The Color of the Sky is the Shape of the Heart by Chesil was a thoughtful YA contemporary read. I feel it was perhaps a mistake to reference Pachinko in the blurb because, while they tackle the same theme, they do so on a different scale and with a different audience in mind, so if you come to this book expecting something like Pachinko, you might be disappointed. The Color of the Sky is the Shape of the Heart is a story on a much smaller scale, but it is no less impactful for that. Ginny was an engaging character who caught my interest from the start and held it throughout. You could really see her grow throughout the course of the story as she dealt with the difficulty of always being an outsider. Her story contained some dark moments and difficult themes, but ultimately there was a spark of hope. I consumed the book in a single night and it gets a solid 4-star rating from me.

A gorgeous story of growing up a minority in Japan, translated into English for the first time. From attending a North Korean middle school, to experiencing deeply traumatic hate crime, to rebellion and institutionalization to finding a sense of peace, this book is an unforgettable character-driven journey. CW: Includes depiction of sexual assault of a minor, instances of hate speak and racism. Highly recommended.