Ink
By Julie A. Carlson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Japanese setting, mythology more intriguing than characters.
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What's the Story?
Sixteen year-old Katie Green feels like a fish out of water in Amanda Sun's debut novel, INK. After her mother's death, Katie moves to Shizouka, Japan, to live with her aunt. Despite constantly worrying about being a ganjin (foreigner), as well as struggling with the language and culture, Katie makes friends and tries to make the best of it. But then mysterious Yuu Tomohiro steps into the picture and turns Katie's world upside down. And not just because he's cute. Tomo's an artist, and Katie notices that his drawings move. When even stranger things start to occur, including the thick ink that flows constantly in his presence, Katie becomes curious and follows him. When Katie come face-to-face with why Tomo's drawings come to life, she's not prepared to grasp Tomo's powerful connection to the ancient Shinto gods.
Is It Any Good?
Author Amanda Sun does a fairly good job creating an atmospheric novel set in a Japanese high school. The concept of Ink is interesting and unique, but it has a very Twilight feel. The mysterious guy who's untouchable and elusive and the girl who pines for him isn't anything new in YA literature. For the most part, Katie complains at every turn. She doesn't like living in Japan and she can hardly speak the language -- despite understanding what the other characters (who are speaking Japanese) say. Japanese words are scattered throughout, but it feels as if they're dropped in just to remind readers they're in Japan.
Katie instantly falls for Tomo. At first, he doesn't want anything to do with her, and who can blame him? She's a stalker. She follows him around everywhere, despite Tomo clearly expressing that he doesn't like it, and readers might not, either. What Ink does have going for it are Japanese culture, the feel of Japan, and the paranormal element of the Shinto gods.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Katie and Tomo's relationship. Could Katie have befriended and learned more about Tomo without stalking his every move?
What did you learn about about Japanese culture in Ink?
What did you think of the ending? Will you read the second book in the series?
Book Details
- Author: Amanda Sun
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Sports and Martial Arts, Adventures, High School, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harlequin Teen
- Publication date: June 25, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 384
- Available on: Nook, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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