Short but powerful story of finding one's place in the world without giving in to mean people's tricks to make yourself smaller. The art and the color scheme captured the fantastical elements of the story really well and I loved how Anzu's development arc was executed as she went from someone who's frustrated by being 'different' from everybody to embracing that difference and acknowledging how that makes her her. This graphic novel was also a nice intro into Japanese mythology.

Rating: 5
Genre: Fantasy
Thank you Viking Books for providing an e-copy through NetGalley .

Summary:
Anzu isn’t feeling it. She’s not feeling her new move, with new schoolmates and neighbors. She’s not feeling her Japanese heritage, wanting to go by “Anne” instead of her real name. And she’s definitely not feeling Obon, the Japanese festival of families and remembering. Since her obaachan (grandmother) passed away, Anzu doesn’t want to celebrate at all, so she leaves her house and goes for a walk. A strange dog then appears out of nowhere and steals her necklace, a gift from her obaachan, and Anzu races after the strange mutt, stumbling into a nearby ridge and falling unconscious. When she wakes, she appears in a strange liminal world, and strangest yet, the dog now stands on two legs and speaks to her. He is the Gatekeeper of Yomi, the Shinto underworld, and he needs two things: 1) Anzu’s necklace 2) For Anzu to leave immediately. But it’s too late, for the Queen of the Underworld, Izanami, finds her first. Anzu is glad to have a guide, but the devious goddess cannot be trusted. And Anzu has a time limit - If she doesn’t leave the underworld soon, she’ll be stuck down there forever, never to return. With the help of the Gatekeeper and wayward spirits, Anzu must find hidden gods, fight against nefarious creatures, and escape Yomi before Izanami drags her down to its depths forever.

What I Liked:
Anzu and the Realm of Darkness is an adventurous, spooky, and heartfelt journey into the Shinto underworld of Yomi, where a girl must figure out how to find joy again. With mythology-adventure stories and graphic novels being the most popular books for stories right now, combining the two is the logical conclusion to creating a fantastic story to recommend for all ages, and this title beautifully capitalizes on both the genre’s and medium’s strengths. Readers will watch as Anzu makes her own journey to the underworld and battles her way out, coming out different gods and legendary Yokai of Japanese mythology. She is a great protagonist with tangible fears, relatable flaws, and the strength to overcome the physical and emotional obstacles before her. The Gatekeeper of Yomi is the secondary protagonist - acting as a guide and foil to Anzu - with his own dilemmas, and the two must learn to trust each other if even will make it out alive. The art is beautiful, with textured linework and coloring, making it feel more natural and almost like an old Japanese painting vibe, in a stylized style reminiscent of both manga and cartoon shows. The page layouts and paneling make Yomi come to life, showcasing the environment, characters, and action in visually appealing designs. You can feel the care and attention to detail in every page. The plot is high stakes and action-packed, and readers won’t want to put it down. Overall, definitely recommend Anzu and the Realm of Darkness for any kids who love mythology, Japanese legends, and great graphic novels!

What I Didn’t Like: Nothing!

Recommend to: Kids who like mythology adventures, especially in graphic novel style, underworld locations and creatures, and Japanese myths and legends. Ghost Book by Remi Lai, The Moth Keeper by K. O’Neill, Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang, and Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata are good read alikes.

Review Date: March 20, 2024

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen is a Middle Grade graphic novel exploring Japanese Obon and Buddhism. When Anzu moves to a new town, she’s feeling really down and nervous. She didn’t feel fully accepted at her old school and doesn’t have a lot of hope that this new town will be much different despite her brother and parents thinking otherwise. After meeting a neighbor and feeling embarrassed, Anzu runs into the forest and encounters the guardian of the gates of Yomi.

Izanami-no-Mikoto, the Shinto kami of death, is our antagonist, capturing children and their souls. As the author states in the author’s notes, the graphic novel isn’t a straight retelling of Shintoism, so this is a great introduction to ideas in Shinto as a faith but wasn’t made to be a guide. We see bits of the traditions surrounding Obon, particularly the spirits of the deceased having a chance to visit their relatives and the use of cucumbers and eggplants as vehicles for those ancestors to visit.

What I really liked was the color palette. The strong use of purple and orange for the world of Yomi along with the distinctive art style makes the graphic novel stick out while also giving it its own identity. It felt like a really nice balance of cool and warm tones.

What I also liked was how Anzu’s relationship to her grandmother who has passed away came up several times and how it connects to the setting of Obon. It’s always nice to show grandparents and grandchildren having loving relationships.

I would recommend this to Middle Grades who are interested in Japanese culture, readers who enjoyed Coraline and are looking for something similar, and fans of graphic novels with strong themes of identity.

Anzu is just trying to survive her life at school with people making fun of her for her heritage. She ends up in the spirit world and is caught between attempting to please a big spirit who is a bit off to her, and listening to the guardian of the rifts. This story is touching and beautiful, and touches on themes of loss, and pride in one’s heritage and self. It’s perfect for fans of Spirited Away!

This new fantastical graphic novel reminds me of a Miyazaki film–full of magic, adventure, and a bit of weirdness. It was a wonderful read, and I cannot wait to share it with my students!

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness is a beautifully rendered graphic novel that immerses the reader in Japanese Folklore. As someone who is not knowledgeable of Japanese Folklore, the Kami & Yokai of Japanese Folklore appendix at the end of the book was super helpful in understanding all the different characters throughout the book.
I love the artistic style used in creating the story. The color transitions between the present time and the flashbacks are seamless. The characters and landscapes are dynamic and eye-catching.
A definite purchase for my school's library.

#AnzuandtheRealmofDarkness #NetGalley

I flew through this book and loved every minute of it. The illustrations were beautiful and the tie in with Japanese folklore was fantastic. I was very impressed by Anzu's journey through the underworld and the building of her confidence and voice. Everything came together so well and I simply couldn't put this book down.

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness is a thrilling, coming of age story that invites readers to journey to the Shinto afterlife of Japan.

Japanese - American Anzu has felt the need to assimilate when her family moves to a new house and neighborhood. When a dog steals her special necklace, Anzu crosses into the world of Yomi, or the underworld. There she meets the Gatekeeper and the goddess, Izanami - who both want to befriend Anzu for purposes of their own. It is a coming-of-age story akin to the film "Spirited Away" in which Anzu must forge her own path to find a way home and learn to not compromise who she is for the comfort of others.

This story is centered around the beliefs of Shinto, a Japanese religion focused on the natural world. This graphic novel's shadow-filled illustrations are highlighted by bright oranges and greens that pop out of the gloomy atmosphere. Included in the back of book is a glossary of Kami and Yokai which is helpful and informative if you are unfamiliar with Shinto deities.

Anzu hasn't felt like herself since her grandmother died years ago. After her family moves to a new area, a dog steals Anzu's necklace and she chases after him, straight into Yomi, the underworld. Anzu and the Gatekeeper must work together to restore order to Yomi and get Anzu back home before she's trapped there forever.

This is a wonderful story about learning to be true to who you are and not who other people want you to be.

There are a few lines where characters are speaking Japanese, and the text is written in Japanese, which is not something I've ever seen before.

I had no idea going into this that it was a graphic novel, not a regular novel, but the art and limited color palette are lovely. There are a couple images that might frighten younger readers, specifically Izanami after she drops her human disguise and a giant skeleton made out of lost souls.

CW: racist bullying (kids making fun of Anzu's food and renaming her something "normal"), death of a grandparent.

5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world.

Beautifully written and beautifully drawn! I hope this become a series and we get more adventures from Anzu!

I don’t know much about Shintoism and Japanese mythology, so this was a quick and interesting read. It tells the story of a girl, Anzu, coming to accept herself and her heritage by venturing thought Yomi, the Japanese underworld, with the help of a dog he named Limbo. Limbo is also struggling to learn that he is enough. I would recommend this for upper elementary and middle school due to some scary elements.

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

-- 4.5 stars --

Anzu's family just moved to a new town, and she's having trouble making friends. Not that her old friends - who insisted on calling her "Anne" while mocking her "smelly" food - were all that great anyway. It's the last day of Obon, and her mom and brother Yuuta are decorating the house, but Anzu hasn't been able to get into the spirit of things since her obaachan died. Instead, Anzu goes for a walk in the woods behind her house - and unwittingly stumbles into Yomi, the land of the dead, while chasing a stray dog who snatched her grandmother's pendant right off her neck!

But this is no mere canine - Anzu's thief is the Gatekeeper of Yomi, and he might just be her only way out of the underworld. The Gatekeeper - who Anzu names Limbo - is hiding his own shameful secret: he no longer feels connected to Musuhi, the power flowing through the earth, hence his inability to fix the rift in the Marsh Gate that allowed Anzu through. And so many like her: Izanami, Queen of Yomi, imprisons the souls of stolen children in her Floating Garden. They are trapped forever, unable to journey to their next life, or visit with their families on Obon.

Can Anzu and Limbo fix the gate, free the trapped children, and get Anzu home before sunlight - at which point she'll be bound to Yomi and Izanami forever?

ANZU AND THE REAL OF DARKNESS is such a delightful and touching story. Nguyen - who claims both Japanese and Vietnamese heritage - incorporated elements of Shintoism and Buddhism into Anzu's world. The result is absolutely enthralling. I especially loved the Gatekeeper (and his genesis: Limbo is a real pup!); the goddess Akkorokamui and her apprentice, Rakko Huci; the crafty Nurikabe; and of course the Night Market. The scenes with Anzu and her obaachan reduced me to tears, as did Limbo's resurrection.

ANZU AND THE REAL OF DARKNESS is a lovely story about being true to yourself; the importance of finding your people; and continuing to love and honor those who have passed on.

I read Pilu of the Woods on a whim and loved it. It was heartwarming and the right book at the right time. So there was no question if i would pick this up. When i saw it on NetGalley i immediately requested it, got approved and read it at the next opportunity.
Anzu and the Realm of Darkness revolves around Anzu who feels like she doesn't belong anywhere and she will never make friends. This makes her vulnerable and she falls trough a rift in the realm of darkness. There she Needs the help of the Gatekeeper to get back to her World. Maybe she can even help him repair the broken Portal.

I don't know what exactly didn't work for me in this one. There was just not a big connection to the characters. Its was still cute and had a great message. I just wasn't that invested. The Story progression also felt a bit disjointed.

A pig positive was the Mythology that is being explored, as i will always love to learn about new ones.
This will work for a lot of Readers, especially the younger ones. But between this and Pilu my Rekommandation would be Pilu.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher in Exchange for honest opinion.

This gorgeous illustrated middle-grade graphic novel follows Anzu as she moves to a new town. She is having trouble making friends and even decides to go by a more "American" sounding name, Anne. When a dog steals her special necklace, she chases him and soon finds herself in a beautifully dark mythological underworld with creatures beyond her imagination. To get back her necklace, she gets wrapped up in plots that have been menacing for many centuries.

Reminiscent of many beautiful tales like Spirited Away, Coco, and the Amulet series, this book still manages to have its' own unique elements, weaving in folklore and mythos with a breathtaking color palette.

I loved our main character Anzu as she finds her footing in this world and within herself, as well as her companion, Limbo. This graphic novel has heart and themes that are sure to reach readers from 8 to 80.

Charming, beautifully illustrated story of a girl who doesn’t quite fit in and ends up in a magical world where a mysterious woman claims to want to give her a new home!

A classic story structure brought to new life with a combination of Japanese Shinto and Buddhist ideals, characters and creatures from folklore and legend, and a main character who proves to be strong, clever, caring - and loved. She owns her identity with pride and that gives her the power she needs to save other lost children and return home, healing the gateway between worlds on her way.

The illustrations are simple but beautiful and evocative of the world of the Komi and all who inhabit it. The formatting and dialogue are clear and easy to follow, with gorgeous full page spreads throughout.

Absolutely recommended for fans of Miyazaki films, Japanese folklore, and anyone who feels like they don’t quite fit in.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this graphic novel. Anzu has moved to a new city and is feeling out of place. Life is so tough for kids sometimes. This story is about Anzu finding herself and being comfortable with being her authentic self, proud of who she is. So many children struggle with fitting in, especially when seen as "other" and this is an uplifting story of how to persevere and overcome.. Plus, it has an adorable dog!

I loved the illustrations in this novel. Loved the novel. Was a little above reading comprehension for age 6, but would definitely recommend for 8+.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Groupfor sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Anzu is struggling to fit in after being bullied at school and losing her grandmother. After moving to anew place a wolf runs away with her necklace and Anzu chased him to go on an amazing adventure.
This is very much like spirited away without the nostalgic studio ghibli feel. The story has some great messages about being true to yourself and being loyal to others. Simple story that’s easy to understand.
The illustrations are bright and emotive making it easy to read. I think younger readers may enjoy this one from maybe age 7 up.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I adored this graphic novel, very reminiscent of Spirited Away but shines a light on Japanese mythology and the shinto religion in a way the movie only hinted at. Tying in Anzu's desire to fit in and the importance of names within Yomi was a brilliant way to show how Anzu doesn't like being called Anne. The colored pencil look of the art made the story feel soft and kind which pairs well with the theme of connections and how they can strengthen and make us who we are. A really sweet story with very pretty art.

Gosh, this was a delight of a graphic novel! I loved the folklore elements, which per author’s note are pulled from both Shintoism and Buddhism. I loved Anzu and her journey to recognizing her sense of self and the power in being true to herself. This is very strongly reminiscent of Spirited Away, and I really enjoyed this rendition of a young girl ending up in the spirit realm and having to find her way home.

Anzu is caught in wanting to fit in, and not being able to. Her food that she brings to school is made fun of, and her name is changed by her “friends” because it is too silly or hard to say. And she just accepts that she is now Anne.

And now she has had to move, and so has to start all over again. She has lost her grandmother, and misses her. But she doesn’t want to do any prayers to her, even during Obon, which is the time to celebrate your ancestors.
So, Anne wanders off, to be by herself, and gets caught up with a magical dog who steals her jade necklace, and she ends up in the underworld, despite being alive. The gate has a fault to it, and that is the least of her worries. Queen Izzami wants all the souls of the lost children, of which Anzu|Anne is one.

Good story. Slightly reminiscent of Spirited Away, but different at the same time. This is more of a story of not knowing who you are, and wanting to be yourself at the same time. The sadness of Anzu is quite fierce, and the dog who helps her, the gatekeeper, is also determined to both save her, and repair the gate.

Loved the illustrations. Loved the story, sad and frustrating as it was. I think this will connect with children who are half in the world, and half out. That are pushed into conforming, just to fit in.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out from Penguin Young Readers Group on the 7th of May 2024