While I was away (Waka T. Brown)

This story… 🥹 It’s a middle-grade-memoir about 12-year-old Waka who was born and raised in the US by immigrant parents from Japan. When her mother notices that her Japanese language skills are lacking, she sends her to live in Tokyo with her emotionally unavailable grandmother. For five months she has to attend school in this both foreign and not-so-foreign country. Waka is not only confronted with cultural differences and difficulties, but also with herself – and gains deep insights into her ancestral history.

I felt so much with Waka, because I had similar experiences when I went to live in England at a young age, and of course now that I’m living in the US. These experiences change a person deeply. I think anyone who’s lived in a different country all by themselves will be able to emotionally relate to this protagonist. This story is honest, fun, and heart-breaking all at once.

It’s funny, because I didn’t realize that this was a memoir until I read the author’s note at the end of the story! And it made so much sense, because the story stoke me as very honest and at times unusually raw with its wonderfully flawed characters.

I learned a lot about traditional Japanese culture through this book and also did some more research. It has inspired me to try out new things like Japanese cooking or skin care! ☺️🥒🍋🥬✨