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Little Sister (Mitsuko #1)

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 366 ratings · 56 reviews

As a girl in the Japanese imperial court of the 1200s, Mitsuko is shielded from reality. But when her brother-in-law is murdered, and her family taken away by a warlord, she summons the courage to venture into the nether-world. The spirit of Mitsuko's beloved sister, still devastated by the loss of her husband, wanders between Life and Death. In order to bring her sister b...more

Published by Turtleback Books (first published September 1st 1996)

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Sep 10, 2008 Brittany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is my favorite book.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 24, 2010 Kiera Beddes rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: eng-420, historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Genre: historical fiction, Japanese folktale, fantasy
Summary: Mitsuko is the fourth daughter (which is the literal translation) of a family in the powerful Fujiwara clan in Heian-era Japan. Mitsuko has an older sister that she adores. The family's home in the capital is attacked by some militant monks, so they flee into the country. However, they are attacked again on the road and Mitsuko's beloved brother-in-law is killed, and her older sister's soul has left its temporal shell. Mitsuko then co...more

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Apr 13, 2009 Elketw rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Category: Books
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author: Kara Dalkey

Fujiwara No Mitsuko adalah gadis berusia tiga belas tahun di Jepang. Seperti gadis bangsawan lainnya di istana kekaisaran, Mitsuko hidup di balik tirai kesopanan, memakai kimono berlapis-lapis untuk menutup bentuk tubuhnya dan — bila di hadapan umum — menyembunyikan wajahnya di balik lengan kimono.Serta menghabiskan banyak waktunya untuk menulis puisi.

Tetapi Mitsuko bukan gadis biasa. Ketika desanya diserang bandit, kakak i...more

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Feb 12, 2009 Uci rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buntelan-penerbit

Mitsuko: Persahabatan, Petualangan & Cinta Seorang Gadis Bangsawan. Judulnya ini benar-benar menggambarkan isi buku yang selesai gw baca hanya dalam sekejap, karena setelah membuka halaman pertama ternyata tidak bisa berhenti membacanya.

Yang menarik tentu saja karena Dalkey menggabungkan sejarah, mitos dan legenda dalam menceritakan perjalanan Mitsuko mencari jiwa suami kakaknya. Bertemu Raja Naga penguasa laut, dewa badai, sampai mampir ke neraka dan negeri leluhur tempat orang-orang mati p...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Ivy Zheng rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's pretty cooooolll!

I really like it. It have two books of this series.
Though I like Little Sister better than the second book.

Mitsuko and the Tangu should really be a couple since they are a really great couple together!!

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Oct 16, 2008 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

A very unique genre- Japanese historical fantasy mystery novel. Lots of cultural and religious beliefs mixed. A girl has to venture into the spirit world to try to save her sister.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 17, 2008 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books

This is a very interesting, entertaining book. Lots of action, adventure, and Japanese Mythology- but it still is easily accessed by a young, American audience.

1 like · like · see review

Jun 27, 2008 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist, historical-fiction

I LLLLLOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE this book. It's a really great book, and I totally recommend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

1 like · like · see review

Jul 30, 2010 Estara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010

If I hadn't read so much manga and watched so much anime before I discovered this book, I would have loved it - certainly as a teenager.

I sort of grinned at every time they messed up monogatari as monotagari/monotogari...

It's a fun romp through Heian times of Court Nobles and Oni mythology of Japan, with some Buddhism and Shinto thrown in. And it has a thirteen year-old girl as the heroine, who reads believable in her world-view as a daughter of a noble family. Loved all those lovely short poem...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Kaila rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-european-fantasy-by-women, 2012, fantasy, young-adult, japan-is-more-than-just-anime

As seen on Stumptown Books.

Part of the Non-European Fantasy by Women blog series.

This is exactly the sort of book I am so, so happy this blog series is introducing me to. I am breathless at how much I am loving the books I've chosen; Little Sister, by Kara Dalkey, is no exception.

It takes place in medieval Japan, a thoroughly foreign concept to me. I know very little about Japanese mythology and history, although this book was enough to make me keenly interested. We are introduced to Mitsuko, wh...more As seen on Stumptown Books.

Part of the Non-European Fantasy by Women blog series.

This is exactly the sort of book I am so, so happy this blog series is introducing me to. I am breathless at how much I am loving the books I've chosen; Little Sister, by Kara Dalkey, is no exception.

It takes place in medieval Japan, a thoroughly foreign concept to me. I know very little about Japanese mythology and history, although this book was enough to make me keenly interested. We are introduced to Mitsuko, which translates literally to "Little Sister," and for much of the story the name fits her perfectly. She hides behind her sleeves like any good young woman being brought up in court, where modesty prevails above all.

Quickly, the fortunes of her family take a turn for the worse. The spirit of her beloved older sister, who Mitsuko wants to emulate in all things, wanders off after a tragedy, and only a shell of a human remains. Mitsuko takes it upon herself to fix this dreadful problem, leading her on an adventure where she makes unlikely friends through her tenacity and desire to set the world right.

The first thing I loved about this book was that it introduced me to a Japanese mythological creature called a tengu. There are a few different interpretations of what they are, but in this case, the tengu are basically raven men/demons. You can see a representation of one on Mitsuko's sleeve on the cover art. Goranu is one of these creatures, and decides to aid Mitsuko on her quest. He is hilarious and irreverent, and I would often burst into giggles when he pulled out a one-liner.

There is a definite journey of the hero here, and Mitsuko performs admirably. She pulls out extraordinary acts of bravery throughout the story, facing down a lot of adventures that would have left me, quite frankly, running for cover. At one point in the story she does break down - and, no spoilers here - it meant so much when it happened. I thought, "My god, look how far she's come, and I didn't even realize it was happening." The story was masterfully pulled together so the character development happened completely naturally. It's amazing to me how much punch young adult novels are able to put into so few pages.

I cannot tell you how much the ending affected me. Seriously, this is a young adult book! It's only 200 pages long! How attached could I possibly become to these characters? But I was, I was. I started blubbering at the last page, and typed within moments of finishing: "Oh my god. I just finished this about a minute ago. I burst into tears and walked blindly over to my computer to say Yes, yes, take all of the stars."

This was a great adventure novel that transcends the genre and ages. It is out of print and so might be a little hard to get a hold of, but if you do ever get a copy, I hope you love it as much as I did.(less)

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Aug 11, 2011 branewurms rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-and-ya, poc-characters, read-2011, sci-fi-fantasy, library

3 1/2 stars, I guess? Really, imagery and the prose itself is worth more than that, but I felt the story wasn't quite up to 4 stars, so I don't know.

Short, elegant, and entertaining. It was very cinematic, and I could see the whole thing unfolding in my head like animation (I could totally see this as a Miyazaki film - the sweeping visuals and sense of wonder were very similar in style to Miyazaki movies, actually). I loved the bizarre imagery of the underworld. The prose had that poetic, under...more

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Sep 14, 2010 Nancy O'Toole rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Mitsuko spends her days writing poetry, and keeping herself hidden from most of the world outside of her own family. But when her sister Amaiko’s husband, Yugiri, is murdered, and her sister’s spirit attempts to follows him into death, Mitsuko must flee her sheltered life and find Yugiri’s lost soul. With a crow-demon for a companion, Mitsuko begins a dangerous journey where she must deal with gods and monsters, and save her family before it’s too late.

Little Sister is a book that I first looked...more

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Oct 29, 2011 lin-lin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-book, eastern-asian-myth, fantasy, adventure, young-adult

Awal-awal baca buku ini sempet setengah hati, karena ceritanya yg terlalu anak-anak (mengingat saya udah bangkotan) belum lagi banyak tulisan dalam bentuk puisi, tapi setelah cerita mulai masuk ke konflik, tak terasa saya ikut terlarut membacanya.

Kisah perjuangan Mitsu-chan dalam menyelamatkan keluarganya membawanya dalam petualangan dengan para mahluk mitologi Jepang. Dan persahabatannya dengan tengu si bunian a.k.a jejadian digambarkan dengan indah dan polos. Mungkin karena akhir-akhir ini say...more

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Dec 22, 2008 Aleetha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Novel yang mengambil Jepang sebagai settingnya selalu punya daya tarik tersendiri. Tidak heran begitu melihat judul buku dengan seorang gadis mengunakan kimono sebagai covernya, saya segera memasukkannya ke keranjang belajaan tanpa sempat melihat lagi resensi di belakangnya.

Mitsuko, kata yang menjadi judul buku, yang juga adalah nama seorang gadis bangsawan yang menjadi tokoh sentral dan sebagai narator yang mengisahkan perjuangannya untuk bebas dari bencana yang nyaris membuat keluarganya hancu...more Novel yang mengambil Jepang sebagai settingnya selalu punya daya tarik tersendiri. Tidak heran begitu melihat judul buku dengan seorang gadis mengunakan kimono sebagai covernya, saya segera memasukkannya ke keranjang belajaan tanpa sempat melihat lagi resensi di belakangnya.

Mitsuko, kata yang menjadi judul buku, yang juga adalah nama seorang gadis bangsawan yang menjadi tokoh sentral dan sebagai narator yang mengisahkan perjuangannya untuk bebas dari bencana yang nyaris membuat keluarganya hancur berantakan.

Sungguh disayangkan memang. Karena sebelumnya kehidupan keluarga Mitsuko sangat menyenangkan. Bersama ayah, ibu, ketiga kakak peremuan serta adik laki-lakinya, mitsuko sungguh menikmati setiap waktu yang mereka habiskan bersama. kehidupan sebagai gadis bangsawan dirasakannya sangat nyaman.nyaris tidak ada keluhan di dalamnya. semua kebutuhan mereka dengan mudah terpenuhi. Terlebih ketika ayah Mitsuko mendapat jabatan tinggi dalam pangkat kekaisaran. Rentetan keberuntungan mulai memasuki keluarganya. Salah satunya adalah ketika kakak sulungnya, Amaiko menikah dengan Yugiri, seorang pria terhormat yang punya masa depan yang gemilang.

Namun layaknya roda, kehidupan juga berputar ke atas dan ke bawah. Keadaan menyenangkan yang terjadi di keluarga Mitsuko mendadak berganti dengan sebuat traged. Biarawan dari gunung Hiei dan Kuil Chizuko adalah penyebabnya. Dari seorang gadis penjaja mochi,Mitsuko mengetaui bahwa para biarawan masuk ke kota dan mulai membakar rumah para bangsawan. Tak perlu menunggu lama hingga akhirnya ibu Mitsuko memutuskan untuk membawa anak-anaknya meninggalkan kediaman mereka yang entah kapan akan menjadi sasaran pembakaran berikutnya. Ayah mitsuko sendiri tak jelas keberadaannya.

Sayangnya, malang tak dapat di tolak, mujur tak dapat diraih. Di tengah perjalanan menuju tempat pengungsian, kereta mereka dicegat oleh sekelompok biarawan. Perkelahian tak dapat dielakkan. Biarawan memang berhasil diusir. Namun Yugiri, suami Amaiko tewas karenanya.

Kesedihan yang mereka rasakan kini semakin bertambah. Semakin menumpuk ketika tahu bahwa tempat mengungsi yang disediakan bagi mereka tidak layakuntuk ditempati. Karena tidak ada pilihan lain, akhirnya mereka pun memilih untuk tinggal.

Masalah seakan tidak berhenti. Kehilangan suaminya ternyata memberi pukulan yang amat dalam bagi Amaiko. Kakak perempuan yang dulu selalu dibanggakan oleh Mitsuko kini layaknya mayat hidup. tidak ada tanda-tanda kehidupan yang terpancar di kedua matanya.
Karena tak ingin kehilang satu anggota keluarga lagi, Mitsuko akhirnya memutuskan untuk menyembuhkan kakaknya. Walaupun itu berarti harus meninggalkan anggota keluarga lainnya.

Tanpa rencana matang dah arah tujuan yang jelas, keraguan mulai melanda mitsuko. Sampai akhirnya ia bertemu dengan seorang Tengu – manusia gagak- dan makluk lain dalam mitos jepang di sebuah kuil. Beruntung salah satu tengu bersedia membantunya. Walau bersama seseorang dengan kemampuan di atas rata- rata manusia biasa, perjalanan menyelamatkan Amaiko bukanlah hal yang mudah.

Petualangan yang cukup menarik. Tempat – tempat yang disinggahi oleh Mitsuko membuat saya teringat dengan beberapa tokoh yang perna muncul di serial Monkey King. Sehingga tidak ada kesusahan untuk membayangkan perawakan mereka. Tapi satu hal yang membuat saya tetap penasaran adalah sosok sang Tengu. Karena buku inilah yang pertama kali membahas tentang tengu. Pernah sih sekali melihatnya di komik tapi itu juga tidak hanya sebagai tokoh yang numpang lewat. Bahkan di serial manapun tidak ada yang membahas manusia gagak ini. Semoga di Search Engine Google nanti akan mudah mendapatkannya. (less)

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Nov 02, 2012 Swanblood rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm Japanese, and it's really obvious this is written by a non-Japanese author. It just feels dripping with exotifying language in a bad way. I couldn't get through it, even though I love YA about birds and bird-monsters and the tengu character made me want to like it, but I couldn't even make it to that part.

If you want a good, English language, historical fantasy about shapeshifters, read The Fox Woman by Kij Johnson. It's much better and didn't make me want to throw the book across the room.

1 like · like · see review

May 28, 2009 Ien Temaluru rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Keberanian Mitsuko untuk menentang adat dan berteman dengan orang-orang yang "tidak selayaknya" serta memilih sendiri jalan hidupnya menjadi peziarah patut ditiru..

kadang-kadang, orang yang tidak kita duga malah orang yang memberikan pertolongan untuk kita, sementara orang yang dianggap "segolongan" malah tidak berbuat apa-apa untuk menolong saat kita terlibat masalah..

satu lagi..
penampilan benar-benar bukan jaminan.. tengu, ternyata baik hati..rahib malah jadi yang jahat..

anyway..
love this book...more

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May 12, 2011 S.J. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked the plot of this novel, however there were a few things that left me a bit annoyed. Dalkey's writing bothered me especially in the beginning when Mitsuko is writing in her diary, and yet she acted as though she were speaking. Another thing I disliked was the novel moved far too quickly. I couldn't get immersed into the setting because in the blink of an eye, Mitsuko would be somewhere else. It was entertaining and a very easy read.

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Oct 24, 2012 Stephanie Moore rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought that Little Sister was one of the best books I've read this year and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It started off slow, but the author picks up the pace quickly when the main character starts on a journey to find her sister's lost soul through heaven and hell being guided by a friendly demon named Goranu. On their journey they go through the Land of the Ancestors and the author describes the setting tremendously.

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May 17, 2009 e.c.h.a rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: koleksi-teman, fiksi

Kisah diawali ketika mitsuko dan keluarga dserang oleh para rahib yg mengakibatkan keluarganya saling terpisah dan kematian yugiri. Mitsuko rela melanggar semua peraturan yg membelenggunya sbg seorang bangsawan demi mengembalikan hidup amaiko dgn mengembalikan jiwa amaiko. Petualangan dmulai saat mitsuko bertemu dgn kami seekor tengu yg bernama goranu. Mereka pun bersahabat, goranu membantu mitsuko dgn memasuki dunia bunian. Semua itu mitsuko lakukan demi keluarga tercintanya.

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Feb 11, 2012 Kasey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed the elements of Japanese mythology in this book. The book wasn't very long, but the story wouldn't have been as engaging if it had been drawn out. My absolute favorite thing about it, though, was the poems at the beginning of each chapter and the roles poetry played in the story.

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Jan 19, 2011 Larashi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, adventure, fantasy

berpisah dengan buku ini sangat berat, apalagi setelah dibawa Mitsuko bertualang di Jepang zaman kuno dengan segala macam mitos dewa dan para makhluk gaibnya.

Sangat menyenangkan~ ga menyesal dapet buku swap ini dari acara GRI desember lalu. hehehe

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Jan 11, 2009 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love Asian culture books, fiction or otherwise, this is one of my classics, it's pure and sweet, conflecting and chaotic as well, if you have the time, read this short little story. That is if you enjoy these kind of books

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Jun 01, 2009 Mery rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: punya

cerita tentang petualangan gadis bangsawan untuk menyelamatkan kakaknya, hingga dia pergi ke dunia lain di luar jangkauannya :)

bagus banget, buku ini bikin aku tahu tentang mitos-mitos jepang :)

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Nov 27, 2012 Mary-Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

This was a pleasant little book. I think it would be more appealing to a younger audience. I did enjoy the tengu characters that the little sister ran away with. I liked best the turn at the end where the little sister realized that she had changed a lot and no longer fit very comfortably in her old life. It makes me want to read some of the books that inspire these types of writing: Tales of Genji, The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon.

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Jul 30, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, fantasy, youngadult

A magnificent journey through ancient Japan and its legends as a gently raised young woman goes on a strange journey to find the spirit of her sister with the help of a demon shapeshifter.

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Dec 23, 2009 Dioskoroi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ceritanya biasa ajah, kurang seru, kurang gigit, tapi petualangan mitologinya lumayan menarik -- jadi tau lebih banyak soal tengu (perkenalan gw ama mahluk mitologi ini cuman pas baca manga Yoshitsune)

Entahlah, temanya yg kurang berkenan di hati ato gimana, yg pasti nggak berkesan aja buat gw..

Tapi risetnya cukup bagus, penggambaran lingkungan dan sikap ala bangsawan zaman Heian cukup banyak, meski nggak detail banget, lumayan buat orang yg tertarik ama budaya Jepang ^^

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Apr 15, 2013 Snowmaltess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: different-and-wondrous

Beautifully written, with richness of settings and characters that feel REAL. One of my favourite books of all time.

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Jul 12, 2009 Georgie K rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Historical Fiction lovers and Fantasy lovers, because it uses both of these elements in the story

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, favorites, girl-heroine, historicalfiction

I've recommended this book to so many people all ready. It's based in Asia, using the religious beliefs and some of the events that actually happened to tell the story of a young girl in search of her sister's soul. I thought it was great-well written, well organized, and fun to read. It has definitely made it to my favorites list.

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Aug 06, 2011 Isabel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ah I love this story! This is the type of stuff I'm into: fantasy, mythological and Japanese elements all mixed together. I don't care if this novel was intended for younger readers, it was very enjoyable.

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Jan 01, 2012 Jeff Youngstrom added it · review of another edition

(September 14, 1998)

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About Kara Dalkey

Kara Mia Dalkey is an American author of young adult fiction and historical fantasy. She was born in Los Angeles and has lived in Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Colorado, and Seattle. Much of her fiction is set in the Heian period of Japan.

She was married to author John Barnes; they divorced in 2001. She is a member of the Pre-Joycean Fellowship and of the Scribblies. She is a graduate of the Fashion In...more

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Little Sister (Mitsuko #1)

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