The premise of this book really intrigued me, but the execution wasn't for me. I wasn't sure of it was the translation or the original writing, but the dialogue was so stilted, as was all the description. I was only invested for the last 15%, when things actually began to happen.

From my experience, Japanese literature, especially those focused on children, always seems to pull the hardest at my heartstrings. I’m unsure what it is, if it’s my desire to heal my inner child or if I just grew up watching Studio Ghibli too much. Mizuki Tsujimura’s 2017 novel “Lonely Castle in the Mirror” definitely fits into this category.

Seven students avoiding going to school discover a portal into a castle through a glowing mirror. As the seven kids find solace in the castle, there’s a catch¬––they must leave the castle every day by 5 o’clock or be eaten by its protector, the Wolf Queen. The children are tasked with finding a key hidden in the castle that'll grant whoever finds it a single wish but ultimately wipes all of their memories from the castle.

Tsujimura’s characters are complicated kids just trying to figure out themselves and written with a loving nuance of that age. There are few books out there that I feel accurately depict the ages of 12 to 15 without infantilizing or aging them up mentally or emotionally. The last third of the novel is the crowning achievement in “Lonely Castle in the Mirror,” with an examination of each character’s thoughts leading up to passing through the mirror for the first time.

There’s no doubt that middle school is a rough time (as I remember), and navigating mental health, friendships, and school can be torturous––all of which Tsujimura highlights well. Although set in Japan and written to address the severe lack of mental health representation in Japan, the characters’ struggles and discussions cross over seamlessly for American or Western readers.

With magical realism reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, this novel doesn’t need to explain the how or why––which I would generally find annoying. But in this case, leaving so many unexplained works perfectly with the extensive character work Tsujimura dives into. The writing of “Lonely Castle in the Mirror” occasionally felt a little off, but this is likely an issue with the translation, not the original story.

Hopeful, imaginative, and vivid observations of loneliness, “Lonely Castle in the Mirror” is a must-read for anyone who struggled growing up. With the themes of bullying, isolation, child abuse, and navigating friendships, “Lonely Castle in the Mirror” felt it was written to heal your inner child.

lonely castle in the mirror is a heart-wrenching exploration of adolescent loneliness, a cozy blanket on a stormy night and an absolute jewel of a coming-of-age story. simply put: it has my entire heart, nay, it can have my first born as well. i loved being in Kokoro’s head, our MC’s progression feels very true and entirely relatable — she, as well as the rest of our young cast, deserves the world. they are, each and every one of them, preciously flawed and stubbornly brave in their own way — reading about their individual growth had filled me with so much unabated joy and pride of an older sibling. Tsujimura deftly juggles the sizeable cast while still giving so many thoughts and care into their characterization in just 384 pages; i was in awed and still am in awed. i would not have fell in love with this book as hard as i did if it weren’t for these characters lighting the way.

this is a story crafted with a lot of heart and its ending, while sad, is infinitely more hopeful and satisfying than you may think. without giving anything away, i can promise you that much! i would recommend this one to anyone who seeks for dawn or needs a reminder that it is coming — let these characters in, let them warm your heart and give you a good cry. you won’t regret it.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

"Lonely Castle in the Mirror" is a Japanese bestseller that features the well known portal quest fantasy but makes the escapist component of this journey more visible. Kokoro has been bullied in school, the perpetrators even pursued her at home, which is why she stops going to school. She is terribly anxious yet cannot talk to her parents or teachers about it. When the mirror in her bedroom glows one afternoon and she meets other children in the mysterious castle on the other side, everything changes. Wolf Woman, the owner of the castle and the supernatural creator of it, gives them a quest: find the wishing room and have your wishes fulfilled. For most of the kids the castle is used to play video games together and they do not really try to uncover the mystery. After some initial discord, they also become friends and want to unravel the mystery as to why they are all in the castle and if they have more in common than they know.

I liked the novel, it was very insightful and realistic in connection to bullying. How the fear paralyses you, how going outside is already perilous. I also liked Kokoro as the protagonist and I quite liked the ending, but parts of the story were just confusing, for example the infrequent change of the focaliser or the magic system. But overall I enjoyed it and it was a good coming of age story between worlds.

3.5 stars

I wanted to enjoy this as the premise sounded super promising, but ultimately I was left wanting more from both the characters and the plot itself.

4.5 stars rounded up, I have a lot of feelings about this book!

Kokoro has been staying home from school after an incident with a bully. She is unable to face her fellow students or even try to go to a specialty school without feeling extreme anxiety and dread. After being at home for awhile, her bedroom mirror starts to glow and she finds she (and 6 other similarly displaced children) can enter a fantastical realm run by a Wolf Queen who promises to grant their wish if they can find a hidden key.

First of all, I want to say that this story comes together in a seriously beautiful way and the ending is perfect.

Part magical realism, part character study, this novel explores struggles of mental health and the pressures of society and family. I thought the characters were so well done and although the build up took awhile, the pace didn’t seem slow. I was thoroughly invested in this magical castle and what would happen next.

This felt like a modern fairy tale, with very emotional and touching moments!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

"Lonely Castle in the Mirror" by Mizuki Tsujimura is a fantasy novel that mainly addresses the issue of bullying the students suffer at school. Middle schooler Kokoro Anzai stops going to school, not being able to tell her parents that it's because she's been bullied by another, a more outgoing student in her class, who has terrorized her for no real reason.

But one day, the mirror in Kokoro's room starts to shine brightly, eventually drawing her into a castle through a portal that appears in her mirror, and there, she meets with six other students who haven't been able to go to school like her. A little girl called "Wolf Queen", who wears a wolf mask all the time is the one who has brought them together inside her castle, for a competition: there is a key hidden in the castle, a key to a Wishing Room, and whichever of them finds the key first, will be granted their one wish, no matter what that is. In time, the castle becomes a refuge for these adolescents, and the things they experience in the castle give them courage, as well as some understanding of life, to go on.

The novel started slow but it became really engaging toward the end. The mysteries that were revealed through some plot twists were surprising and very satisfactory. Other than criticizing the bullying in schools, to which even the teachers may become a tool used against the victims, the book also deals with mental health issues, friendship, and loss in many senses: loss of a loved one, loss of one's status in society, loss of innocence, etc. and makes its reader stop and think from time to time. Therefore, it makes a great reading experience, one that I recommend to other readers.

*I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way*
I am not one to read much contemporary fiction, even if there are fantasy elements in it. I do sometimes dabble in the contemporary fiction genre because they are often short and light reads and are very easy to get through, a good palate cleanser after reading incredibly dense books because fantasy does have books with incredibly complicated world-building. by a different publisher and so, a different cover has been made and it’s being released again in hardback*.
So, what’s this one about?
Well to put it simply, it follows our main character Kokoro who, for reasons shown in the book, doesn’t go to school. Or rather, she just refuses to go to school. Now, it’s important to note that this book is set in Japan and surrounding Japanese students – this is incredibly important and the themes and actions of certain characters in this book is why the book has become so popular in Japan as well as worldwide. Japan is known for its particularly rigorous education system – a lot of Asian countries have particularly rigorous education systems and this in turn affects the mental health of students. Because a lot of these countries are very conservative, mental health is either a non-existent topic, considered taboo, or it’s talked about but there are still negative feelings towards even speaking the words “mental health”. In the note at the end of the book, it’s explained that Japan is ranked as one of the countries that is the highest on the mental health scale for students. Highest, in this case, meaning the worst – it seems to be taboo to speak about anything but getting good grades and if you don’t go to school, you get bad grades, you’re seen as a disappointment.
I think this was an incredibly fantastic book and I would love to read more by this author in the future!

Tender. Sweet. Heart wrecking. Thoughtful. Strong.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is like nothing I have ever read. This book is kind, slow, and highly developed. In Japan, this book is a bestseller and well deserved.

I jumped into this story without any spoilers. I had no idea what is going to happen on the next page. I think it is the best way how to read this book. You do not have to read a description of this book. The only thing that you need to know is that this book is about children with their problems, and who are not able to go to school.

I strongly resonated with Kokoro, but I think that most of us can find something that will resonate with him too. I loved storytelling, I loved every character and I cared about them. I did not see what is coming. I could not predict what will happen. This story is unique, and tender and I ended up heart-wrecked.

I can recommend this book to young readers and to adults too. I think it is must read for teachers. I can not say any bad words about this story. Will I buy it for myself? Yes. Was it one of the best books I have ever read in my life? Yes.

It is a masterpiece.

Thank you Netgalley and Erewhon Books for eARC. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a heartfelt slice of life novel with a magical twist. Personally, I don't think that this novel has much in common with Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman...while I understand that yes, they both are authored by Japanese women and yes, they both are concerned with mental health but story and style wise the two have nothing in common. Lonely Castle in the Mirror is closer to The Breakfast Club by way of Ghibli (more When Marnie Was There than Spirited Away).
Lonely Castle in the Mirror is told by third-person narrator that primarily focuses on Kokoro, who is in seventh grade (first year of junior high). Kokoro, however, no longer attends school. The prospect of going to her class fills her with such unease that she often experiences anxiety-induced stomach aches. She's unwilling to 'confess' to her mother the reason why she stopped going to school and spends her days at home, trying and failing not to think about her classmates. One day she notices a weird light emanating from within her mirror and finds herself transported into a castle that seems to belong in a faerie tale. Kokoro, alongside six other children/teenagers, has been selected by the Wolf Queen (whose appearance is that of small girl wearing a wolf mask) who informs them that within the castle is a key and whoever finds it will be granted a wish. The magical castle has opening hours and if they fail to leave by 5pm they will be eaten by wolves. The castle will be available to them for a year, until the end of March (school years in Japan go from April to March).

While this summary makes this story sound like a fantastical adventure, Lonely Castle in the Mirror is more of a character-driven story that just happens to take place in a magical castle. Kokoro and the other students spend most of their time playing games and slowly getting to know each other. For the majority of the novel they do not seem overly interested by the promise of a 'wish', nor are they worried by the possibility of being eaten by wolves. The castle becomes their playroom, a safe space in which they do not have to think about their home-lives. Although they differ in age they are all in junior high. While they realise immediately that they have all stopped going to school, they do not often broach this topic.
Overtime however they get to know each other. There are a few disagreements now and again, and their bond with each another is not always an easy or drama free one. Still, in spite of their different background and interests they do begin to view their time together as an escape from their intolerable 'reality'.

While Mizuki Tsujimura touches upon sobering topics—such as bullying, domestic and sexual abuse—these do not weigh down her narrative. When discussions around these subjects crop up the author demonstrates great sensitivity and empathy. The friendship that blossoms between Kokoro and the others makes for some tender scenes. The 'revelation' behind the castle and the reason why they were chosen will probably were not all that 'surprising'. Still, even if readers know more than Kokoro or the other characters, this will probably not detract any enjoyment from their reading experience (the story has a lot to offer without those final 'twists').
While I understand why the narrative mainly stuck to Kokoro, part of me wished that the story could have also focused on the other characters.
Tsujimura certainly captures the anxiety and fear that many feel at the prospect of going to school. When I dropped out of high school I felt much of what Kokoro was feeling.

“School was everything to her, and both going and not going had been excruciating. She couldn't consider it only school.”


Although the castle lies inside of a mirror, it did not feel all that magical. There are very few descriptions about the way it looks, and I think that the story would have benefited from having a more vividly rendered setting. And, maybe I would have liked the story even more if there had been more fantastical elements (the Wolf Queen makes an appearance now and again but other than that the castle is very much like an ordinary playroom). Towards the end the story definitely has more of a fantasy feel and really reminded of a Ghibli film.
Overall, I did enjoy this novel. I think Tsujimura's narrative succeeds in being both gentle and emotional. She allows time for her characters to develop and learn to get to know and care for each other. Kokoro, in particular, is given a satisfying character arc.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a novel about friendship, realistic issues (such as bullying), self-acceptance with some magical undertones.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Powerful book. Good translation. And it was a good read. Pretty good and okay. I felt like I came into this as a newbie

Lonely Castle in the Mirror wasn’t at all on my radar coming into this year, but apparently it’s been popular enough in Japan to see manga and anime adaptations, along with translations into several other languages. Add in an interesting premise and my ongoing goal to branch out from the American-published mainstream, and I decided to take a shot on Phillip Gabriel’s English translation of Mizuki Tsujimura’s hit novel.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is written primarily from the perspective of Kokoro, a first-year junior high student who had been unable to bring herself back to school after the bullying she experienced in her first weeks in a new environment. But when she finds a portal to a mysterious castle, populated with six other kids also eschewing the traditional junior high, it could be the fresh start she needed. And if she finds the magic key that would grant her one free wish, perhaps it would be enough to solve her bullying problem as well.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a school novel without the school. The book is split into three parts, representing the three terms of the Japanese school year, with each month serving as a chapter. The first half sees fairly little plot progression, with seven reticent adolescents getting used to a new environment and trying to feel each other out. The structure should be familiar to readers of other works set in fantasy academia, but Lonely Castle in the Mirror lacks the magical education that so often fills those early sections. Rather, there’s a lot of introspection with a dash of video games in an opening with an extremely small-scale feel.

And once the plot does get going, there’s no world-ending threat to defeat. The story does build to a tense, exciting conclusion, but the cast doesn’t have to save anything other than each other—Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a story about moving forward in the wake of personal struggles, and it never pretends to be anything else.

And it is absolutely excellent at being what it is. The description of bullying is true-to-life without reveling in the details, eschewing shocking descriptions of inhuman behavior in favor of a focus on the debilitating anxiety that can follow even everyday social toxicity. We mostly see through Kokoro’s eyes, but we glimpse the backstories of every major character, and their hesitancy to trust potential new friends—not to mention authority figures—flows perfectly from that internal turmoil. And when they finally do begin to open up, it doesn’t come easily, with what seems on the surface a simple task taking on such tension that it might as well be saving the world, all leading to a conclusion that’s as touching as it is thrilling.

The portal scenario that underlies the story doesn’t get enough explanation to satisfy those who need to understand any departure from the ordinary, but there are other mysteries wrapped within it that do yield immensely satisfying revelations. If the mystery were the point, it wouldn’t be enough. But as a supplement to the central story of adolescents finding a way to move forward after trauma, it’s extremely well-plotted, with those smaller mysteries providing a second major punch to the climax without detracting a bit from the main thrust of the novel.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book more highly to fans of stories about adolescent mental health who don’t mind the school novel structure. The slow pace in the first half and the unanswered questions about the underlying magic may be hard to swallow for some readers, but the book does such a good job with the central story that I personally see those as nothing more than minor complaints.

Recommended if you like: examination of the fallout from bullying, school novel structure without school novel school.

Overall rating: 18 of Tar Vol’s 20. Five stars on Goodreads.

This was a really strong 4.5 stars for me.

12-year-old Kokoro has had a rough time of it—she’s no longer able to go to school or leave her house, and her mother is supportive, letting her stay home. One day, her mirror is glowing and she finds herself going through it and entering a new realm, one with other kids her age. A mysterious girl in a wolf mask tells them that they’re looking for a key, and whoever finds it will have a wish granted.

I know this summary sounds a little hokey, but trust me: this is a compelling story about bullying, isolation, and friendship. Although I’d label it YA, I found it went quite a bit deeper than many YA books do. I thought the second quarter dragged a little bit (hence 4.5 rather than a full five stars), but it all came rushing together in the end in such an exciting way.

Beware: some of the summaries give away far too much of the book, and it’s better to go in knowing less.

Thank you to Netgalley and Erewhon Books!

4.5
wow. i was really surprised by this book since i had requested it on netgalley with really low expectations only because i was stunned by the cover, which is beautiful.
but i have to admit that this books, lonely castle in the mirror, has indeed exceeded my expectations.
the first third of this books wasn’t great, i found it boring and this is why i didn’t give this book 5 stars, but for the rest it was amazing.
this book analyse the sad reality of the hikikomori, usually teenagers who refuse to go out of their room, isolating themselves from their family and especially the society.
i found this aspect really interesting.
and the end… *chefs kiss*… i almost cried and i cried only once in my life for a book so it’s pretty emotional.
i would recommend this to everyone

This book was good but at times I found myself bored. It was so sad though.

Overall, I'd give this book 3.5 stars, but I would still recommend it if you're okay with slow pacing.

A wonderful middle schooler fantasy novel about magic, about mental health struggles, about hope, about finding friends. This Japanese novel was written specifically when the authors discovered how many teens were mentally suffering and she wanted to offer them something special, to keep them motivated, to tell them that they weren't alone, to give them heros just like them and show that help existed.
This is a very needed story full of twists and turns and reveals. The pace is a little slow at first, and might be difficult for people unfamiliar with Japanese culture, but if you have read manga or watched anime you are already equipped. Admittedly, I have lived there for a number of years and there was a nice nostalgia for me that added to the atmosphere.
I highly recommend to all 11+ years old that are struggling with school, bullying, fitting in, grieving... there are some very serious themes in this book, but I do think they are addressed in the perfect way to start discussing world issues.

When middle grades student Kokoro gets bullied at school, she stops attending, being too anxious and traumatized to even leave the house most days. One day, her mirror starts to glow and she steps through. There she meets six other kids about her age who she eventually learns are in similar situations. They are in a strange castle, with a strange wolf girl, and a task. They have roughly a year to find a hidden key which will unlock a wish of one of the kids, but then everyone forgets the entire castle. Throughout the story, we learn of the stories of the kids and some of the trauma that lead them to the castle, and we watch them bond and grow. Will they find the key, can they be friends at the end of the year, will this 'fix' their lives? This is a story of growth, trying to overcome past hurt, and finding new friends. It was a delight to read overall. The trauma that the children have faced varies, but includes a wide range of issues, none of which are described in much detail or discussed frequently. This book is not about describing trauma (such a small portion overall), but about the resilience of children who are given the space to thrive.

Kokoro is yet again staying home from school, no longer able to face her 1st year of junior high, when the mirror in her bedroom begins shining. What she finds through the mirror is a mysterious castle and a masked child called the Wolf Queen. There are six other teenagers, and they are given the opportunity to search for the key to a room that will grant one wish. The castle is open from 9 to 5, which leads Kokoro to deduce... none of the other kids are attending school either.

What you get is not a pulse-pounding adventure as you might first expect when we’re suddenly pulled through a magic mirror. But rather, we have the castle giving these seven loners a chance to discover themselves and each other. Whereas in some books what might ensue is a bitter fight to claim the One Wish, in Lonely Castle the kids find that more than a magical boon, the solace and escape of the castle itself might be what they need. Slowly, with fragile trust, their stories emerge.

Aaaahh! This was so good! It gives a slow, oh-so-gentle build-up to carefully ripping your heart out and sewing it nicely back together. Very sweetly, though.

This was such a satisfying mystery, also. Especially if you’ve studied up on your fairy tales (though not necessary to enjoy the book), you can pick up the clues and as each little layer is pulled away and be saying yes, yes! I knew it! or be stunned in awe at the pieces you didn’t notice. I think it struck the perfect balance between not too obvious and not too convoluted that it makes your brain hurt. I love the way that everything tied together in the end.

Each of the character’s voices are unique with clear personalities. At times there is a little translation-induced clunkiness (though since I know Japanese and can recognize the speech patterns I might just be hyper-aware of it.) I thought the use of honorifics (very important to the relationships) was handled clearly in the English edition. My only nitpick was that some of the slang seemed off at times. It looks like maybe this was published for a UK audience first which might explain some of it, but, for example, he’s a dish was presented as young people’s slang. Personally, I would think of that as very old-fashioned (1950s era or so) unless the kids have revived it in the last 10 years and I haven’t noticed. So a couple times things like that gave me a ‘huh?’ moment and drew me out of the flow.

Overall, this was an honest, sensitive portrayal of struggling junior high school kids mixed with a unique mystery.

This was an interesting magical realism book that felt very fresh to me. It dealt with themes such as aloneness, bullying and friendship. Main character, Kokoro Anzai, is bullied in school resulting in her stop going there. One day she’s pulled into her mirror in another world and/or dimension where she's greeted by a young girl wearing a wolf mask ("the wolf queen") inside a castle. Kokoro meets six other teens in this mirrorworld and they are presented with a game by The Wolf Queen. Within the castle there’s a hidden key and whoever finds this key before a certain time will get a wish fulfilled.

These seven young people all have things in common and they develop friendships between them. The bond that the characters share felt very real to me, especially as a person who was bullied in school. This feeling of finally finding people to rely on.
It took me a few days to finish the book but I was engaged throughout.

“You're battling every single day, aren't you?”

Lonely Castle in the Mirror follows a young girl named Kokoro who was bullied so badly she
stopped going to school. She hardly leaves her room, until one day her mirror starts glowing.
When she touches it, she falls into the foyer of a castle and into a fantasy world. There, a girl in a
wolf mask tells Kokoro that a key that grants one wish has been hidden somewhere in the
building.

However, there are six other kids in the castle who are also looking for the key, and only one of
them will have their wish come true. As she explores this strange fantasy world, Kokoro starts to
realize that she might have more in common with the other kids than she initially thought—and
she might even become friends with them.

I absolutely loved this novel. It’s one of those stories that you start before bed and stay up all
night reading. The world-building is intricate yet also vague. The overseer of the castle was a girl
in a frilly dress and a wolf mask who could teleport. Her rules for the castle were strict: if the
kids were not out of the place by 5 P.M., then they would be eaten by a wolf. Strange elements
such as these help this novel stand out from other YA Fantasy novels.

While the world-building is delightful, the best part of this novel is the characters. Tsujimura
crafts such compelling and realistic characters, it’s hard not to love every single one. With seven
major characters to care about, that isn’t an easy feat. It could have been so easy for the
characters to run together, but each one stands on their own. Their connection with each other
makes up the heart of this novel, bringing the entire thing to life.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in
exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to
change upon final publication.)