Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie

When we meet 8 year old Nori Kamiza in 1948 post-WWII Kyoto, Japan, she's just been dropped off by her mother at a stately home she's never visited before. It quickly becomes apparent that Nori's mother is not returning for her daughter, the product of an affair with a Black American soldier. But Nori's young minds is unable to comprehend this and finds herself adhering to her grandmother's strict standards, under the misguided belief that if she's quiet enough and behaves well enough, her mother will come back for her. 

 The arrival of Akira, the brother Nori didn't know existed, opens up world and brings her the unconditional love she's craved. The introduction of Akira takes Nori on a journey that eventually leads her to Europe, but only after she's endured a nightmare she would have never dreamed she'd face. 

 Asha Lemmie did a wonderful job with creating her characters. It's easy to visualize Nori’s stern grandmother and powerful and mean grandfather. I have to admit that I was angry with Nori's mother so many times while reading. But Lemmie takes readers from a point of frustration to one of understanding and empathy for the character.

 I gave Fifty Words five stars, but I do question the decisions the author made for adult Nori, which seemed to come from out of nowhere and were out of character for the Nori I came to know. There were also a few loose ends that weren't tied up, so perhaps a sequel is in the plans. Hopefully there's a sequel in the plans? I don't know. Have you read it? What do you think?