Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind

Happy Birthday to Me

Niko says I should have known something was wrong from the moment he appeared in my backyard the night before my twelfth birthday. But I disagree. Because look ­I can guarantee you that most people who saw what I saw that night would ve said to themselves, I must be dreaming, or, It must be some­thing I ate, and gone right back to bed.

And back then, I was trying really hard to be like most ­people.

But I m getting ahead of myself. What happened was, I woke up to a yowl and a yippy bark. I got up and peeked out the window to see the neighbor s cat streaking across the yard, which was not unusual ­but trotting oh-­so-­casually after it was a fox, which was unusual. The fox stopped in the middle of the yard, sat down, and pointed its sharp, twitchy nose and bright black eyes directly at my window.

The moon was shining from somewhere above and behind me, bathing the fox in cool silver light and casting a magical glow on the entire yard. As the fox stared at me, I was seized by this strange feeling that it knew who I was. Like it knew I was watching, and it was waiting for me. And then ­I swear I m not lying ­it nodded at me and patted the ground with its paw. Yes, you, it seemed to be saying. Come out here at once. I need to talk to you.

That was not just unusual. It was unbelievable. Like, literally not able to be believed. It s just my imagination, I muttered to myself. I shut my eyes and tried to shake what I d seen out of my head. I couldn t have seen it. That was the problem with having what my teachers called an overactive imagination ­I tended to see things that no one else could see. It hadn t happened in a long time, and I was annoyed (and maybe a little afraid) that it was happening now. Because normal kids didn t see things that weren t real, and like I told you, I really wanted to be a normal kid.

I put my hand out to knock on the window. If it was a magical fox who was here for me, he d nod again, or do something

Misa Sugiura’s ancestors include a poet, a priestess, a samurai, and a stowaway. She was born and raised in Chicagoland but eventually found her way to her true home in Northern California, where she lives and writes under a giant oak tree with her husband, two sons, and a cat named Mouse. Momo Arashima and the Sword of the Wind is her first middle-grade novel and was inspired by the gods and monsters of her parents’ home country, Japan. Misa is also the author of three young adult novels: the award-winning It’s Not Like It’s a Secret and the critically acclaimed This Time Will Be Different and Love & Other Natural Disasters. Her short stories have appeared in The New York Times and the anthology Come On In: 15 Stories of Immigration and Finding Home.
 
You can find her online at misasugiura.com and @misallaneous1 on Twitter and Instagram.

Momo Arashima may be #71 on mean-girl Kiki Weldon s list of popular seventh graders, but she s #1 in the kami-verse! This wild ride of a novel is simultaneously a hilarious adventure and a meditation on fear, anger, bravery, friendship, and the ties of family and love.
Sayantani DasGupta, New York Times bestselling author of the Kingdom Beyond series

With vivid descriptions, relatable characters, and colorful figures from Japanese mythology, Misa Sugiura takes readers on a grand adventure.
Brandon Mull, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fablehaven

A page-turning, emotion packed adventure that draws on Japanese-inspired folklore to explore themes of family, friendship, and identity.   Booklist, starred review

This hilarious, high-spirited tale blends Japanese legends, mythical creatures, and deities. Alongside the fantastical romps, themes of fear, anger, loneliness, belonging, friendship, and inner strength are thoughtfully explored. Funny, relatable, and full of adventure."
Kirkus Reviews

Culturally specific details imbue this roller-coaster-feeling magical plot with authenticity and intrigue, while Momo s smart, funny narration and slowly reforming relationship with Danny ground their adventure in a thoughtful friendship tale.   Publishers Weekly