It’s not always a walk-in-the-park being a person of color
in mostly white Mount Shasta, California. Fortunately, Izumi Tanaka isn’t
alone, for she has the best friends of their self-dubbed AGG (Asian Girl Gang):
Noora, Hansani and Glory. Izumi has been raised by her single mother and it’s a
book on rare orchids that gives Izumi and Noora a clue as to who her father
might be. What she’s not expecting is for her dad to be Crown Prince
Makotonomiya Toshihito, first in line to become emperor of Japan. According to
Hansani, he’s “the Asian George Clooney,” “Pre-Amal and twins,” adds Glory. So,
SURPRISE, Izumi is an American-born, American-raised, Japanese princess! Her Imperial Highness (HIH) Princess
Izumi travels to Japan to meet her father and the royal family. Being a
princess isn’t all fancy gowns, glittering tiaras and a graceful wave. Nope.
Feisty, irreverent Izumi is feeling really basic in a country that she thought
she’d sidle right into (because she blends in). It isn’t only the thousands of
years of tradition and innumerable cultural differences she must navigate, but
catty cousins, a ferocious press, a mulish but annoyingly attractive Imperial guard named Akio Kobayashi, and
learning an entirely new-to-her language. At home, Izumi doesn’t feel
“American” enough, but in Japan, she doesn’t feel “Japanese” enough. Will this
Lost Butterfly fly? Or will she crumble under the overwhelming weight of
royalty?
Move over,
Princess Mia. There’s a new princess in-residence! While princess stories can
induce eye rolls, I found “Tokyo Ever After” to be a fresh, vibrant YA novel
with a headlining female who’s spunky and relatable, learning to blend her
American upbringing with her Japanese heritage. Readers receive a modern fairy
tale that is part “The Princess Diaries” and part “Crazy Rich Asians.” It’s a
royal romp with an easily-navigable storyline, and it will have appeal that’s
beyond Asian-only readers. There’s laughter and tears, structure and chaos,
sumptuous detail and mouthwatering food. There are castles and drama, swoony
confessions of affection and crushing deception. I’m actually pleased by how
solid this story is. It’s not a story littered with glitter; it has personal
growth and depth.
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