more understandable) I found myself more interested in what was happening. The balance between present and past narration, mostly in Hana's chapters, was lacking. It was as if the present sections were colored grey, but the sections about her past were filled with color, and drew my interest more. I think this has to due with Hana's characterization, and how she kind of wilted after she left Hawaii, which I think is kind of a cop-out and possibly even out of character for the younger Hana. I am on the fence about Hana, and whether I think she aged realistically... Something for me to think about more, I suppose.
While Lillie's story, and family history in general, play into Hana and Kei's stories and how they deal with what happened to them, I think this book is more about their relationship as sisters. I wish the story had been trimmed more to focus more intensely on that relationship, and maybe even given them some time as adults to discuss their past together (which does not happen in the book at all!! I really wanted this...). I enjoyed pieces of this novel, but together, it was a bit disjointed. While I think the cover captures that duality nicely, the book doesn't quite pull itself together.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for an ARC of this book!
--
5/22: I feel like there were two stories here that didn’t quite belong in the same book. Will write more later!
June 26, 2018
"Shadow Child" is a haunting, beautiful, and wonderfully plotted novel, from the very first page, when Hanako (a young, Japanese-American artist) barely shuts the door of her Manhattan apartment building on a would-be assailant. (Or does she?) Author Rahna Reiko Rizzuto manages to juggle four narrative strands, three narrators, and four different voices -- including the rarely used first-person plural "we" and second-person "you." It's a detective story set in current-day Manhattan; a story of mean-girl bullying in lush Hawaii; and a story of anti-Japanese racism in the U.S. in World War II. The problem is that Rizzuto tries to crowd too much into this sprawling book. It's hard to believe, for instance, that Lillie (Hanako's mother and one of the narrators) manages to be in both Manzanar (the notorious California internment camp for Japanese-Americans) and also just outside of Hiroshima when the atomic bomb is dropped. And some readers may be put off by the mystical bond between Hanako and her identical twin sister, Keiko.
May 21, 2018
SHADOW CHILD is a dark and twisty story about family, identity, trauma, and inheritance. Part thriller, part family drama, part historical fiction, I was intrigued by the relationship between twin sisters, Kei and Hana, from the very beginning. Although the shifting narrarators made the story lack cohesion at times, I do think the story ultimately landed on its feet because THAT ENDING, GUYS. Solid ⭐⭐⭐ stars for me.
October 27, 2018
I had a difficult time deciding how to rate this book. For most of the book, I felt that it was a convoluted mess and probably would have given it one star. However, the ending saved the book for me. Unfortunately, I had to read 320 pages of the 336 pages before everything was explained and the book made sense.
Ostensibly, the book is the story of twin sisters who are close as children, but grow apart during high school. One of them is injured during a visit to a cave. She blames her sister for her injuries and as soon as she is out of the hospital, she goes to New York where she lives a lonely life. She doesn't communicate with anyone in her family for six years until her mother and step-father die and her twin comes to New York.
However, a second story is woven into the book about a woman named Lillie, who is Japanese, but was left on the doorstep of a church in a small California town as an infant. The pastor and his wife took her in and raised her as their own, although she was a foster child. Apparently, they chose not to adopt her. She was the only Japanese person living in the town until a Japanese man came to town. I don't think that his reason for coming to town was ever explained. Lillie, who was 22, ended up marrying the man who took her to Los Angeles to live with his parents. Eventually, they had a son and moved to Japan during World War II.
The chapters of the book go back and forth between the lives of the twin sisters and Lillie's life. The two stories seem to have no connection until the connection is finally made near the end of the book. In the Acknowledgments section, the author says that the book has taken many different forms. At one time it was two books, which would have made sense to me. She wrote the first 100 pages of the book in 2000 and tried it as a historical novel, a quiet family drama, and a failed thriller.
The book is very slow moving and has way too much introspection by the main characters. It is fairly dark and a lot of it just isn't believable to me. My book club chose this as the book for our November meeting. I'm sure that we will have a good discussion about various aspects of the book.
Ostensibly, the book is the story of twin sisters who are close as children, but grow apart during high school. One of them is injured during a visit to a cave. She blames her sister for her injuries and as soon as she is out of the hospital, she goes to New York where she lives a lonely life. She doesn't communicate with anyone in her family for six years until her mother and step-father die and her twin comes to New York.
However, a second story is woven into the book about a woman named Lillie, who is Japanese, but was left on the doorstep of a church in a small California town as an infant. The pastor and his wife took her in and raised her as their own, although she was a foster child. Apparently, they chose not to adopt her. She was the only Japanese person living in the town until a Japanese man came to town. I don't think that his reason for coming to town was ever explained. Lillie, who was 22, ended up marrying the man who took her to Los Angeles to live with his parents. Eventually, they had a son and moved to Japan during World War II.
The chapters of the book go back and forth between the lives of the twin sisters and Lillie's life. The two stories seem to have no connection until the connection is finally made near the end of the book. In the Acknowledgments section, the author says that the book has taken many different forms. At one time it was two books, which would have made sense to me. She wrote the first 100 pages of the book in 2000 and tried it as a historical novel, a quiet family drama, and a failed thriller.
The book is very slow moving and has way too much introspection by the main characters. It is fairly dark and a lot of it just isn't believable to me. My book club chose this as the book for our November meeting. I'm sure that we will have a good discussion about various aspects of the book.
January 9, 2020
This book was bizarre, to say the least. Supposedly, for the first five years of their lives, these two twin girls thought they were the same person and even answered to a single name - KoKo - taken from the endings of their names of Hanako and Keiko. They also speak in what seems to be twinspeak, which leaves the reader unsure what they are even talking about. The story only gets weirder as they get older and you never quite sure who is narrating and where one girl stops and the other starts.
The other story is that of their mother, who was raised in the US, sent to an internment camp, and then deported to Japan. There she lives through the bombing of Hiroshima. This is the one part of the story I was interested in, but it wasn't well developed. I've read a lot of WW2 fiction and the impacts in Japan are a topic that is rarely touched upon.
I bought the book because I love anything taking place in Hawaii, but it was barely even a backdrop in this story, which I found very disappointing.
The other story is that of their mother, who was raised in the US, sent to an internment camp, and then deported to Japan. There she lives through the bombing of Hiroshima. This is the one part of the story I was interested in, but it wasn't well developed. I've read a lot of WW2 fiction and the impacts in Japan are a topic that is rarely touched upon.
I bought the book because I love anything taking place in Hawaii, but it was barely even a backdrop in this story, which I found very disappointing.
December 8, 2021
This is a book that is hard to describe, and ultimately I really liked it, but can't say that I completely loved it. Told from the viewpoint of one twin, Hanako, we learn of her history, her relationship with her sister, Keiko, as well as new-to-Hanako information about their mother, which is quite fascinating.
It's told in an unusual style, that can sometimes be confusing, but did an excellent job of putting you into the place of the character and seeing things the way Hana (Hanako) would.
Some beautiful ideas here about the power of being a twin, seeing things through a child's eyes, and how one might cope with traumatic experiences.
Definitely recommend, but read it slowly when you can devour the language and not miss the small details that may confuse you if overlooked.
It's told in an unusual style, that can sometimes be confusing, but did an excellent job of putting you into the place of the character and seeing things the way Hana (Hanako) would.
Some beautiful ideas here about the power of being a twin, seeing things through a child's eyes, and how one might cope with traumatic experiences.
Definitely recommend, but read it slowly when you can devour the language and not miss the small details that may confuse you if overlooked.
June 5, 2018
Shadow Child is a truly lovely work of literary fiction. A multi-generational tale that unfolds slowly and is told from alternating points of view, the writing is both sharp and lyrical; full of amazing images that really stick in my mind. An intense story of two sisters, their mother, and a history of WWII that is not often told, this book packs a serious emotional punch! Shadow Child makes the reader work and think, then rewards with beauty, truth, sadness, and hope.
January 5, 2018
Jan 1: this book sounds interesting, I'll try it
Jan 2: so jealous my mom is in Hawaii right now
Jan 3: email publisher to see if author could attend book club meeting
Jan 4: WTH happened in that cave? Guess I'll have to stay up late to find out!
Beautiful writing, lush storytelling, this book engaged me right away.
Jan 2: so jealous my mom is in Hawaii right now
Jan 3: email publisher to see if author could attend book club meeting
Jan 4: WTH happened in that cave? Guess I'll have to stay up late to find out!
Beautiful writing, lush storytelling, this book engaged me right away.
January 21, 2018
This is the story of twin sisters, Hana and Kei, who have a complicated history and even more complicated present. It is also the story of their mother, Miya/ Lillie, whose disturbing and harrowing past never leaves her, hanging like a shadow over her life and the lives of her two young daughters. The story slowly uncovers Lillie's past, while at the same time diving into the sometimes confusing relationship between the two girls, and especially dealing with a traumatic experience Hana has in a cave, which Hana does not quite remember and which Kei has been doing penance for since it happened.
Hana has been living in New York City since leaving her home, her mother, her stepfather, and her twin sister in Hawaii, soon after the cave incident. She is withdrawn, introverted, and damaged by the incident of the cave and its aftermath, and has been in therapy to try to recover her sanity and equilibrium. She hasn't, so far, succeeded, and has broken off all ties with her family, hunkered down in a quiet bookkeeping job, and lives from day to day and paycheck to paycheck.
Until her sister Kei comes for an unexpected visit, claiming only that she is bringing Hana's inheritance with her. When Hana comes back to her place to greet Kei after work, she finds a terrible crime has been committed, throwing Hana into an upheaval of emotions and her life turned upside down. Hana and Kei have to work out their past lives together, their mother's secrets, and their futures.
I found the story mysterious and compelling, but slightly murky. I'm not necessarily referring to the events (although by definition the mysteries surrounding the events here are necessarily unclear until they are illuminated), but rather to the narration, as well as to the relationships here. For example, some of Hana's immense resentment and hatred towards Kei has to do with how Kei supposedly treated her on the night of the famous cave incident, but this could have been cleared up the very next day. Ditto for Hana's resentment towards her mother, (whom she leaves and does not return to, ever) for not visiting her in the hospital in the aftermath of the cave incident. Hana is traumatized, and leaves home without speaking to anyone again after that, so for such a big consequence, it seems ridiculous that things are never explained to her by her sister and mother. Hana's relationship with her mother is also murky, as it is tainted by Hana's perceptions of their mother's love for the two girls, and her perceptions of Lillie favoring one over the other. This, too, is easily explainable, but never explained to Hana, and leaves psychic scars. Arnie, her stepfather, knows the truth about so much of this, and so could have easily told her, but apparently does not. It seems that so many loose ends, resentments and mysteries surround questions that could and should have been answered long ago. The same thing goes for the mysteries surrounding their mother. Granted, Lillie has some mental issues, but the girls grow up 1. not knowing who their father is 2. not understanding that Miya and Lillie are the same person 3. knowing nothing of their mother's background, family, home town, or experiences during the war 4. being confused by their mother's "episodes," etc. All this Lillie could have spoken about, but chose not to, leaving the girls with only mysteries about their mother, and some mysterious items (a photo of a child, a wooden yo-yo, a jade necklace) that leaves them confused and hurt.
The mystery of the crime committed to Kei at the very beginning turns out to have a very bizarre and unsatisfying answer.
Hana has been living in New York City since leaving her home, her mother, her stepfather, and her twin sister in Hawaii, soon after the cave incident. She is withdrawn, introverted, and damaged by the incident of the cave and its aftermath, and has been in therapy to try to recover her sanity and equilibrium. She hasn't, so far, succeeded, and has broken off all ties with her family, hunkered down in a quiet bookkeeping job, and lives from day to day and paycheck to paycheck.
Until her sister Kei comes for an unexpected visit, claiming only that she is bringing Hana's inheritance with her. When Hana comes back to her place to greet Kei after work, she finds a terrible crime has been committed, throwing Hana into an upheaval of emotions and her life turned upside down. Hana and Kei have to work out their past lives together, their mother's secrets, and their futures.
I found the story mysterious and compelling, but slightly murky. I'm not necessarily referring to the events (although by definition the mysteries surrounding the events here are necessarily unclear until they are illuminated), but rather to the narration, as well as to the relationships here. For example, some of Hana's immense resentment and hatred towards Kei has to do with how Kei supposedly treated her on the night of the famous cave incident, but this could have been cleared up the very next day. Ditto for Hana's resentment towards her mother, (whom she leaves and does not return to, ever) for not visiting her in the hospital in the aftermath of the cave incident. Hana is traumatized, and leaves home without speaking to anyone again after that, so for such a big consequence, it seems ridiculous that things are never explained to her by her sister and mother. Hana's relationship with her mother is also murky, as it is tainted by Hana's perceptions of their mother's love for the two girls, and her perceptions of Lillie favoring one over the other. This, too, is easily explainable, but never explained to Hana, and leaves psychic scars. Arnie, her stepfather, knows the truth about so much of this, and so could have easily told her, but apparently does not. It seems that so many loose ends, resentments and mysteries surround questions that could and should have been answered long ago. The same thing goes for the mysteries surrounding their mother. Granted, Lillie has some mental issues, but the girls grow up 1. not knowing who their father is 2. not understanding that Miya and Lillie are the same person 3. knowing nothing of their mother's background, family, home town, or experiences during the war 4. being confused by their mother's "episodes," etc. All this Lillie could have spoken about, but chose not to, leaving the girls with only mysteries about their mother, and some mysterious items (a photo of a child, a wooden yo-yo, a jade necklace) that leaves them confused and hurt.
The mystery of the crime committed to Kei at the very beginning turns out to have a very bizarre and unsatisfying answer.
October 25, 2018
Thank you to @grandcentralpub for sending me a copy of this book for review.
I was so intrigued by the plot of this book. It goes back and forth between World War Two era and 20 some years later. It takes place in Hawaii and New York and let the reader put pieces together and connect the dots between the two eras.
Hannah and Kei are twin sisters who loved each other very much, until something happened that tore them apart, leaving Hannah to move to New York. Their mother also seems to have a dark past as she is considered the crazy on in their town in Hawaii.
When Kei comes to visit Hannah in New York, something happens that sends Hannah down a spiral of trying to make sense of what’s happened, both past and present.
The writing is amazing in this book. And the idea was also great but I felt like the book ended with a lot left unspoken and unresolved and I didn’t get a good feeling from the ending. I also would have liked some other things explained a bit more, but I really liked reading about Lily in the World War Two era. I think this is a book you’ll have to pick up and decide for yourself. As the writing is beautiful I’m giving the book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was so intrigued by the plot of this book. It goes back and forth between World War Two era and 20 some years later. It takes place in Hawaii and New York and let the reader put pieces together and connect the dots between the two eras.
Hannah and Kei are twin sisters who loved each other very much, until something happened that tore them apart, leaving Hannah to move to New York. Their mother also seems to have a dark past as she is considered the crazy on in their town in Hawaii.
When Kei comes to visit Hannah in New York, something happens that sends Hannah down a spiral of trying to make sense of what’s happened, both past and present.
The writing is amazing in this book. And the idea was also great but I felt like the book ended with a lot left unspoken and unresolved and I didn’t get a good feeling from the ending. I also would have liked some other things explained a bit more, but I really liked reading about Lily in the World War Two era. I think this is a book you’ll have to pick up and decide for yourself. As the writing is beautiful I’m giving the book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 15, 2018
Thanks to Goodreads and Grand Central Publishing.
Interesting book. There is the story of Lillian/Miya in the 1940s in Japan, then the twins Hana(ko) and Kei(ko) and their interesting lives in Hawaii where their mother Lillian tells them stories about Lillian who she calls Miya. Ends up that Miya changed her name to Lillian when she left Japan. Her daughters never knew that and found a picture of a little boy who was her son who they never knew of either.
Starting in the present with Hana living in New York after leaving Hawaii after an "accident" of some kind which I learn basically at the end of book in a cave where she is found after going there with friends of Kei's. She hasn't seen her sister in 6 years and finds out that Kei came there to see her and finds her strangled (but living) in her bathtub in a coma and how it seems to be a break-in. The book goes back and forth between the past and the present. How it ends up surprises me but I wish it would have been more tied up.
Interesting book. There is the story of Lillian/Miya in the 1940s in Japan, then the twins Hana(ko) and Kei(ko) and their interesting lives in Hawaii where their mother Lillian tells them stories about Lillian who she calls Miya. Ends up that Miya changed her name to Lillian when she left Japan. Her daughters never knew that and found a picture of a little boy who was her son who they never knew of either.
Starting in the present with Hana living in New York after leaving Hawaii after an "accident" of some kind which I learn basically at the end of book in a cave where she is found after going there with friends of Kei's. She hasn't seen her sister in 6 years and finds out that Kei came there to see her and finds her strangled (but living) in her bathtub in a coma and how it seems to be a break-in. The book goes back and forth between the past and the present. How it ends up surprises me but I wish it would have been more tied up.
September 24, 2019
ASSAULTED BY ADJECTIVES-I gave this book 2 stars based solely on the prose. Which was mostly over the top, but had the potential to be very pretty-IF it lost at least a quarter to a half of the adjectives. Granted, that would take 150 pages off this book, but a much better book it would be from a prose standpoint. As to the story, you had three characters who had the potential for three great storylines. But it’s as if the author didn’t want to invest time in all three characters, yet couldn’t make up her mind which storyline in which TO invest. So we have three half-baked characters and their storylines. Then, we have an ending which is vague and makes no attempt to answer its own mysteries and subplots, leaving the reader wondering why they invested time in this book. I can’t recommend it. I sincerely hope the author gets it together and streamlines her writing. I think the talent is there but if this is who she is as a writer, she needs a lot of work
May 6, 2018
I loved the premise of the book, and wanted to see how it ended...but I struggled with the relationships in the book a bit (struggled in terms of believability) and the ending seemed far fetched and for me, fell a bit flat. With that said, I love books that deal with twins and their relationship with each other, both the good and the bad. If you are a twin, or have twins in your family...you know first hand that that relationship is very different that other sibling relationships, and it’s so intriguing to me. So I’m always in for a book that deals with this topic. I also think we need more books that deal with Japanese Americans (and Japanese in general) and this book allows a little light into this culture and world. More of this please!! Thank you to Goodreads and grand central publishing for the chance to read this book!
September 8, 2018
The historical parts were interesting. The balance of the book irritates me. Switching between persons and time periods is fine and generally, quite interesting. But this author uses different and the same names for different characters, so that you are never quite sure who she is talking about, or what is as it seems.
October 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. My sister chose it and sent it to me from Florida, and she read it first, but we've been discussing it since I've finished it. What we both like best about it is that it's open to so many different interpretations. We both understood the ending differently, but we're both right. I love that about this book.
I enjoyed reading about Lillie and Hana/Kei. I found the fluctuations between the girls' present, the girls' past, and Lillie's past interesting. I would look ahead to see when the next "1945" section was coming or when the next "Hana" section was coming. I didn't want either to be interrupted. I do wish there were more Lillie sections, though, because with the few that are scattered throughout the book, it doesn't seem to connect her story to the girls' as much as it could. Knowing Lillie's past is very important to the girls' present, but I think Rizzuto could've either revealed Lillie's past differently or integrated her story more fully into the girls' story, so the book didn't feel too much like two different novels. In her Acknowledgements, Rizzuto writes that she did, in fact, write various versions of this book, and it shows sometimes. The book wants to be so many things that I don't think it can be each of them successfully. However, that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.
I don't remember ever reading a book set in Hawaii before, so I appreciated the setting, and I really enjoyed getting to know Lillie, Miya, Kei, Hana, and Arnie. The ending was shocking. Two big revelations came that I never expected. I do believe there was a little too much suspense built up over the cave incident, but when the truth comes out, it was worth it. The other mystery, the starting point of the novel of who attacked Kei, also carries throughout the entire book, but because of the flashbacks, I didn't mind that as much and found it the more dominant and important mystery anyway. That reveal was just as, if not more, shocking as the cave reveal. This book has qualities of a commercial thriller (which was one of Rizzuto's initial takes on the story), historical fiction, a coming-of-age story, and a literary novel. Again, it really is each of them. Which is it best at being? For me, a coming-of-age story. My favorite parts were tracing Hana and Kei's development and really understanding them as characters from girlhood and oneness to two separate ones to whatever you think they turn into at the end. Overall, a great character study of twins, of two girls, of their family and the past.
I highly recommend this book. Some found the narrative style confusing, but I enjoyed it, and I liked making sense of it as I went along. I've always enjoyed complex narrative styles that take time to really immerse myself in, and I also enjoy interpreting an ending or even the build-up to an ending rather than having it unfold simply for me. If you don't like complex narrative structure or open ending, this is definitely not the book for you!
I'm glad my sister picked this one. She sent me another one that I hope to get to soon, and I can't wait because, so far, she's 3-0.
I enjoyed reading about Lillie and Hana/Kei. I found the fluctuations between the girls' present, the girls' past, and Lillie's past interesting. I would look ahead to see when the next "1945" section was coming or when the next "Hana" section was coming. I didn't want either to be interrupted. I do wish there were more Lillie sections, though, because with the few that are scattered throughout the book, it doesn't seem to connect her story to the girls' as much as it could. Knowing Lillie's past is very important to the girls' present, but I think Rizzuto could've either revealed Lillie's past differently or integrated her story more fully into the girls' story, so the book didn't feel too much like two different novels. In her Acknowledgements, Rizzuto writes that she did, in fact, write various versions of this book, and it shows sometimes. The book wants to be so many things that I don't think it can be each of them successfully. However, that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.
I don't remember ever reading a book set in Hawaii before, so I appreciated the setting, and I really enjoyed getting to know Lillie, Miya, Kei, Hana, and Arnie. The ending was shocking. Two big revelations came that I never expected. I do believe there was a little too much suspense built up over the cave incident, but when the truth comes out, it was worth it. The other mystery, the starting point of the novel of who attacked Kei, also carries throughout the entire book, but because of the flashbacks, I didn't mind that as much and found it the more dominant and important mystery anyway. That reveal was just as, if not more, shocking as the cave reveal. This book has qualities of a commercial thriller (which was one of Rizzuto's initial takes on the story), historical fiction, a coming-of-age story, and a literary novel. Again, it really is each of them. Which is it best at being? For me, a coming-of-age story. My favorite parts were tracing Hana and Kei's development and really understanding them as characters from girlhood and oneness to two separate ones to whatever you think they turn into at the end. Overall, a great character study of twins, of two girls, of their family and the past.
I highly recommend this book. Some found the narrative style confusing, but I enjoyed it, and I liked making sense of it as I went along. I've always enjoyed complex narrative styles that take time to really immerse myself in, and I also enjoy interpreting an ending or even the build-up to an ending rather than having it unfold simply for me. If you don't like complex narrative structure or open ending, this is definitely not the book for you!
I'm glad my sister picked this one. She sent me another one that I hope to get to soon, and I can't wait because, so far, she's 3-0.
May 30, 2018
I received an ARC through Goodreads.
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This was an interesting read. The story is told through the perspectives of 4 different females and different time periods. There are twists and turns, making you question and wonder about the story you are being told.
Kei and Hana are twins, who use to be close, but something happened 6 years ago that changed that and forced Hana to flee and never look back. But now Kei has come knocking, unfortunately something happened leading her to be in a coma, and Hana is left to pick up the pieces.
The story slowly separates the twins from 1 single being into 2 little girls. The personalities and characters of the girls slowly start to form. Although there were times when I think Hana and Kei switched names, after all they are twins and were really similar for a while before all the events leading up to the big day that left Hana running away from Hawaii.
The story told from Lillie and Miya's side was intriguing, and while you wonder how these 2 females are connected, the truth is eventually revealed. I really feel for Lillie, she went through so much and lost just about everything . And Miya, poor Miya, she is so fragile and frail that I am surprised she was able to raise Kei and Hana all by herself for so many years. She loves her children dearly and once you know her backstory, you will know why she teaches her children to be so cautious.
The ending was a little climatic and a bit of a let down compared to the rest of the book.
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This was an interesting read. The story is told through the perspectives of 4 different females and different time periods. There are twists and turns, making you question and wonder about the story you are being told.
Kei and Hana are twins, who use to be close, but something happened 6 years ago that changed that and forced Hana to flee and never look back. But now Kei has come knocking, unfortunately something happened leading her to be in a coma, and Hana is left to pick up the pieces.
The story slowly separates the twins from 1 single being into 2 little girls. The personalities and characters of the girls slowly start to form. Although there were times when I think Hana and Kei switched names, after all they are twins and were really similar for a while before all the events leading up to the big day that left Hana running away from Hawaii.
The story told from Lillie and Miya's side was intriguing, and while you wonder how these 2 females are connected, the truth is eventually revealed. I really feel for Lillie, she went through so much and lost just about everything . And Miya, poor Miya, she is so fragile and frail that I am surprised she was able to raise Kei and Hana all by herself for so many years. She loves her children dearly and once you know her backstory, you will know why she teaches her children to be so cautious.
The ending was a little climatic and a bit of a let down compared to the rest of the book.
May 8, 2018
Rahna Reiko Rizzuto has an exceptional ability to write lyrical, lucid narratives with complex and engrossing characters. Shadow Child is about two identical twin sisters - Hana and Kei - who grew up in Hawaii with a troubled, yet loving mother. One is the "good" twin and the other a "rebel," but their bond is stronger for it - until something happens that causes Hana to flee her home and her family and live in New York City, essentially in hiding. She can't face the trauma of what happened to her in the darkness of a cave on Hawaii and blames her sister and mother for abandoning her when she needed them the most. Then Kei finds Hana in NYC years later, and Hana must finally face her demons. She must remember what happened and what it means in order to save Kei, whose life depends on Hana remembering.
The novel is written in an alternating narrative between Hana (present day), Kei (childhood), and their mother (WW2 era). It's not a linear narrative and often feels very dreamy and ambiguous, which can be frustrating if you're looking for a thriller type of mystery with characters on the run, solving clues, and discovering the capital-t Truth by the end. Shadow Child is more of an exploration of how memory can deceive you, damaging your relationships and life, and even twisting your perception of yourself. The mystery isn't really a who-dunnit, but rather the mystery of how we deal with the aftermath of tragedy, how we come to terms with the "truth," and how we might heal. It's about the shadows that surround us and the shadows that reside inside us. And like all shadows, nothing is ever perfectly clear or known. And for that, I really enjoyed reading Shadow Child.
The novel is written in an alternating narrative between Hana (present day), Kei (childhood), and their mother (WW2 era). It's not a linear narrative and often feels very dreamy and ambiguous, which can be frustrating if you're looking for a thriller type of mystery with characters on the run, solving clues, and discovering the capital-t Truth by the end. Shadow Child is more of an exploration of how memory can deceive you, damaging your relationships and life, and even twisting your perception of yourself. The mystery isn't really a who-dunnit, but rather the mystery of how we deal with the aftermath of tragedy, how we come to terms with the "truth," and how we might heal. It's about the shadows that surround us and the shadows that reside inside us. And like all shadows, nothing is ever perfectly clear or known. And for that, I really enjoyed reading Shadow Child.
January 3, 2021
What a beautiful story! This is what I would call a jewel. Hana and Kei, mixed twins, share a special bond. They are so close they pretend to be one person at times. Their mom, Miya is plagued by memories from Hiroshima and never shares her secret traumas with anyone, including her fatherless daughters. Tortured by her past and constantly reliving her pain, Miya is labelled the town crazy lady and her daughters think she is sick. As the girls get older and their bond begins to sever, one awful night changes their lives forever.
This was a work of historical fiction illuminating the Japanese experience during World War 2. It sheds light on generational trauma, discrimination, mental illness and how it manifests, haunts, miseducates and repeats itself. It also highlights sisterhood, survival, parenrhood, forgiveness, marraige and PTSD.
The author's writing style is dramatic yet beautiful in its' simplicity. I felt every emotion of the characters deep in my soul. The characters had depth and were so unique. The author depicted the characters in such a poetic fashion that I was so invested in them. Hana, Kei, Miya and Arnie will stay with me forever. This is one of those stories that I will remember forever and will need some time to fully process. The ending blew my mind and caught me completely off guard. My heart bleeds for rhis family and their tragedy was so moving. Bravo to Rahna Reiko Rizzuto for an amazing work of fiction. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Book Group for the ARC and the opportunity to give an honest review.
This was a work of historical fiction illuminating the Japanese experience during World War 2. It sheds light on generational trauma, discrimination, mental illness and how it manifests, haunts, miseducates and repeats itself. It also highlights sisterhood, survival, parenrhood, forgiveness, marraige and PTSD.
The author's writing style is dramatic yet beautiful in its' simplicity. I felt every emotion of the characters deep in my soul. The characters had depth and were so unique. The author depicted the characters in such a poetic fashion that I was so invested in them. Hana, Kei, Miya and Arnie will stay with me forever. This is one of those stories that I will remember forever and will need some time to fully process. The ending blew my mind and caught me completely off guard. My heart bleeds for rhis family and their tragedy was so moving. Bravo to Rahna Reiko Rizzuto for an amazing work of fiction. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Book Group for the ARC and the opportunity to give an honest review.
August 30, 2018
My first impression of this book was of how truly dazzling the prose is. The language, like the story itself, is deeply original and surprising at every turn. I agree with the other reviewer who mentioned it is a good book to savor and read at a pace that will really allow you to let the images and narrative innovations linger in your consciousness for a while. Because I believe its suspense is one of the book's many strengths, I don't want to add any spoilers, but I suspect that those who find this book primarily confusing would have been served by sitting with it a little longer. There are so many worlds one enters into upon reading this beautiful work - a world of twins, of history, of different landscapes, communities, cultures, psychologies... It is no wonder that each entry introduces us to a new way of seeing, listening, or storytelling. At times I too felt the linear thread had escaped me, but each time I allowed myself to simply trust my narrator and allow myself to be immersed in the story as in a wave, I found myself in the middle of a narrative that not only held together but was far more profound and expansive than the story of my expectations. The questions Ms. Rizzuto leaves her readers pondering are not frivolous. They are the same kinds of questions - questions about the nature of reality, history, ancestry, perception, truth, heroism - that life itself poses. A beautiful read. Frequently haunting and tragic, but ultimately life-affirming, love-affirming, and transcendent.
July 13, 2018
I received Shadow Child through GoodReads FirstReads in exchange for a fair review. Rahna Reiko Rizzuto weaves the stories of Lillie and twin girls as a way to explain how one of the daughters, Keiko, has ended up in an inexplicable coma, while Hanako is helpless to revive her or help find the perpetrator.
The story slowly untangles, the significance of the mother’s past and the trauma the girls experienced during high school referenced early on and teased throughout the book. The story moves between begins the time period when Japanese Americans were put into camps, continues to deportation to Japan, with girls’ childhood set in Hawaii, and the story-present in New York. War and racism play roles only in the background, so they seem like they are not part of the discussion. Instead, perception and inability to communicate become the central conflicts.
The novel is confusing at moments, and it was difficult for me to tell what was intentional and what unintentional. For example, at the end of novel, it occurred to me that the identity of Lillie was probably meant to be a mystery, but I immediately knew, and did not even consider it was not meant to be obvious because it was written as a kind of reveal.
Overall, it was easy to get caught up in, and during the last hundred pages when the book really picked up, I stayed up reading way past my bedtime.
The story slowly untangles, the significance of the mother’s past and the trauma the girls experienced during high school referenced early on and teased throughout the book. The story moves between begins the time period when Japanese Americans were put into camps, continues to deportation to Japan, with girls’ childhood set in Hawaii, and the story-present in New York. War and racism play roles only in the background, so they seem like they are not part of the discussion. Instead, perception and inability to communicate become the central conflicts.
The novel is confusing at moments, and it was difficult for me to tell what was intentional and what unintentional. For example, at the end of novel, it occurred to me that the identity of Lillie was probably meant to be a mystery, but I immediately knew, and did not even consider it was not meant to be obvious because it was written as a kind of reveal.
Overall, it was easy to get caught up in, and during the last hundred pages when the book really picked up, I stayed up reading way past my bedtime.
November 19, 2018
The best way I can describe this book by Rahna Reiko Rizzuto is emotionally searing. It is profound, deeply moving and it will break your heart. That said, I also think this may very well be great literature.
Ingeniously plotted, this structurally complex book is essentially three, interlocking stories of three women told over three time periods. Lillie is haunted by demons unleashed when she narrowly misses being killed by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and she cannot help but impart some of those demons on her identical twin daughters, Hanako and Keiko. Once they were so melded into seemingly one being that the girls shared a nickname, Koko. Inevitably, their spirits separate—but in a cruel, monstrous and violent way. Can they ever regain their trust and love for one another? This is a book about the power of memory, the power of our personal stories and the power of love.
Here is an interesting dichotomy for the reader: This book is so intense and emotionally charged, it is often difficult to keep reading, but at the same time, this haunting and engrossing story is told in such a captivating way that it's hard to stop reading. The book penetrated my heart, and I know I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
Ingeniously plotted, this structurally complex book is essentially three, interlocking stories of three women told over three time periods. Lillie is haunted by demons unleashed when she narrowly misses being killed by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and she cannot help but impart some of those demons on her identical twin daughters, Hanako and Keiko. Once they were so melded into seemingly one being that the girls shared a nickname, Koko. Inevitably, their spirits separate—but in a cruel, monstrous and violent way. Can they ever regain their trust and love for one another? This is a book about the power of memory, the power of our personal stories and the power of love.
Here is an interesting dichotomy for the reader: This book is so intense and emotionally charged, it is often difficult to keep reading, but at the same time, this haunting and engrossing story is told in such a captivating way that it's hard to stop reading. The book penetrated my heart, and I know I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
December 17, 2018
This is a tough one. I am not sure what rating to give. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, but as the book continued, I became more confused. It was like a historical fiction/thriller, and I’m not sure that worked here. It was 2 stories in one, which is not uncommon for a book, however I felt that the author failed to have the stories mesh. One story was of Lillie, an Asian foster child, whose husband, of Japanese descent, applies to move the couple from America to Japan as a means to escape the internment camps during WWII. The second story, is of Kei and Hana, Lillie’s twin daughters, who have been estranged following a mysterious, alluded to event. I found the chapters narrated by Kei and Hana confusing as it was not always clear if it was Kei relating her experiences, or Hana’s experiences. There were a few holes in the story I thought, and at times I wondered if there actually were 2 people or it was some sort of psychological issue. I found I enjoyed the WWII story and that almost could have fleshed out into its own book. It did keep me captivated enough to read it fairly quickly, however, I found that the ending didn’t answer the questions I had. I’d say 2.5 stars...
September 25, 2018
This is the story is of a woman of Japanese descent, raised in the U.S., and then deported after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, with her husband and son. She never fits into the Japanese way of life and eventually her husband leaves, with their son, to escape conscription in the Japanese army and to relocate the boy out of the city because of the air bombings. The woman never sees them, again, and loses the only friend she made in Hiroshima, when it is bombed. She goes on to meet an American soldier, who she marries, to get back into the U.S. She is pregnant with twin girls, when she sneaks off the ship, in Hawaii, instead of going on to San Francisco, where she is to meet up with her husband. The twin girls grow up, in Hawaii, living with a mother who is still grieving the loss of her first born and her best friend. The girls have a love/hate relationship, which I suppose is not unusual with sisters, especially twins. They vie for their mom's affection, which she is incapable of giving. Her mom manages to have a relationship with a local man, who acts like a father figure to the girls. I enjoyed the mother's back story more than the story of the twin girls.
July 17, 2018
This is not a book to skim. This is a book to savor. Every bit of it is beautiful, even the parts that will make you cry. And reading about Lillie's experience in Hiroshima definitely made me cry. Shadow Child deftly weaves together three women's stories (although sometimes it can seem like more as they struggle to discover and rediscover who they actually are). What starts a little slowly builds and builds and by the end it will sweep you away like a tidal wave, which is absolutely intentional since so many turning points in the story involve waves--tidal waves, blast waves--I don't want to spoil it. Take your time with this one and you'll appreciate the investment at the end. No one crafts a story like Rahna Reiko Rizzuto.
June 17, 2018
Shadow Child by Rahna Reiko Rizzuto was an engrossing read that held my interest all the way through. The story centers around identical twins, grandchildren of a couple who were incarcerated during WWII in Japanese camps in California, and children of a mother who lived during the time of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The twins grew up in Hawaii, a land of ocean, flowers, and sunshine, but they are shadowed by the past, influenced in subtle and not so subtle ways by their grandparents and their mother's generation of Japanese who endured WWII. They must survive the past and the present in their own way. A five-star read.
December 10, 2018
Fabulous book. One of the best reads this year. Set in many places and shifting in years. It follows the lives of 2 generations; The Mom, Lillie who survived Hiroshima and the lives of her twin daughters who were raised in Hawaii. A touching lovely tale also with much sadness and surprising twists. Well written first novel... A definite recommended read for everyone who loves family and historic fiction!
January 22, 2019
This story moved me with its depiction of the relationship between a Japanese-American woman and her twin daughters and the relationship between the two daughters. Their secrets and misunderstandings distort and in some cases ruin their interactions, feelings, and even self-regard. There is a twist at the end that I didn't see coming, which makes me like the book all the more. Highly recommended.
April 27, 2024
I will certainly never understand sibling relationships. Took a while to grow on me but I ended up feeling really emotionally connected to the story. Really interesting to have each twin be an unreliable narrator, and sad that they never had the ability to communicate effectively. I was a little disappointed in the anti climax (to some extent) at the end - both the cave and the present day - since they’d both had so much buildup.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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