• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

• Is it any good?

  3.0

• Common Sense says

  Moody, complex Japanese fantasy blends reality and mystery.

Why We Rated This for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

• Educational value:

  The characters go between living their daily lives in modern Japan and uncovering riddles and meeting people from old Japan. The reader learns much about Japanese climate, traditions, history, and lore.  Furthermore, there's an afterword in which the author provides more detail about many features presented in the story, including places, historical figures, paper art, festivals, and language.
• Messages:

  Hannah is courageous when she accompanies her mother to Japan despite not wanting to go. Once there, she readily makes a friend in Miki, and is respectful of the family and culture.  Throughout the story, Hannah, Miki, and Hiro work together to solve riddles and use teamwork to overcome mysteries and dangers. 
• Role models:

  Hannah, Miki, and Hiro are all positive role models.  They care about each other, they work together to solve dilemmas and uncover mysteries, they respect their families, and they are engaged in intriguing pursuits.  The adult characters are all supportive of the kids; they offer wisdom and companionship, and while Hanna's parents are not involved in the story much, Miki's parents, grandmother, and aunt are all likable and important in the story.

What to watch out for

• Violence:

  There's no real violence in this story, but old stories are told in which a girl child was kept as a prisoner and an ancient female nanny kept a boy child for herself. Ghosts are mentioned.
• Sex:

  Not an issue.
• Language:

  There's no crass or bad language in this story. There are many Japanese words and terms used throughout the story.
• Consumerism:

  Brad Pitt and 7-11 are mentioned once.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

About Hannah's Winter

Families Can Talk About