FORMAT: PAPERBACK (REVIEWED), HARDBACK, DIGITAL | RELEASE DATE: APRIL 22ND
Already a bestseller in its home country, Mizuki Tsujimura’s Lonely Castle in the Mirror will soon also be available to English-language readers, translated from the original Japanese by Philip Gabriel. A wonderful story about mental health and human connection, Tsujimura’s tale deftly weaves magical realism and social commentary into a singularly enchanting read.
The story centres on Kokoro, a young girl who falls victim to bullying and can no longer bring herself to attend school. One day, while home alone, the mirror in her bedroom begins to glow and transports her (à la wardrobe to Narnia) to a beautiful castle. Greeted by an enigmatic child in a wolf mask who calls herself the Wolf Queen, Kokoro finds that she and six other teenagers have been selected for a unique opportunity. The castle in the mirror will be open to them for a year, the Wolf Queen explains, and hidden within it is a magic key; whoever finds it and the door it unlocks will be granted a wish.
Though its summary makes Lonely Castle in the Mirror sound like a fairly straightforward fantasy quest, it would be better described as a slice of life or coming-of-age story that just so happens to be set against a fantastical backdrop. The promised wish quickly becomes an afterthought as the characters slowly get to know each other and find sanctuary in the castle.
The novel unfolds slowly and delicately, giving both the story and its characters room to breathe. The pacing reflects the protagonists’ own guarded natures, so that exposition feels earned rather than forced; it’s as though the reader has to gain Kokoro and the others’ trust before being made privy to their respective situations.
As a result, every titbit feels precious, not unlike Hansel and Gretel’s breadcrumbs. There are plenty of surprises and narrative twists and, while the final reveal can reasonably be foreseen, this does nothing to detract from the enjoyment of seeing the pieces coming together. The Lonely Castle in the Mirror’s greatest strength, however, is in Tsujimura’s tender handling of sobering topics like anxiety, bullying, and abuse. Hers is a beautiful, necessary, and compassionate look at the vulnerability of children and the power of communal healing.
