Himawari House is the debut graphic novel written and illustrated by artist Harmony Becker. It tells the story of a group of teenage exchange students who are spending a gap year in Japan. Himawari House focuses on Nao, the daughter of a Japanese immigrant, who goes there to learn more about its culture and language. Published on November 9, 2021, by First Second Books, it was the recipient of a Kirkus Prize in the "Young Readers' Literature" category, receiving praise for its art and creative use of speech balloons, which was used to represent the language barriers between characters.
Himawari House received starred reviews from several outlets, including Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal and The Horn Book. Becker's usage of altered speech balloons to show the characters' difficulty in understanding each other sometimes was specially praised by reviewers. Jennifer M. Brabander, who reviewed for The Horn Book, called this use of the balloons "smart," and concluded her review by noting how Himawari House "explores, among other topics, how language can either separate or bring people together."[1] Emilia Packard, for the School Library Journal, said the novel would be great for "teens interested in language and cultural exploration."[2]
Publishers Weekly commented on the various references to Asian culture in the book, such as "nods to food, Asian pop culture, the konbini franchise Lawson," and how these enriched the narrative. They also praised Becker's art, saying "[t]hose unfamiliar will appreciate the fluid, expressive cast, [..] and the intricately sketched scenery."[3]Kirkus Reviews was also very positive on the art present throughout the book. They noted how both the main and side characters are "well developed, with complex, heartstring-tugging backstories," and concluded by saying "this work exemplifies what the graphic novel format can achieve."[4]
In 2022, Himawari House was the recipient of a Kirkus Prize in the "Young Readers' Literature" category, with the judges calling it a "remarkable mastery of graphic novel conventions and its perceptive exploration of emotionally resonant, evergreen themes relating to family, friendship, and identity."[5]
Referencesedit
^Brabander, Jennifer M. "Review of Himawari House by Harmony Becker". The Horn Book. from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
^Packard, Emily. "Himawari House". School Library Journal. from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
^"Himawari House by Harmony Becker". Publishers Weekly. October 7, 2021. from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
^"Himawari House". Kirkus Reviews. July 13, 2021. from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
^"Winners of the 2022 Kirkus Prize Are Revealed". Kirkus Reviews. from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
January 01, 1970
himawari, house, debut, graphic, novel, written, illustrated, artist, harmony, becker, tells, story, group, teenage, exchange, students, spending, year, japan, focuses, daughter, japanese, immigrant, goes, there, learn, more, about, culture, language, publishe. Himawari House is the debut graphic novel written and illustrated by artist Harmony Becker It tells the story of a group of teenage exchange students who are spending a gap year in Japan Himawari House focuses on Nao the daughter of a Japanese immigrant who goes there to learn more about its culture and language Published on November 9 2021 by First Second Books it was the recipient of a Kirkus Prize in the Young Readers Literature category receiving praise for its art and creative use of speech balloons which was used to represent the language barriers between characters Himawari HouseAuthorHarmony BeckerIllustratorHarmony BeckerCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreGraphic novelPublisherFirst Second BooksPublication dateNovember 9 2021Pages384AwardsKirkus PrizeISBN978 1 250 23556 5Reception editHimawari House received starred reviews from several outlets including Publishers Weekly Kirkus Reviews School Library Journal and The Horn Book Becker s usage of altered speech balloons to show the characters difficulty in understanding each other sometimes was specially praised by reviewers Jennifer M Brabander who reviewed for The Horn Book called this use of the balloons smart and concluded her review by noting how Himawari House explores among other topics how language can either separate or bring people together 1 Emilia Packard for the School Library Journal said the novel would be great for teens interested in language and cultural exploration 2 Publishers Weekly commented on the various references to Asian culture in the book such as nods to food Asian pop culture the konbini franchise Lawson and how these enriched the narrative They also praised Becker s art saying t hose unfamiliar will appreciate the fluid expressive cast and the intricately sketched scenery 3 Kirkus Reviews was also very positive on the art present throughout the book They noted how both the main and side characters are well developed with complex heartstring tugging backstories and concluded by saying this work exemplifies what the graphic novel format can achieve 4 In 2022 Himawari House was the recipient of a Kirkus Prize in the Young Readers Literature category with the judges calling it a remarkable mastery of graphic novel conventions and its perceptive exploration of emotionally resonant evergreen themes relating to family friendship and identity 5 References edit Brabander Jennifer M Review of Himawari House by Harmony Becker The Horn Book Archived from the original on October 31 2022 Retrieved October 29 2022 Packard Emily Himawari House School Library Journal Archived from the original on January 30 2023 Retrieved October 29 2022 Himawari House by Harmony Becker Publishers Weekly October 7 2021 Archived from the original on December 7 2022 Retrieved October 29 2022 Himawari House Kirkus Reviews July 13 2021 Archived from the original on November 3 2022 Retrieved October 29 2022 Winners of the 2022 Kirkus Prize Are Revealed Kirkus Reviews Archived from the original on October 28 2022 Retrieved October 29 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Himawari House amp oldid 1210078388, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
