Maria is the only daughter of an unmarried woman and has grown up by the sea with her cousin Tsugumi. Tsugumi is a lifelong invalid who is charismatic, spoiled and sometimes cruel. Maria's father can finally bring Maria and her mother to Tokyo, where Maria enters university and approaches adulthood and a normal family life. Tsugumi then invites Maria to spend one last summer by the sea. That summer becomes a time of dramatic growth. Tsugumi finds love, while Maria learns what home and family truly mean and faces the possibility of losing Tsugumi.
Why You Should Read?
- Follow Maria as she moves from a seaside childhood to Tokyo and faces adulthood.
- Meet Tsugumi, a cousin who is charming, spoiled and sometimes cruel despite lifelong illness.
- Experience one last summer by the sea that brings dramatic growth and love.
- Understand Maria's search for home and family as she faces losing Tsugumi.
About the Author
Banana Yoshimoto is a pen name used by a Japanese writer. From 2002 to 2015, she wrote her name in hiragana.