I found this very fast-paced. It was so incredibly detailed that I felt I missed some of the details. I felt that I didn't connect with all the characters because a lot of them are introduced quickly and superficially in the diary entries. The book's chapters are short and quick. I found the diary entries powerful and visual.

There's a lot of telling, in the dialog, and I thought the showing was good because of aiding the visual details. I did struggle with the constant "I said/he said/she said" dialog tags, as they were the only ones used.

This almost had me abandoning the book, but I kept going as I wanted to find out what was going to happen. I wish the dialog tags were more varied.

I thought Adam's relationship with his stepmother Kate and her baby son Benny was superficial. Maybe this was intentional, but I wanted it to be more detailed. I wanted to know more about his relationship with his father.
His home life was dealt with pretty briefly, and I wanted more detail. Kate and his father did seem caring towards him.

I did like Adam and Sylvia's friendship and how she was always supportive throughout the book. I liked Juncko.

I did feel for Adam in his struggle with langauge studies. I struggled with learning German.

I was interested by the mention of ghosts, and the visuals. Songs for Ghosts is a lesson in Japanese culture and music. I liked all the references to these, but think the book could have been enhanced by having a glossary at the beginning to refer back to, because there are so many concepts.

I enjoyed Adam's travels, althouth I did feel like his journey to Japan came way too late in the book, and was too rushed.

I found the musical instruments too difficult to visualize throughout the story, and would have appreciated more description to make them easier to visualize, since music is one of the big themes in the story.

I liked the mention of Kate singing to Benny.

Songs for Ghosts seemed mystical and mysterious. I was eager to find out what was going to happen every time Adam read the diary.

I enjoyed the mix of cultures in the book. The passion for both Japanese and U.S. culture is palpable and helps the book be immersive. I enjoyed the second half more than the first.

3 stars

Thanks to Clara Kumagai and Head of Zeus for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

This is the second of Clara Kumagai’s books I’ve read and the second that I have loved. I love how she takes traditional Japanese culture and entwines it with very modern stories. The previous had aspects of Sci Fi, but this was a contemporary about families, race and relationships.

This book had stories within stories within stories and I enjoyed them a lot. I enjoyed the re-imagining of Madame Butterfly and it was nice to see traditional ghosts stories I recognised from reading anthologies of traditional Japanese stories before.

This book doesn’t shy away from how complicated family can be, especially when there’s step family with a mixed race child. There’s multiple families involved with multiple dynamics and I found it really interesting to see them portrayed.

I can’t wait to see what Clara Kumagai comes out with next!

Clara Kumagai's 'Songs for Ghosts' was such a beautiful and heartwarming read that explored Adam, a Japanese-American student, who stumbles across the diary of a Japanese woman from years and years ago. He grows enthralled with the life of the diary's author and found himself inextricably connected to her life, finding pieces of her in his own struggles of resonating with his Japanese culture. His intrigue with the diary leads him to Nagasaki, where he explores Japan and also attempts to find his true self there, to fill the void that the diary left behind.

This was a captivating read, both light and melancholic, which the author balances perfectly with her steady and simple prose. In the first few parts of the novel, it alternates between Adam's POV and excerpts from the diary. As the story progresses, we see how Adam becomes roped into the world of the author, and his eventual desperation to understand and belong. His character was definitely complex, and definitely troubled, but undeniably human. He wasn't perfect; he had his flaws, and made some stupid choices, but he was just a kid lost in a world where he didn't feel he belonged.

One part I really enjoyed about this was seeing Adam's adventures in Japan. I've been to Japan myself and seeing it come alive in this book made me so nostalgic for that adventure. We see Adam journey around Kyushu Island (Nagasaki, Fukuoka, etc.), indulging in touristy things while also trying to find himself along the way. He meets people, he forges connection with host families and friends, and eventually, the pieces of his long puzzle are finally coming together.

This book was so in touch with Japanese culture, as well as the struggles of fitting in and belonging, the difficulty of resonating with a culture that seemed so foreign, and the desperation to understand. It also explored the cruelties of colonialism back in the day, touched briefly on the horrific events of the war and the effects that it had on people.

The reason I rated this 3 stars ⭐️ was that this story had such potential to be great while it was just 'good', in terms of the prose and characterisation, but it was still good enough to convey a message in a light-hearted manner.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for granting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review 💗

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7409008346

A very easy and nicely written read. All of the characters felt well rounded and real and some really interesting themes were explored - how it feels to be adopted, how it feels to grow up with a step-parent, how it feels to grow up gay in a culture that doesn't fully accept it, how it feels to grow up with parents from two different countries and cultures. I also loved the way the story unfolded across different timelines, with similar themes playing out in all of them. And I mostly loved the supernatural touches, although they were occasionally a little heavy handed and/or veered into horror genre territory. I always feel with something like a ghost that less can be more - as soon as it emerges too fully into the light it can start to feel a little silly (and weirdly enough, less real). But in any event I enjoyed this, and thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This novel explores identity and family through a beautiful reimagining of Madame Butterfly. Told through two timelines, this story explores characters from very different generations as they grapple with what it means to be true to themselves. Truly brilliant story.

I really enjoyed this book !! Loved the dual narrative and was such a fresh and original book! Equal parts spooky, fun and heartwarming

A haunting and beautiful story follows Adam, a Japanese-American teenager who discovers a century-old diary in his attic. Initially, he believes it to be a well-crafted tale filled with ghosts, love, and heartbreak, chronicling the life of a young woman in Nagasaki. But when he begins to see her ghost and hear her haunting melody, the diary is more real than he’d ever thought. Despite the hundred years separating them, Adam and the young woman find themselves caught between cultures, relationships, and the pain of heartbreak, in this deeply moving story.

After an argument with his father, Adam departs for Japan and a summer full of improving his Japanese, falling in love and uncovering the secrets of the past before it’s too late.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it was moving, funny, and relatable. I enjoyed witnessing the development of both stories, although I found the young woman's narrative more compelling. Watching her age, process her grief, and connect with her past was deeply engaging. At the same time, I enjoyed watching Adam grow as he discovered who he truly was. Both stories are truly remarkable. I highly recommend this book and will keep an eye out for future works from this author.

4.5 stars
Songs of Ghosts is a beautiful and heart-warming story of grief, love, and discovery. It is a gripping read that had me hooked from the very beginning, and it is one I find myself thinking about often.

The story centres around seventeen-year-old Japanese-American Adam, who is struggling to find his place in life whilst also dealing with a break-up and messy family dynamics. He stumbles upon a diary in the attic that follows a Japanese woman from Nagasaki whose story is told in diary entries.

I absolutely loved the diary entries and learning more about our unnamed character and her life experiences. I really found the music and ghost element of this story fascinating, showing how the dead can find closure. I also really loved learning more about Japanese culture. I think Clara did an amazing job at reflecting on this history and the conflicting feelings it can bring, especially for Adam in this case.

This was my first Clara Kumagai book, and it will not be the last. I've already ordered her previous book and can't wait to dive into it. If you're looking for an emotional and thought-provoking story that will break you but also fix you, then I absolutely recommend picking this one up!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai is a beautifully layered and evocative tale that intertwines personal identity, generational love, and the spectral presence of the past. Through the discovery of a century-old diary, the novel explores themes of cultural dislocation, love, and the restless spirits that linger between worlds.

The story follows Adam, a Japanese-American teenager who, while struggling with his sense of belonging, uncovers a diary belonging to a young Japanese woman from the early 20th century. This discovery pulls Adam into the woman's world, set in Nagasaki, as he becomes fascinated by her life and the ghosts she writes about. Initially sceptical of these supernatural claims, Adam finds himself haunted by his spectres, which leads him on a journey to unravel the mystery of both the diary and his own identity.

What makes Songs for Ghosts truly special is the seamless blending of historical fiction with elements of Japanese folklore. Kumagai brings the setting of Nagasaki to life with rich cultural references, incorporating traditional music and folklore, such as biwa music and the Heike Monogatari, which add a haunting, lyrical quality to the narrative. The story’s connection to Madama Butterfly is subtle but poignant, offering a fresh take on themes of cross-cultural relationships and their often tragic outcomes.

The dual storylines, one rooted in the past and the other in the present, are skilfully crafted, offering both a deeply personal exploration of Adam’s struggles with his identity and a historical lens into the life of a woman caught between two worlds. The ghosts that populate both timelines act as metaphors for the unresolved pains and unspoken truths that linger, influencing not only the characters’ actions but their understanding of who they are.

Songs for Ghosts is a compelling, thought-provoking read that resonates with themes of heritage, self-discovery, and the connection between generations. Kumagai’s writing is graceful and evocative, creating a sense of otherworldliness that will captivate readers long after they’ve turned the last page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This might have been one of my most eagerly anticipated new releases this year. I really love Catfish Rolling, I think it’s a remarkable achievement of a book, and I was waiting not-so-patiently for Kumagai’s second novel.

There is a lot to enjoy here. There are lots of complex family relationships, particularly between Adam and his father and stepmother, which were explored in a really interesting and nuanced way. The cross-cultural themes were another strong point, giving the story and the characters plenty of depth. It was also a really absorbing read, and although they sometimes jarred against the modern setting, I enjoyed the diary entries from the past.

This book juggles a lot of characters, themes, and ideas, and they didn’t come together quite as deftly as they did in Catfish Rolling. There were so many surprises in the last 100 pages or so that it felt slightly unsettling, with some plot lines having a surprising resolution and others having none at all. It’s a very ambitious novel, and it didn’t quite hit the mark when it came to tying everything together.

That being said it’s still a strong novel, and I will definitely be picking up whatever Clara Kumagai writes next!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book, but I found it super hard to get into. I wasn't a fan of Adam, and I wasn't as invested im his story as I would have liked yo br.
While it wasn't for me personally, I know a lot of people will love this book.

Clara Kumagai‘s Songs for Ghosts explores themes of personal growth and maternal love across generations.
The story centers on Adam, a young man of Japanese and American heritage, who discovers a Japanese woman’s diary in his attic. Struggling with a sense of aimlessness, Adam becomes engrossed in the diary, immersing himself in the life of an unknown woman in early 20th-century Nagasaki. This creates two parallel storylines, connected through the found diary.

I found the historical narrative, set in Nagasaki, particularly compelling. The author’s skillful integration of Japanese folklore, including the use of biwa music and references to the Heike Monogatari, added depth and richness to the story. The narrative echoes elements of Puccini‘s Madama Butterfly, but Kumagai offers a distinct and less tragic, yet equally captivating, perspective.

Adam‘s contemporary narrative, while essential to the book’s structure, resonated less with me. Perhaps as I was not the target of this book, I struggled to connect with his character and his journey to find his path.
However, a moment of unexpected relatability, and subsequent frustration, arose when Adam struggled with his Japanese language studies, despite his heritage and prior coursework. As a graduate in Japanese literature who also grappled with language proficiency and a thwarted desire to live in Japan, I found this particular struggle acutely familiar. Adam’s eventual journey to Japan, a dream I myself abandoned, intensified my mixed feelings.

The initial portion of the book required patience, but the narrative gained momentum in the latter sections, culminating in a satisfying resolution.

In conjunction with reading Songs for Ghosts, I revisited Puccini‘s Madama Butterfly in the Staatsoper Hamburg and Vincent Boussard production.
Re-watching this opera as an adult allowed me to appreciate its complexities and nuances, though I also found elements of it to be racially problematic.
The musical performance was exceptional, but the minimalist, modern set design felt incongruous with the story’s setting and atmosphere. While the staging aimed to represent the encroachment of American culture, it lacked the evocative power of traditional Japanese settings. Nevertheless, the unconventional staging offered a fresh interpretation of the opera and Cio-Cio-san‘s psychological journey.

At first, Songs for Ghosts felt slow and heavy, but once Adam finds the diary, I was hooked. His journey to Japan, uncovering his family's past, was so captivating and emotional, and I honestly felt like I was right there with him. The mix of Japanese folklore, rituals, and music made everything feel so atmospheric and magical, and I loved how the past and present started to blur together. It’s one of those stories that sticks with you—bittersweet, a little eerie, but also full of heart.

A dual timeline story with Adam in present day America and an unknown woman's diary in Nagasaki starting from 1911.

Of the two storylines, I was far more drawn to the diary. Our unknown woman wants to live life on her terms in a time and society which disapproves. She's intelligent and opinionated which eventually leads her into writing magazine articles for women on topics other than housekeeping and children. Then the diary stops. So what's happened to our writer and will we ever know her name?

Present day Adam is a mess. He's a Japanese-American teenager and has never really fit in. Adam's searching for identity and meaning primarily in romance: see's a boy, fancies so must snog immediately. It also seems that all the East-Asian boys that he meets are gay. On a trip to Nagasaki, he begins to start sorting himself out and working out what he wants for his life. He's also crucial for resolving what happened to our diary writer and this is where the coincidences just keep piling up and up and up. Whilst it's nice that ends are tied up, the coincidences made this feel trite rather than satisfying.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you NetGalley and head of Zeus for this eCopy to review

I recently read Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai, this genre-bending YA novel follows Adam, a Japanese-American teenager who discovers a century-old diary in his attic. The diary, written by a young woman in Nagasaki, captivates Adam with its account of her life, caught between cultures, relationships, and heartbreak.

As Adam delves deeper into the diary, he dismisses the woman's tales of ghosts as mere fantasy—until he begins to experience haunting visions himself. Determined to unravel the mystery of the diary and the wrongs done to its author, Adam travels to Nagasaki. With the help of his new crush, he races against time to uncover the truth and save himself from the vengeful spirit.

The novel's strengths lie in its poetic prose and the seamless blending of historical and supernatural elements. The characters are well-developed, and the exploration of Japanese culture and folklore adds depth to the story.

Overall, Songs for Ghosts is a captivating and emotional read that I would recommend to fans of YA fiction, ghost stories, and cultural explorations.

firstly, I want to say thank you to netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

this was a beautiful YA coming of age story, with aspects of mystery and magical realism, that explores many different aspects of life and growing up.

I absolutely loved the diary entries and the dual timeline we had in the first half of the book. I think it really added something to actually get the diary writer’s story in full from her perspective and aided me in feeling more connected to her character too.

seeing Adam’s journey was also really nice, how he grappled with identity, love, family, grief…it was beautiful to see. the exploration of the Japanese culture was also really interesting and I loved experiencing and learning about that through this book.

the magical realism and mystery elements definitely elevated the plot and made this book a perfect recipe for everything I love in a book!

the writing and plot was captivating and I really enjoyed my time reading this. I would 100% recommend this!!

thank you to netgalley and clara kumagai for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

i absolutely LOVED this - thought provoking and quite emotional at its core, surrounded by incredibly interesting scatterings of japanese folklore, traditions, and history.

in songs for ghosts we follow adam, a japanese-american teenager struggling with feeling lost and disconnected. his family is dysfunctional, he’s just gone through a break up, and is dealing with all of the awkwardness and all the Weirdness ™ that comes with being a teenager. in his attic he finds a diary written many, many years ago by a young woman from nagasaki, and begins to be haunted by her ghost. in turn, he unravels her past, and his history.
i though the kind of dual pov - from adam, and entries from this diary - made for a really fast paced and consistently interesting read.

this is a story about grief and loss, and the connections we are able to have with our ancestors after years gone by. it explores the pain and horrors of history, specifically the atomic bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki, and the conflicting feelings that can come with understanding your history and ancestry, when knowing the pain that has been inflicted because of certain people or events.

music and the dead are deeply connected in this book as well, displaying how, with music, the dead are able to have the space to move on and find closure when given the opportunity. plus the solace that music can provide people, especially if it allows you to connect with those that came before.

i really enjoyed all of the magical realism of ghosts, and being haunted, and i am aaaaaalways captured by a story that explores the afterlife and how different cultures remember the dead. i will DEFO be looking out for anything clara kumagai writes next!!

a quote i want to keep:

“i prefer to read books these days. i have read dozens in the past months. they carry me to different places. i do not have to think about this life. i can have others instead.”

Thank you to Net Galley and Head of Zeus publishing for a free e-ARC of 'Songs for Ghosts' by Clara Kumagai.

This was a really interesting read - I haven't read any of Kumagai's work before and went into this book slightly unaware of what to expect. The book follows Japanese-American teenager Adam who has found an old and very intriguing diary amongst his late mother's belongings in his attic. This leads him to take a home stay opportunity in Nagasaki, where the diary writer lived, and meet new friends along the way.

As some other reviewers have noted, Songs for Ghosts was a really interesting mix of YA, history, and fantasy/supernatural elements. I found the afterword noting the research and sources that Kumagai had drawn from and included in the book (such as folk tales, poems, songs and other Japanese history) really comprehensive- this really added depth to the story and was quite educational for me at times.

The experiences and relationships of the various characters, particularly the queer characters in the present time and the feminist friendships/collective in the diary writer's time and those of the POC/diaspora in both, was a nice touch and I loved following their stories as they grappled with increasingly difficult situations and topics at times.

My only criticisms of this book was the pacing was quite slow to begin with and the varying narratives were a bit difficult to grasp and fully understand at the start of the story. Both became more understandable and picked up as the story grew and it was really interesting to see the different character's histories and narratives begin to intertwine across the 100 years between them. Some of the writing also felt slightly simplistic at times, however I appreciate that this book is YA and is written from the perspective of a teenage boy!

I love Clara Kumagai's stories! While her debut Catfish Rolling remains my all time favorite, this one was another beautiful tale. Instead of natural disaster and timetravel, Songs for Ghosts is following a queer Japanese American boy called Adam when he finds a diary from 1900s Japan. Struggling with his family situation and missing his mom who died when he was little, Adam starts to feel connected to the women in the diary and goes on an adventure to figure out who she was. It is a great entry into discovering more about Japanese history and stories. While the book is inspired by Madame Butterfly it truly is its own story with unexpected twists and turns. I love how the writer manages to weave stories into her story, as well as focusing heavily on music and different traditional instruments. Of course the book touches upon the Second World War, what happened to Nagasaki and the way the Japanese were treated in the US. It is a beautiful teachable story that I hope many will pick up!

Filled with a gentle sadness. The main character, Adam, a half-Japanese American teenager struggling to connect to his roots, feels very real and his journey to claim his identity is beautifully explored. The novel also incorporates a second timeline, written in the form of a diary which Adam reads. This is a difficult plot device to pull off, and it was a little clunky at times, but overall it worked well, and I was drawn into the story of the mysterious woman who plays songs for ghosts. When their stories intersect at the end of the novel, it is deeply emotional and satisfying.