I requested this for consideration for Book Riot's All the Books podcast for its release date. After sampling several books out this week, I decided to go with a different book for my review.

What a beautiful, beautiful book Catfish Rolling is. An incredible and stunning debut novel, this book is a surreal exploration of time, memory, and coming of age. The book begins as an earthquake, caused by a catfish trapped under Japan that rolls and heaves apart the land, and time itself breaks apart, fragmenting into areas where time may be faster or slower. The living beings that were in these zones when time broke disappeared without a trace. Sora’s father is officially researching the effects of fast and slow time to better understand how they work in relation to “normal time”. Sora herself is also unofficially, and quite secretly, spending her free time in the zones, though this violates the law, searching for any connection to her lost mother that she can find. Sora’s father begins to experience effects on his memory and his own journey into the zones leads Sora into a terrifying exploration of the unknown in hopes of saving him.

Sora is poised on the cusp of adulthood. A recent high school grad with no job or schooling lined up, she’s perfectly content to offer clandestine tours into the zones to anyone willing to pay. Her casual romantic interest leaves for Tokyo and Sora continues to exist in her isolated world, exploring her own understanding of herself and her losses as she works to come to terms with who she is and where she wants to go with her life. Through a new acquaintance that comes into her life, a researcher specializing in time science, she is then introduced to a young woman with whom she sparks an immediate connection. A friendship, but hopefully more, opening Sora up to a new world of possible paths to choose.

This book delicately and thoughtfully explores identity as Sora ruminates on her cultural identity as half-Canadian and half-Japanese, never quite belonging in a place that she identifies as home, but that views her as other. She is unmoored in who she is, where she’s meant to go, and what steps she should, or wants, to take. She’s also discovering her own sexual identity as one relationship fizzles and another begins. Kiko is a friend-turned-lover who perhaps is better off remaining a friend. But Maya is a more confident and self-assured version of Sora who sparks something deep within her: a desire to grow and learn, and to break out of the fear that’s kept her paralyzed and frozen in the past for so long. It is through Maya’s friendship and their budding romance that Sora is able to break through the barriers that have held her back in order find resolution and closure on the pains of the past. It is through Maya that she is able to envision a new and exciting new possible future.

This is an absolute must-read for this fall season. I could read this book over and over again. Go get yourself a copy because you won’t want to miss out.

The titular catfish refers to the creature dwelling beneath Japan's islands. In an attempt to prevent its movements and consequent damage, a massive rock is placed upon it. Periodically, however, the catfish shifts the rock, resulting in the earthquakes throughout Japan. This narrative intertwines magical realism, fantasy, and Japanese mythology.

Primarily, the tale delves into themes of love, loss, and embracing life's realities. Delivered in a wonderfully understated manner, the story unfolds gradually, leaving breadcrumbs of plot until the pieces finally converge. Absolutely enjoyed this read and would recommend it to anyone in search of a sci-fi/fantasy title!

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced audiobook copy of this book!

4/5 Stars
I went into this book with no opinions, and I say it is one my most surprising reads of the year! I absolutely loved this, and felt myself smiling at the end. Generally, I am not a large fan of magical realism but I thought this was a perfect touch of not overdoing it, while still keeping the story based in this sci-fi / dystopian esc world. I definitely will need a physical copy of this book, and am looking forward to re-reading it in the future.

Clara Kumagai has created a beautiful meditation on time and grief in Catfish Rolling, while also dealing with issues of mixed-race identity and the sometimes-chaos of teenage romance and friendship.

Sora lives in Japan with her dad, a time researcher, after the death of her mother and grandparent in a major earthquake that somehow changed time in Japan. Her father investigates the largely abandoned "zones" where time has been sped up or slowed down. Sora is fascinated by them as well, offering tourists the opportunity to visit, and she seems to be particularly attuned to the lines where time changes. In some ways, Sora feels stuck in time, as her best friend has left for university, and she isn't sure at all what her next steps are. Having to act as a caregiver for her increasingly time-muddled father isn't helping either.

This story brings so much together. Sora's grief is interwoven with the speculative elements of the changed time zones. In many ways, Sora continues to visits the zones because she lives in hope of finding her mom. As well as sometimes finding herself in-between times, Sora feels neither fully Japanese nor Canadian - her Japanese isn't quite fluent enough, she doesn't look quite Japanese enough, but she's also not fully Canadian anymore, and that world feels far away to her, having lived in Japan for years.

The novel draws in Japanese folklore and cultural touchstones, as well as dwelling firmly in liminal space. The gentle beginning of a possible romance with a time researcher is beautifully conveyed, as is how difficult it is for Sora to make that leap and trust someone.

This is a beautiful book. I'm looking forward to listening to the audiobook. 4.25 stars.

I read this as an e-arc from Net Galley and Penguin Teen Canada. It is also an October read in the Advanced Listener Copy educator program through libro.fm

I was soooo excited about this YA magical realism/fantasy debut. The cover is FANTASTIC and the premise sounded so fun but I really struggled to get into this story and ultimately chose to set it aside after about eight chapters. Maybe I'll pick it up again later but it wasn't doing much for me at the moment. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love the syfy aspect of time zone areas where time moves differently. Her comments in the book about being different people in different languages is very true and her explanation of the differences of English and Japanese are very accurate . I enjoyed the father- daughter relationship in this book— as well as her memories that she shared with her mother . In some ways this book is really about being from a mixed family background — trying to find and understand ones multicultural background. The bulk of the story is Sora trying to figure out why her father is ill from the time zone areas. This story at the heart of it — is how to deal with the grief of loss and moving forward with life.

Thank-you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Penguin Teen Canada for this ARC . This is my honest review.

Wow! I’m not entirely sure how to put this book into words. I was enthralled by it and couldn’t put it down but I’m not even sure I know completely what happened by the end.

The whole concept of the earthquake and time zones with fast and slow time was fascinating to me and was an amazing metaphor for exploring grief both personal and grief of a nation after something catastrophic happens. I especially enjoyed (that seems like the wrong word) the difference of how the time zones were experienced in Tokyo versus where Sora lived. How it seemed they moved on faster or made light of it by commercializing something that caused such grief where it was centred.

The book definitely felt like it had its feet in both the real world and this magic Sci-fi world of time quakes and tanuki and kitsune. I learned so much about Japanese folklore and Shinto traditions and Japan itself both through reading the book and by googling things along the way.

By the end my head was spinning and I felt like I understood nothing until I started talking it out with my family and was like oh wait! Beautiful debut and can’t wait to see what’s next for Clara Kumagai.

I received an eARC of this book through Netgalley and the publisher, Zephyr Press in exchange for my honest review. I easily can say I loved this book and will be purchasing a copy for myself so I can revisit it someday.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book had a strong beginning but the follow through wasn't there. I was really excited for this one too. I'm sure others will enjoy it though.