Much like reading <i>The Mysteries of Udolpho</i> explains a lot about Jane Austen's work, reading this gives us insight into the works of Hayao Miyazaki - it's easy to read this and picture Miyazaki himself in the role of Copper's uncle, gently giving us lessons about and insight into the world. But more than that, <i>How Do You Live?</i> is simply a solid work of children's fiction in the vein of such classics as Rudyard Kipling's <i>Puck of Pook's Hill</i> and the novels of Maud Hart Lovelace. The book follows a young teenage boy in the Japan of the late 1930s and sweetly mingles his experiences, which are true to any child, regardless of time or place, with musings and lessons about the way that we can all make the world a better place. The fact that we readers in 2021 know what's coming for Copper and the world makes the whole thing bittersweet, but Yoshino himself was well aware of the way the winds of war were blowing when he wrote this, so that hint of sadness is intentional. Can we take the lessons Copper learns and apply them so that things never get to that point again? Maybe, maybe not. But the overall message here is to <i>try</i>, much like Barbara Cooney's Alice in her New England classic <i>Miss Rumphius</I> tries to find a way to make the world more beautiful. This is every bit a story that holds up, and we're lucky to have it available in English.

Now can someone get Miyazaki a copy of <i>Miss Rumphius</i>? I'd love to see that as a Ghibli film.

I absolutely loved this book and it was just what I needed to read right now in my life. I was intrigued to check it out because of its connections with Miyazaki, and it definitely felt Miyazaki-esque, although much more direct and straightforward with its storytelling. I also see how it feels like the Japanese Little Prince (another book I really enjoy). I love the stillness of the story, the importance that is given to the small moments of our lives, and how even these seemingly little occurrences have the potential to impact us greatly in terms of who we are. When I was only halfway through, I already had to purchase an advance copy to gift to my husband since I know that he will love this, but by the end, I couldn't even keep the surprise that I had pre-ordered it since I needed to read him quotes from it. I think that the words hold so much meaning because they connect to our life experiences similar to how Copper realizes the resonance of words once he has lived them. I plan to also buy a copy of this for my school library since I think that students who are fans of anime/manga might like it, as well as anyone who is looking for a more philosophical type of read. I'm so glad that I learned about this book thanks to NetGalley!

This is a fascinating work that subtly speaks about 1930s fascism through the language of childhood friendship and solidarity. Unfortunately the translation is only average -- you only have to read the book aloud to hear how unnatural some of it is. But I'm very glad it is now translated and available in English. Definitely an underappreciated work of Japanese literature, more relevant now than ever.

I would definitely label this a mature middle grade book. Translations can be difficult, and this one doesn't necessarily flow as well.

I did stop reading at 20%, but if it continues as it has been, it would likely be 4 stars for the right reader - a mature middle schooler who is ready to contemplate life and an existence greater than themselves.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read an arc version of this book!

This book felt odd at times--the protagonist is 15 years old, but it feels like I’m reading from the perspective of someone who is 11 or 12. Now, this may just be that the main character, Copper, has such a strong sense of curiosity and wonder that he feels young. Lately, I feel that many characters, even those featuring middle-grade characters, are written more maturely. This isn’t a flaw necessarily, and I can see why this book is considered timeless and a classic. That being said, the writing style felt jilted at points and did not read smoothly. As others have noted, some of the impacts of the author’s style may have been lost in translation. For students who truly love reading and discovering connections between subjects, I would recommend this book, but I do not see myself teaching or adding this book to my classroom.

I love how the story is told. Fifteen-year-old Copper (after his father's death) shares his thoughts and experiences with his Uncle who he sees as a father figure. Uncle creatively responds through journal entries covering discussions about Copernicus- Napolean- Buddha that tie into Copper's concerns and questioning.. As wonderful as the story unfolds, I did get weary by the time the story got to Buddha. This could be due to translation.
Overall, a beautiful story with a quiet message.

This is a very interesting book, and I think it will make a great Ghibli movie, however reading it feels somewhat like a chore. I think this is mainly because of the translation, it feels awkward and repetitive in a what that might have been poetic in the original Japanese, but falls short here. The morals reached feel shallow, but I could definitely feel some of the original charm coming through.
I am glad to have read it and look forward to seeing the film.