Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Romance and grief make a heady cocktail in tender story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In WHEN HARU WAS HERE, Eric Ly is excited to finish high school and be roommates in college with his best friend, Daniel. Eric is secretly hoping that Daniel will be more than a friend, but Daniel is going to parties with older guys and making new connections, and Eric fears the friendship is slipping away. At the same time, Eric's closest confidant, his sister, Jasmine, is going away to college in an other city. Suddenly life feels lonelier than ever for the shy teenager. A summer trip to Japan, however, brings Eric into contact with the man of his dreams. But is everything exactly as it seems? Or is Eric hiding from something?
Is It Any Good?
A pitch-perfect portrait of an introverted, older gay teen whose grief drives him to go further inward, this page-turning romance has lots of relatable content—for those who've lost a loved one, for queer teens, and for teens from immigrant families. Dustin Thao's sophomore novel, When Haru Was Here explores the moment in time when a teenager becomes a man. The sensitive main character's quest for love and acceptance is familiar to teen readers and adults alike. There are examples of teens making poor judgement calls, but because of Eric's penchant for introspect, readers can learn from his experiences, and his growth.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how empathy helps the characters in When Haru Was Here. How do you help your friends when they are suffering? When was the last time you reached out to someone who's going through a tough time?
The main character musters up the courage to meet new people. What did he gain? When is it risky to put yourself out there?
Underage drinking is a given in this book. How does the media portrayal of drinking affect how you think about it? Can you have conversations with your family about questions you have about drug and alcohol use?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Humility
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Macmillan
- Publication date : September 3, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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