One of People magazine's Best Books of Summer!
"Evocatively written and beautiful in its rage, From Little Tokyo, with Love is one to treasure." —Helen Hoang, USA Today bestselling author of The Kiss Quotient
Celebrated author Sarah Kuhn reinvents the modern fairy tale in this intensely personal yet hilarious novel of a girl whose search for a storybook ending takes her to unexpected places in both her beloved LA neighborhood and her own guarded heart.At first glance, Rika's life might seem like the beginning of a familiar fairy tale—after all, she's an orphan with two bossy cousins, a demanding job in the family business, and an ever-present feeling that she doesn't quite belong. But as a biracial girl with formidable judo skills and a firey temper, Rika knows she is the least princess-like person in all of LA.
So when a series of tantalizing clues spread out over her Little Tokyo neighborhood seem to point her to her mother being alive, Rika has to take a leap of faith (accompanied by cute actor Hank Chen) that a girl like her might deserve happiness too. But as their madcap quest brings her closer to the truth—and closer to Hank—her doubts and insecurities threaten to destroy everything. In the sudden fairy tale that's taken over her life, Rika must decide if she's destined for tragedy . . . or brave enough to write her own happy ending.
Sarah Kuhn is the author of the popular Heroine Complex novels—a series starring Asian American superheroines. The first book is a
Locus bestseller, an RT Reviewers' Choice Award nominee, and one of the Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog's Best Books of 2016. Her YA debut, the Japan-set romantic comedy
I Love You So Mochi, is a Junior Library Guild selection and a nominee for YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults. She has also penned a variety of short fiction and comics, including the critically acclaimed graphic novel
Shadow of the Batgirl for DC Comics and the Star Wars audiobook original
Doctor Aphra. Additionally, she was a finalist for both the CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) New Writers Award and the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. A third-generation Japanese American, she lives in Los Angeles with her husband and an overflowing closet of vintage treasures.
"Evocatively written and beautiful in its rage,
From Little Tokyo, With Love is one to treasure. To mixed race readers especially, this one's for you. Few heroines have spoken to me like Rika Rakuyama."
—Helen Hoang,
USA Today bestselling author of
The Kiss Quotient "A heartfelt modern-day fairy tale that delivers a sweet romance alongside a thoughtful exploration of identity.
From Little Tokyo, With Love takes you on an adventure through Los Angeles–full of family secrets and hidden histories—and its indelible characters will stick with you long after you’ve reached the happily ever after."
—Maurene Goo, author of
Somewhere Only We Know"This book completely swept me away. Brimming with rich culture and a city that demands to be seen in all its colors and complexities, Sarah Kuhn’s latest novel is a beautiful love letter to biracial kids that’s full of longing, hope, and so much heart.”
—Akemi Dawn Bowman, author of William C. Morris Award Finalist
Starfish and The Infinity Courts series
"I so wish this book had been around for the angry, reluctantly romantic hafu teen I was, but luckily it's here for the angry, reluctantly romantic hafu woman I became. A charming and swoony story for anyone who feels like they don't belong."
—Maggie Tokuda-Hall, author of
The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea "Readers will cheer for tough-but-tender Rika as she navigates the city of Los Angeles—and her own complicated emotions—in search of love, family, and belonging in this heartwarming pick-me-up of a novel."
—Misa Sugiura, award-winning author of
It's Not Like It's a Secret"Written like a modern fairy tale, this is a thoughtful exploration of finding one’s full identity and sense of place and community...A beautiful and entertaining blend of family, romance, and self-discovery."
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Kirkus Reviews"Kuhn has created a protagonist who doesn’t fit the mold of a typical 'princess.' Instead, she is spirited, fearless, real, and fights tirelessly for what her heart desires. The enthralling dialogue will keep readers engaged as they put together the pieces of the puzzle."
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School Library Journal
