Inzer, C. (2016). Diary of a Tokyo Teen: A Japanese-American Girl Travels to the Land of Trendy Fashion, High-Tech Toilets, and Maid Cafes. VT: Tuttle Publishing
This graphic novel is part autobiography, part scrapbook, and part comic book. It revolves around the author and her account of her trip to her homeland of Japan. Inzer tells the story, which is sort of more like a guide book, from the point of view of a tourist, even though she spent her first years in Tokyo before moving to America at age six.
Inzer shows us plenty of illustrations coupled with actual photography. The youthful depictions add an extra layer of light-hearted comedy to the moments within. From her family members descriptions to the trendy people she encounters at the Kashiwa Station, the food and customs of Tokyo, and her account of her interaction with the deer in Nara, you are given a very real feeling of being in these moments. This novel is a great read for anyone interested in travel, Japanese culture, or even Manga and comic book style drawing.
This detailed memoir incorporated Inzer’s hand written drawings and photographs which created a first-hand experience for me as a reader. You could see the shock as she re-entered a world she was once a part of. Even though she came from Japan, she is all American. Readers that immigrated to America would relate with Inzer because she is kind of caught between two worlds. I don’t have a huge connection with this tale, but I can relate to feeling lost within an unfamiliar culture. Where I am from is completely different from where I now live. I remember feeling overwhelmed when I first moved here because nothing felt familiar. The graphic novel makes this book an enjoyable read for everyone in the YA category.
**YALSA Required List – 2017 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Books similar to Diary of a Tokyo Teen:
A Geek in Japan ISBN 978-4805311295
My Awesome Japan Adventure ISBN 978-4805312162
http://christinemari.com/ -Author’s Website
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