What a comforting, uplifting book! Without violence, intrigue, sinister villains or evil plots this sweet story of optimism and hope in the face of unfortunate circumstances is refreshing on several levels. Yuko, a Japanese girl whose mother died before she could know her and whose birth father departed to foreign shores in her childhood has been shunted from one foster parent to another throughout her childhood and adolescent years. In spite of all the disruption and instability of her life she remains upbeat with an optimistic kind of fatalism that enables her to be happy, even more so than the “normal” kids in her school. As a model of behavior for any of us, she is ideal. The old adage “what can’t be cured must be endured” comes to mind.

As a child whose parents seem always to be changing she remains true to herself and finds that she has positive characteristics that resonate with her peers and her temporary families. Talented and hard-working, she is a model student, encouraged and supported by her new mother and fathers. She feels she has been treated well and is grateful to each new family as she progresses through the difficult years of adolescence and early adulthood. Her last father, Mr. Morimiya is particularly loving in his own quirky way, stressing always the benefits of eating well and heartily. His cooking and penchant for bakery sweets endears him to Yuko and they have many enjoyable conversations over sticky desserts. In fact, food is a major theme in this book, the various permutations of Japanese cooking interspersed with western food, including the appearance of a love interest who travels to Italy to learn the art of pizza making and the the U.S. to learn the nuance of “hamburg steak”.

Ultimately, Yuko finds romance and fulfillment with Hayase, a piano prodigy met while in middle school. He is a sensitive and brilliant musician who is, at first, unacceptable to Mr. Morimiya but eventually earns his blessing to marry Yuko. Again, food is a theme running through the narrative, enhanced by the presence of wonderful music. Food and music, two of the true joys of life.