Red Girls: The Legend of the Akakuchibas

Gr 10 Up—Manyo, abandoned by the mythical "Mountain People," is adopted by the Tadas, whom she affectionately refers to as the "young couple." Not only is Manyo an "outlander," she is also illiterate, making her the target of ridicule and bullying. Blessed (or cursed, depending upon perspective) with clairvoyance, Manyo is chosen by an elite family (the Akakuchibas) to become the family matriarch and give birth to the heir of the family business. What follows is a tragic mystery reminiscent of Cassandra from Greek myths (except Manyo remains mostly silent about her prophecies). Told from the perspective of her granddaughter, this volume is the story of the Akakuchiba family's dominance in Japan during the post-World War II industrial boom and the trials of their offspring in the years of civil unrest, technology upsurge, and the end of the Cold War that followed (1953–92). Part mystery, drama, and supernatural, this title is full of characters and intertwining stories that occasionally get lost in one another. Although the characters are interesting, there are too many for readers to make any real emotional investment in their stories.