HiLo Books
A Girls’ Guide to the Islands
by Suzanne Kamata
Inspired by her teen-aged daughter Lilia’s burgeoning interest in art and adventure, writer Suzanne Kamata sets out to show her the treasures of the Art Islands.
Reading Level 4.9
Free Teaching Resources for This Title
More About the Book
The American writer Suzanne Kamata had been living in Japan for more than half of her life, yet she had never explored the small nearby islands of the Inland Sea. These islands, first made famous by Donald Richie’s book, The Inland Sea, have today become known as the Art Islands. They display artwork created by prominent, and sometimes curious, international artists and sculptors.
Spurred by her teen-aged daughter Lilia’s burgeoning interest in art and adventure, Kamata sets out to show her the islands’ many treasures including Yayoi Kusama’s polka dot pumpkins and Kazuo Katase’s blue teacup. Mother and daughter must confront several barriers on their adventure: Lilia is deaf and uses a wheelchair. It is not always easy to get onto — or off of — the islands, or to navigate the challenges of language, culture, and a generation gap between mother and daughter. A Girls’ Guide to the Islands takes the reader on a rare visit by a unique mother and daughter team.
Reviews
Heart-lifting and inspiring, A Girls’ Guide to the Islands explores the restorative and often-unexpected way that travel breeds connection not only with the world around us, but within ourselves and–most importantly–each other.
–Nicole Trilivas, author of Girls Who Travel
This book offers multiple perspectives that would appeal to anyone interested in travel, art, accessibly issues or parent-teen relationships. Kamata’s style is as fresh and breezy as the winds that whip the islands she writes about.
–Louise George Kittaka “The Japan Times”
A Girls’ Guide to the Islands follows author Suzanne Kamata’s journey with her daughter, Lilia, into the remote realm of the Seto Inland Sea’s world-class art collection. Beautiful in its directness and honesty, A Girls’ Guide examines the nature of accessibility and independence as Kamata and Lilia face challenges physical, emotional and artistic. The trip yields unexpected, occasionally amusing adventures as the two women explore new landscapes as well as their own changing relationship.
–Kelly Luce, author of Pull Me Under
[A Girls’ Guide to the Islands] is a young adult book which beautifully captures the unique scenery and special features of each place Kamata and her daughter visit. But also one which vividly portrays life in Japan with a disabled child. Kamata challenges assumptions about disabled people and the obstacles they face with everything from the restroom to the art gallery. By the end …, readers find themselves back home again, full of memories from an unforgettable journey.
–Joan Bailey “Metropolis Magazine” (Japan)
Reading Level: 4.9
Formats: Paperback | Audiobook | Ebook
ISBN: 9781936846573
Teaching Resources: Lesson Plans | Study Guide | Quiz Answers
Purchase Options
Book
Buy this book from trusted retailers
Audiobook
Buy or borrow the audiobook
E-book
Buy the e-book and start reading now
About the Author
Suzanne Kamata is the author A Girls’ Guide to the Islands, as well as of the award-winning young adult novel Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible, and it’s sequel Indigo Girl. Originally from Michigan, she now lives in Tokushima, Japan, with her family, and teaches EFL at Tokushima University. Suzanne holds an MFA from the University of British Columbia.
Related Books
