Translated

Snow Globe / Soyoung Park, Joungmin Lee Comfort (Translator)

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Snow Globe
By: Soyoung Park, Joungmin Lee Comfort (Translator)
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Number of Pages: 384
Published: February 27, 2024 (1st Published October 23, 2020)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Dates Read: April 17, 2025 - April 18, 2025
Format: Library Book / Audiobook

In a world of constant winter, only the citizens of the climate-controlled city of Snowglobe can escape the breath snatching cold. Outside Snowglobe, citizens must face the icy wasteland to get to their jobs at the power plant to produce the energy Snowglobe needs – in return, they have twenty-four hour reality television programming streamed directly from the domed city.

Chobahm lives for the time she gets to watch her favorite shows – especially Goh Around, starring Goh Haeri, Snowglobe’s star and future weather girl. It turns out, her favorite star is the key to getting Chobahm out of her frozen life and into the warmth of Snowglobe. Because Haeri is dead, and Chobahm looks exactly like her.

But life inside Snowglobe is nothing like Chobahm has thought it was – reality is a lie, and it seems like it take forever to reach any truth.

There were some crazy plot twists in this novel that kept me interested. I’m pretty sure it would be a spectacular K-Drama, because it totally reads like one, but some of the plot twists were way out there.

I’m not sure where I saw the comparison, but I originally picked this up because it said The Hunger Games meets The Squid Games. I do not agree with that comparison after reading this though. If the argument of the televised portion would be the connection to The Hunger Games – it’s just reality TV? And as for Squid Games it’s not a game of  life, death, or money.

Overall, this is a fast pace, twist and turn filled young adult read. There’s a second book coming out soon that I’m sure I will also read.

*Thank you Delacorte Press and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Cat + Gamer (Volume 7) / By: Wataru Nadatani, Susie Lee (Contributor), Zack Davisson (Translator)

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Cat + Gamer (Volume 7)
By: Wataru Nadatani, Susie Lee (contributor), Zack Davisson (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 160
Published: February 25, 2025 (1st Published January 18, 2022)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: March 8, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

A few of the stories in this collection include Riko Kozakura trying to figure out the best way of balancing working from home and the cats’ asking for attention, playing hide and seek, finding the culprit of a mess in the kitchen, and finding the wonderful smell of a cat.

Just another fun collection with such relatable things – like Soboro sitting on the keyboard of the computer or Musubi sitting on Riko’s brand new work chair and her sitting on the edge (one of the reasons I think I automatically sit on the edge of my work chair regardless if there’s a cat there or not).

High applauds to the talent of how Nadatani captures the expressions of a cat without changing what a cat will actually look like. Sure, we get inside their heads during the bonus pages, but the cat’s faces are truly that of a cat’s face (and the amount of times I’ve seen my own cat in Musubi’s face…)

Overall, I still absolutely love this series and can’t wait until the next one.

Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi, Volume 1 / Yuri Sonoda

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Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 1)
By: Yuri Sonoda
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 176
Published: August 27, 2024
Publisher: Seven Seas
Dates Read: December 29, 2024
Format: Library Book / Paperback

One day, Maruru finds himself living on the streets as a stay. He encounters Hachi, a boss cat, who says he doesn’t need a spoiled house cat on his territory and chases him away. A few days later, Maruru helps Hachi out of a situation and the duo begin to tackle the struggles of Third Street together.

I can’t remember how I found this manga, possibly while looking at Cat + Gamer. But, I’m also always on the lookout for cat manga so, it could have been from a few places. Regardless – I absolutely loved this story and immediately fell in love with Maruru and Hachi. Their grump and sunshine friendship is amazing.

I appreciate how the author told the life of a street cat in the way that it is not sugar coated: their search for food, water, shelter, health, and territory is an everyday struggle.

So now, this is going to another manga series I’m going to start collecting.

The Answer Is No / Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth DeNoma (Translator)

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The Answer is No
By: Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth DoNoma (Translator)
Genre: Short Story
Number of Pages: 68
Published: December 1, 2024
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Dates Read: November 10, 2024
Format: eBook

Lucas knows the perfect night needs just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai with peanuts. Oh, and of course, no other people in sight – why complicate things?

Things were going great until one day, a trio from the housing authority rang his doorbell, demanding to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of simply removing the item like Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the culprit. But, their plan backfires, and Lucas somehow ends up in the middle of it.

As per usual, I absolutely love Fredrik Backman and anything he writes. His humor and wit can always make me laugh out loud, especially when it’s about the human experience or connections to one another.

After hearing Backman speak at the Simon & Schuster centennial, I really heard his voice coming through on these pages.

It’s all a bit silly and though some of the conversations between Lucas and his neighbors seem like they could be unrealistic, I can promise you, I have had a very similar version of conversation with patrons at my library.

If you liked Backman before, you’ll love him again with this novel. And, anyone whose day has been ruined by a frying pan (or a piece of trash/rubbish), you’ll also enjoy this witty story.

Cat + Gamer (Volume 5) / Wataru Nadatani

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Cat + Gamer (Volume 5)
By: Wataru Nadatani
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 160
Published: July 9, 2024 (1st Published December 18, 2020)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: July 31, 2024
Format: Library Book / Paperback

From fighting the zoomies, to taking a photo worth a million, Volume 5 of Cat + Gamer is bond to have your cracking smiles with every page turn.

I think I enjoyed this volume most out of all of them I’ve read. I read it all in one setting, in bed right before going to sleep, and I laughed out loud so many times I’m honestly shocked I didn’t wake my sleeping partner in the process.

One of the things I enjoyed was the inner thoughts of the cats and how their lives also revolve around gaming and gaming terms. It honestly used to annoy me a lot when Kozakura would compare everything they did to gaming, but now that the cats are also “in on it”, it makes it all the more better in some weird way.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the simple things that you do as a cat owner, that others just won’t get unless you have cats – example: giving your cats a bath. It’s not as simple as it sounds and the facial expressions that Wataru Nadatani gave Soboro had tears in my eyes as I tried not to laugh so hard while reading.

Overall, this is still a series I’ve been handing recommendations out with left and right. I’ve also been getting them from the library as they become available but have decided, after reading this volume, that I need to just physically own the series. So, now I’m in that process.

Seriously, if you have cats, read this book. If you have cats and love gaming, really read this book. You won’t regret it!

The Love Report Volume 2 / BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)

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The Love Report Volume 2
By: BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 200
Published: February 13, 2024
Publisher: Hippo Park
Dates Read: June 16, 2024
Format: Library Book / eBook

Grace and Lola are back to uncover more truths about romance and friendship in volume two of The Love Report. Grace tries to find balance with her parents’ split, but dividing her time between two different homes can be a headache. Lola and Grace help Adele find a place to stay, and Lola wants to help Felicity after one of the boys starts harassing her.

Summer comes just in time for the girls where it brings them to the island of Sardinia where they continue to discover the ins and outs and relationships.

The Love Report series focuses on girls in middle school (the grade they’d be in in America – though it’s set in France) as they navigate those first love butterflies and wonder. It’s really sweet. I absolutely love the artwork and the characters are genuine and realistic. Topics of bullying, divorce, step parents, and self image are talked about in this novel that are written appropriately for the age group it’s targeting.

This is one of those graphic novels that I will definitely be trying to get my hands on physical copies one of these days. The girls’ style is very French and you can see that within the panels (it just makes me smile).

Overall, I can see myself recommending this series to those who just love the cutesy, coming of age romances. I will be waiting anxiously for the third book.

Shubeik Lubeik / Deena Mohamed, Anjali Singh (Translator)

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Shubeik Lubeik
By: Deena Mohamed, Anjali Singh (Translator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Magical Realism
Number of Pages: 528
Published: January 10, 2023 (1st Published October 1, 2022)
Publisher: Pantheon
Dates Read: March 31, 2024 - April 1, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

In a world where wishes can be bought and the more expensive the wish, the more powerful it is, three individuals, Aziza, Nour, and Shokry, try to figure out what to do with their first class wishes.

The title translates to “Your wish is my command” and this graphic novel really dives into the age old question, “If you had one wish, what would you wish for?”. I really enjoyed the interludes between the stories where it dumped the information about the wishes with what they were and how they worked. It really helped me understand the world the characters were living in.

Aziza’s story is what starts everything off and goes into what a lot of women and lower class citizens go through – especially when it comes to something high price.

Nour’s section was the most intense in my opinion as it dealt with depression. As someone who has battled with depression for years, the questions Nour would ask about it and the best way to ask his question is all stuff that I felt like I would ask as well; especially since you had to be precise on your wishes or they’ll grant you not exactly what you wanted.

Shokry and Hagga’s story(ies) broke my heart with their tale of family. I knew Hagga had her reasons for doing what she was, but I didn’t think it would be that.

The art style of this was drawn the same throughout but would go from color while Shokry and Hagga would talk about the selling of the three wishes to black and white when it would go into each individual story.

Overall, this was an amazing graphic novel. It’s hefty, at 528 pages, which I think is what kept me off of it for as long as I did, but I devoured it as quickly as I could once I started it. In the end, it will really make you think about what your level one wish could be.

Cross My Heart and Never Lie / Nora Dåsnes, Matt Bagguley (Translator)

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Cross My Heart and Never Lie
By: Nora Dåsnes, Matt Bagguley (Translator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 248
Published: September 19, 2023 (1st Published May 5, 2021)
Publisher: Hippo Park
Dates Read: March 20, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Twelve-year-old Tuva has questions about what it means to become a mature and a teenager. She’s starting seventh grade and has a few goals; write (or draw) a whole diary, get a cool look, build the best base in the bog with Bao and Linnéa, go to a sleepover birthday party, and fall in love. She’s got it all planned out. But when school starts, nothing is how she hoped.

Her two best friends are not split into rival teams. TEAM LINNÉA are the girls who fall in love. TEAM BAO are the girls who will never fall in love. Linnéa got a boyfriend over the summer and Bao hates everything there is to do with love. And now, they’re expecting Tuva to pick sides! Then Miriam shows up and suddenly Tuva feels like she’s met her soulmate.

How’s a girl to survive?

This was so cute! First sapphic love written in the diary form of a young artist is adorable (especially when she’s making the connections that yea – she does like Miriam like that!). It’s also one of the best coming of age stories I’ve read in a minute. Tuva’s on that teetering edge of playing around in the mud during breaks and wearing a bra and mascara for the first time (I don’t wear makeup anymore, but I did when I was younger and trying to figure out your “look” is hard!).

Tuva’s dad is also a single parent and it’s heartwarming to see him trying while Tuva’s going through everything. He even admits he doesn’t have all the answers, but it’s always so very supportive.

This book is set in Norway and is translated from Norwegian – it’s fascinating to see how universal growing up can be.

Overall, I’ll be thrusting this book into the hands of many who would like a warm hug on a chilly day. Also those that love queer middle grade stories. The subjects in the story are never too heavy and can be enjoyed by all ages!

The Kamogawa Food Detectives / Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)

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The Kamogawa Food Detectives
By: Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)
Genre: Fiction
Number of Pages: 208
Published: February 13, 2024 (1st Published November 25, 2013)
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Dates Read: February 8, 2024 - February 10, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

The Kamogawa Diner doesn’t really advertise much, there’s not even a sign outside it’s doors, but the customers who need to find them always do. You see, the Kamogawa Diner isn’t just a diner, it’s a “food detective” service run by the father-daughter duo of Koishi and Nagare. Filled with six different customers’ memories and dishes, follow the Kamogawa Diner uses their customer’s treasured memories, the pair are able to recreate lost recipes that provide links to vanished moments.

There’s two things that will most likely get me to read a book. One: be recently translated from a popular Japanese seller. Two: put a cat on the cover. The cat doesn’t even need to be the main focus of the book, a general cat will do just fine.

This is such a cute book – and a warm hug for those foodie book lovers out there as well. I can’t cook to save my life, but this novel went into detail about each of the dishes so it may be something someone could actually follow and make their own versions of the recipes.

Some of the stories I felt were a little drawn out, but they were people sharing a fond memory (or what they could remember of their memory). I’ve said this so many times, but Japanese literature has such an amazing way of capturing the human experience and I always enjoy reading translated work.

Overall, a wonderfully fun, hungry story about a food detective, a father and daughter duo who use their skill of deduction to help customers recreate that special dish from their memories. I can see a lot of contemporary fiction lovers enjoying this book, as well as those who’d like a shorter comfort read.

*Thank you G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Kafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation / Franz Kafka, Nishioka Kyoudai, David Yang (Translator), Nishioka KyōdaiKafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation /

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Kafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
By: Franz Kafka, Nishioka Kyoudai, David Yang (Translator), Nishioka Kyōdai
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 176
Published: October 24, 2023 (1st Published April 20, 2010)
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Dates Read: October 23, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Two favorite Japanese writers present graphic adaptations of nine of Franz Kafka’s classic short stories: The Metamorphosis, A Hunger Artist, In the Penal Colony, A Country Doctor, The Concerns of a Patriarch, The Bucket Rider, Jackals and Arabs, A Fratricide, and The Vulture. 

I am a pretty big fan of Kafka. Was first given him in my Fiction II writing course in college and have loved him ever since. My favorites have been The Metamorphosis, The Penal Colony, and The Bucket Rider – so you can bet I was overly excited to see a manga adaptation of these come to life and I wasn’t disappointed in seeing them come to life in manga form.

I especially want to applaud The Metamorphosis not showing what the creature was, but only showing the family and lodger’s reactions to seeing it – just like Kafka had wanted.

Which brings up the fact that it is manga, and was translated from Japanese into English – but it was first translated from German to Japanese. All of these adapted versions. As someone who loves Kafka, I was slightly disappointed in what was missing in some of the stories, but I’m still impressed by David Yang’s job at the translation.

Overall, I think any fans of Kafka would like this version of the stories as it does give them a new translation and a twist in a way.

*Thank you Pushkin Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review