Colorful: A Novel

A beloved and bestselling classic in Japan, this groundbreaking tale of a dead soul who gets a second chance is perfect for readers of The Midnight Library."Congratulations, you've won the lottery!" shouts the angel Prapura to a formless soul. The soul hasn't been kicked out of the cycle of rebirth just yet—he's been given a second chance. He must recall the biggest mistake of his past life while on 'homestay' in the body of fourteen-year-old Makoto Kobayashi, who has just committed suicide. It looks like Makoto doesn't have a single friend, and his family don't seem to care about him at all. But as the soul begins to live Makoto's life on his own terms, he grows closer to the family and the people around him, and sees their true colors more clearly, shedding light on Makoto's misunderstandings.Since its initial release over twenty years ago, Colorful has become a part of the literary canon, not only in Japan—where it has sold over a million copies—but around the world, having been translated into several different languages. Now, Eto Mori's beloved classic is finally available in English.

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Translated to English for the first time, Mori's award-winning novel will inspire and engage teens to look at their life from a new perspective. The story begins with a lost soul meeting a psychopomp shortly after its body's death. The psychopomp offers the soul an incredible gift, saying he's the winner of a lottery. Apparently, he committed a monumental transgression while alive, resulting in his expulsion from the reincarnation cycle. However, thanks to the lottery, the soul will be tested and given a chance to rejoin the reincarnation cycle. The soul is transported into a high schooler's body. After facing the possibility of an eternity of misery, the soul is absolutely delighted to have a chance to be alive again. After learning his host body was suicidal, the soul is shocked and cannot understand why the high schooler felt so depressed and overwhelmed. Although his life isn't perfect, the soul finds much to be grateful for. The soul also learns that everything he feels is connected and that the people in life make living more enjoyable. Learning to appreciate a person's faults along with their positive attributes allows the soul to appreciate how colorful life is. VERDICT A good addition to any collection, especially one where translations are popular.-Melanie Leivers, Burnsville, MNα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kris Kosaka, The Japan Times

"Cleanly translated by Jocelyne Allen, the book’s charm grows with each page. With gentle wit, Mori deftly addresses serious societal issues such as suicide, bullying and marital infidelities alongside the underlying reasons for living: love, friendship, art, passion and meaningful relationships . . . The satisfying conclusion offers an important lesson for those struggling with despair: Tomorrow will always bring new hope."

Karla Strand, Ms. Magazine

"An intimate coming-of-age story that will undoubtedly resonate with readers in the US as it has with millions of others around the world."

Bryan Washington, Vulture

"It’s hard to overstate what a boon that Eto Mori’s Colorful, translated by Jocelyne Allen (Counterpoint, July 20), will be for English readers. It’s a coming-of-age narrative that’s bighearted and emotional, tender and hilarious, thoughtful and bursting with light.”

in its native Japan and around the world, and in both its book and film incarnations

"Colorful’s success

Todd Shimoda, Asian Review of Books

"Entertaining . . . At times thoughtfully serious and at times laugh out loud humorous."

Tobias Carroll, Words Without Borders

"Timeless . . . A taut and bittersweet novel that will likely resonate with readers of all ages."

Melissa Ratcliff, Paperback Paris

"Deceptively simple, yet unspeakably moving, Eto Mori devastates in Colorful . . . Impactful, timeless, and compulsively readable . . . Mori’s English debut is a must-read that offers a silver lining amid the darkness of uncertainty, encouraging readers to experience and understand before making snap judgements and assumptions. Colorful proves that it is okay to not be okay while simultaneously promoting a discussion about the impacts of mental illness on personal and professional well-being."

Simon Clark, The AU Review

"Before there was Pixar‘s Soul or Matt Haig‘s The Midnight Library there was Colorful by Eto Mori . . . Told with a lightness of touch and masses of empathy it’s not hard to see why Colorful has found a place in Japanese literary canon . . . Straddling the worlds of Young Adult and General Fiction, Colorful tackles a tough subject with heart and soul and shouldn’t be missed."

Kathryn Hemmann, Contemporary Japanese Literature

"Powerful and moving . . . It’s honest and sincere, and it handles serious topics with gentle nuance and an occasional touch of humor . . . Jocelyne Allen’s translation of the original novel is equally fun and lively, with an especially good ear for the dialog of the teenage characters."

Rebecca Hussey, Foreword Reviews

"A warm and compassionate tale about personal growth and second chances . . . Mori maintains balance between her serious subject matter and her light tone well: such problems seem real and urgent, though the overall mood is hopeful."

undoubtedly storytelling’s superpower."

"Nimbly translated . . . The novel has spawned films, anime, manga, and more. It’s also saved lives

and even celebration

"Mori's philosophically uplifting coming-of-age tale begins as a formless soul is intercepted by an angel, informed that they’ve done something that would ordinarily preclude reincarnation, and offered a second chance . . . Themes of gratitude and the acceptance

Kirkus Reviews

"Naoki Prize winner Mori tackles a fraught topic with empathy, humor, and grace. The soul’s wry narration keeps the tone light while the simple yet powerful plot beautifully illustrates the impact that perspective can have on one’s mental health. An uplifting tale about the kaleidoscopic nature of the human soul."

School Library Journal

"Mori's award-winning novel will inspire and engage teens to look at their life from a new perspective . . . A good addition to any collection."

About the Author

Brian Nishii is a voice talent and award-winning audiobook narrator.Jocelyne Allen has translated hundreds of short stories, novels, and manga, including the Eisner Award-winning titles Frankenstein by Junji Ito and Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths by Shigeru Mizuki.Eto Mori has been a literary star in Japan for over thirty years. She has won numerous major awards in Japan including the Naoki Prize, one of Japan's most prestigious awards for popular fiction. Colorful has been translated into seven different languages, and adapted into three films. Colorful is her first novel to be translated into English. She lives in Tokyo, Japan.

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