This is the absolute cutest thing I've read in a while!!

It immediately made me watch the move and I read it with the soundtrack in the background the entire time
Kiki's delivery service has always been a very cute story about self growth and friendship and this book reflects that perfectly. I can't wait to own the physical copy

Kiki's Delivery Service is a wonderful film from Studio Ghibli and has been a firm favorite of mine for years. It was however a tale that I hadn't realized or had forgotten perhaps, that was also a novel and I couldn't resist losing myself in the tale of Kiki and her beloved black cat, Jiji as Kiki learns how to be a town witch after turning thirteen.

This was pretty much everything I could ever ask for in a book whose very tale is one of magic and the wonder it brings to the world. There is nostalgia found there for those who are fans of the famous film and you cannot bring those familiar characters to life within your imagination but, if you are new to Kiki's Delivery Service, you will be a fan within moments of turning the first few pages of Eiko Kadono's tale and left eager for more.

Whilst there isn't much description, it somehow doesn't detract from the story of a little witch and her talking cat. It is simply just the innocence and wonder of this story that has you want to read and no doubt re-read this tale.

One of my favorite Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli movies is Kiki's Delivery Service so when I saw this new translation up on Netgalley I just had to request it. Y'all! I loved it so much! It was absolutely magical! This book differs from the movie but still has the same understated level of delightful whimsy. Reading it gave me the same joy as when I first saw the movie even though they are different. Like with Howl's Moving Castle, I think this is one of those cases that you can appreciate and love both for being different.

But when it comes down to it, they both are really a heartwarming story about growing up and the difficulties that come with it. It's about a witch striking out on her own for the first time with her talking cat. We watch Kiki start her business and use her ability to fly to make deliveries. She may be magical but she's still an ordinary girl besides. We see her deal with the worries and disappointments that life can bring. And we also get to live her joys with her and get a chuckle seeing her grapple with the realization that someone may like her like her for the first time. I loved Jiji's sarcasm and I lived for their comments!

The story is a short one where each chapter had an episodic feel to it. But I was utterly charmed for the whole of the book watching as Kiki finds her place in her new town. And I loved how it kept This translation is actually the first book in a series and I really hope that the publisher decides to translate the rest because I really need them in my life and on my shelves.

I ended up reading this one to my nephews and introduced them to the movie for the first time after. They loved it as much as I did and keep asking when we can read more about Jiji and Kiki. I would highly recommend this if you're looking for a great middle grade/YA fantasy book for all ages.

This is a beautiful adaptation of the well loved movie (though I think it was originally a manga?). It made me excited to share the story with my daughters!

This is an excellent story that fans of the movie will love. I thoroughly enjoyed how brave and resourceful Kiki was. This is a great book for reluctant readers because of its high interest and readability.

It was fabulous to reconnect with Kiki and Jiji after having treasured the movie for so long. I think the translation will provide a door for new fans to appreciate this beautiful coming of age story. It is one of those stories that feels like a classic and should transcend language barriers.

This is a classic for a reason! A beautiful, charming book for any age. I think it has aged well (some classics have not). Check it out!

i really enjoyed reading this, it had what I looked for in a novelization of Kiki's Delivery Service. It was a beautifully written book and I look forward to more from the author.

Kiki's Delivery Service is a beloved film and the book is no different. Kiki is a strong witch who gets stronger as she sets off on her journey of getting to know herself and her craft. She meets many interesting people along the way and discovers her passion.

This was so cute! It was lovely to be able to see where the movie came from, and now I'm ready to go rewatch the movie and compare! The writing/translation did make it hard for me to connect with the characters and story, but I don't think this will be an issue for the target audience.

An extremely cute, nostalgic read for anyone who has grown up with KiKi. A great introduction for those of you who haven't. A wonderful coming of age story for all young witches.

I adored this story! It was everything you would expect from KiKi and Jiji. It had the cute factor, the adventure and the learning experiences that you would expect for a young reader. It also hits home and hits you in the feels for an older audience.

So much is packed into this fast read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Given that I am a Studio Ghibli fan, I was very excited to pick up this ARC! I've seen several reviews that point out that this book is not the same as the movie. I think it's fitting to point this out, but it's also a good point to say that this book doesn't have to be the movie. There is no need for the book to match the movie, particularly because this is the book that inspired the movie adaptation. Originally published in 1985, this translation by Emily Balistrieri captures the heart of the original Japanese text.

This is just the uplifting story that I wanted to read in the middle of quarantine and in a place where hope feels lost. The message of this book is that while humans are annoying, there is good in all of us. There is no 'evil' in this book, but there are mean-spirited people. Fans of the Ghibli film will feel a level of nostalgia for this book, but will also find fun new story elements. This is wholesome and perfect for YA readers! It would also be fun to read this book as a family and watch the Ghibli film to see the differences and talk about the translation. Great book, beautiful story, stellar translation, and a great read in a trying time!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book and to the publisher for releasing it on NetGalley! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such a delightful and fun read. I love Kiki, her mishaps, and her journey. If you are looking for a wonderful read, for yourself or to read with your kids, this is a great choice.

This book was so fun and was so nostalgic! I will definitely reread this book because it made me feel so happy. I couldn’t resist watching the movie after!!

This ARC was provided for review, but in no way affects the following impartial and unbiased review:
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3,5*
Pros: The beautiful original story (middle-grade) of the Studio Ghibli's masterpiece, Kiki Delivery Service. Includes all the cuteness and wholesomeness reserved to Kiki and Jiji. Takes the reader on new adventures while Kiki settles in the new city and starts her delivery business. Fun, whimsical and incredibly cute. Immersive and enchanting world-building.
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Cons: Lack of emotional depth.

Being very familiar with the film, I was so excited to see the translated novel come out, especially to be able to hand this to kids! I thought the novelization was very sweet and well done. It sets up Kiki’s world very well. I loved Kiki’s spirit and way of thinking. This is such a precious book.

Just as good as the movie! Sweet and uplifting, left me in a better mood than when I started reading it.

Once, there was a little town sandwiched between a deep forest and gentle grassy hills. The town was built on an easy southward slope, its roofs the color of dark slices of toast all in a row. Clustered in the center of town, near the train station, were the town hall, the police station, the fire station, and the school. It was a normal town, one you could find anywhere.

But if you paid close attention, you’d find things you wouldn’t usually see.

This is a beautifully written book.

Studio Ghibli is so amazing so I just had to read the book that Kiki's Delivery Service was based on!! This was so absolutely cute and amazing! I definitely like the movie more but I think that might just be the nostalgia talking hehe. There are also a few things different in the book compared to the movie, so that might be part of it as well. If you're a Studio Ghibli fan I highly recommend this!!

I have spent nearly my entire life never knowing that the Miyazaki film I grew up loving had been inspired by a book. Of course, for much of my life, that book was not available in English and thus my ignorance on the matter isn't really surprising. In fact, initially, I thought that this book was based on the film rather than that it was the inspiration for it in the first place. But, much to my pleasure and amazement, I had the immense pleasure of reading <em>Kiki's Delivery Service </em>by Eiko Kadono thanks to a newly published English translation by Emily Balistrieri.

<b>It's not the movie. But then, it doesn't have to be.</b>

<em>Kiki's Delivery Service</em>, at it's core, has always been a story about a young witch coming of age and finding her place in the world. From book to film, that central premise does not change. With that said, there are some key differences between Kadono's story and the Miyazaki rendition many of us know and love. And you could break apart each difference if you wished, but they all ultimately boil down to one thing in the end: telling a single story vs. telling a story episodically.

Whereas with Miyazaki we get one complete story from start to finish, Kadono's Kiki experiences her coming of age in single moments that don't necessarily connect together in a neat and tidy way. There's a central conflict that fills the film every step of the way, but with the novel it's more like a bunch of different conflicts that don't exactly impact the other.

This isn't bad, perse, just different.

But, it's something to keep in mind when you're picking up this book. If you're doing so simply because you love the movie and you want to read the book version, you're probably not going to love <em>Kiki's Delivery Service.</em>

<b>I read Jiji in the voice from the film.</b>

I, very quickly, became a huge fan of Kadono's coming of age tale. Kiki is gloriously quirky in a way you almost don't see as much with the movie. Reading this novel was an experience that allowed me to better understand certain comments from the movie, too, that I'd never quite gotten before. And while I don't think comparing the two is really the important piece here, it's hard not to so.

I think, ultimately, this is definitely a book I would have considered great but not loved in any way had the movie not existed. The nostalgia aspect really is what sold me on it. Granted, I do feel that this novel is <em>perfect</em> for middlegrade readers. It's honestly excellent bedtime reading for your little ones since each chapter very much feels like a single episode of Kiki's life, making it quite easy to stop and not feel like you're being left on a cliff.

You meet many of the characters you know and love from the film, though I'll admit that there was not as much of Tombo as I would have liked. At the end of the day, this is a story about a 12-year-old witch coming of age and really learning about herself. She has her black cat, Jiji, there with her--whom I loved immensely--to help along the way. Kiki's figuring out the way her life will go and developing her priorities in life. She's growing up.

<b>Sending my niece a copy.</b>

It's pretty rare that I come across a middlegrade book and think, oh, I should send this to my niece. She's only six and therefore doesn't really <em>need</em> books like this since she's just learning to read and <em>definitely</em> couldn't tackle this one her own. But this is the kind of book that I think would work excellently as a bedtime story. And it's one that I hope she enjoys immensely because, after the book, I hope she'll watch the movie and fall in love just like I did.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>