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 | Hannah's Winter
Author: Meehan, Kierin
Country of Origin: Australia 
Ages: 9+
Themes: Cultural & Global Awareness, Adventure, Family, Japan, Fantasy
Hardcover $15.95
 Top Ten Title
 Awards:- USBBY Outstanding International Booklist
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* "Twelve-year-old Hannah gets dragged to Japan by her mother, who’s researching Japanese gardens. At least Hannah speaks the language, having lived there briefly as a child and studied Japanese at school in Australia. But nothing has prepared her for what awaits her in the town of Kanazawa, whose narrow streets and wooden shops make her feel she is “traveling backwards in time.” While her mother crisscrosses the country, Hannah stays with the Maekawa family, whose daughter, Miki, is thrilled when Hannah discovers a ghost—a young boy who needs their help. Australian author Meehan shrouds her first novel in a quietly creepy atmosphere: a Ninja Temple with a dramatic, bloody history; a town white and silent with snow; a house in which unexplained breezes suddenly occur. The spooky mood, however, is lightened with humor—the ghost hurls donuts at Hannah and writes on her mirror with sunscreen; the three elderly sisters whom Hannah, Miki, and neighbor-boy Hiro encounter one stormy afternoon are as mysterious but as unthreatening as A Wrinkle in Time’s Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Who. Hannah helps free the ghost boy to finally join his loved ones; Miki’s aunt is reunited with the man she loves; and Hiro’s missing scientist father is found (more L’Engle!) in a comedic ending featuring Hannah’s eccentric, boisterous mum. The happy reunions provide a satisfying conclusion to this entirely accessible, but agreeably exotic, ghost story." The Horn Book (Starred Review)
* "Twelve-year-old Australian Hannah has been sent to spend the winter with Japanese family friends in Kanazawa so she can improve her ability to speak the language. She and 13-year-old Miki find a written message in an old box of papers. It outlines a series of mysterious steps that both girls quickly realize they are inadvertently following, after a nighttime tour of a temple and a strange encounter with a singing monk. As readers raptly follow the deepening fantasy, they will find themselves flipping pages time after time to reread the message. Determined to fit in, Hannah makes a few humorous missteps (bowing self-consciously and smacking her head on a table that’s in the way), all of which keep the tale lighthearted and make her seem endearingly real. Meehan utilizes beautifully crafted similes and metaphors as she creates a loving and detailed portrayal of Japan and its people. Told in the first person, the tale remains so grounded in reality that it never defies belief. A fine fantasy debut (first published in Australia in 2001)." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
"When Hannah’s writer mother travels from Australia to Japan to do research for a new book, she takes her reluctant daughter with her. While Liana travels throughout the country, the 12-year-old stays with her mother’s friends, the Maekawas. She is able to converse with the family as she spent time in Japan when she was younger and has been studying Japanese at school. Hannah is soon swept up in a mystery with her new friend, Miki Maekawa. Opening an old toy box, the family finds a riddle that appears to be an appeal for help from ‘the ocean boy,’ a lost soul seeking peace. The girls and their friend Hiro set out to solve the riddle, traveling to markets, temples, shrines, and an ancient castle and meeting people from the past who aid or hinder their quest. Following the realistic and likable characters on their journey gives insight into the beauty of Japanese culture and tradition, and the fast-paced action as the children figure out the clues will appeal to many readers." - School Library Journal
"A mysterious note in an antique box leads Hannah and her friend Miki on an adventure to search for a restless ghost, a samurai child from the past. Japanese legend and local color are beautifully interwoven in this contemporary story." Travel for Kids
"Perfect for 10-14 year olds who love culture, writing, and mysteries, Hannah’s Winter holds surprises all the way to the last ink drop. Who wouldn’t want to know how a good story ends?"
MultiCultural Review
HARDCOVER ISBN: 978-1-933605-98-2
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