THE WORLD OF ASH HOME
MEDIA REVIEWS

"Backed by meticulous research, Thompson's novel introduces a variety of topics that can be usefully pursued by high school or college level students studying contemporary Japan: details of geography and daily life, the role of O-Bon and beliefs about death, the challenges faced by bicultural and bilingual children growing up in Japan, and the double vision developed by expatriate Caitlin."—JEAN KUSHIDA, EDUCATION ABOUT ASIA

"A haunting tale of love and loss, of destruction and resilience . . . a stirring reminder that our most moving stories are often written in the ash of disaster."--LINDA WATANABE McFERRIN, AUTHOR OF NAMAKO: SEA CUCUMBER AND THE HAND OF BUDDHA

"Holly Thompson has a gift for bringing the mind's eye to focus on the details of the moment, whether it be the relentless falling ash of Kagoshima, or a snack of grilled squid legs and barley tea. Her tale of lost companionship, guilt, and redemption takes place against a minutely and lovingly woven tapestry of daily life in modern Japan."--ALEX KERR, AUTHOR OF LOST JAPAN

"Ash takes the expatriate-in-Japan novel way beyond the genre into the realm of lasting art. A gorgeous debut!"--LEZA LOWITZ, THE JAPAN TIMES

"Ash is a wonderfully insightful first novel about a young woman living within two cultures. Thompson adeptly explores the lasting bonds of friendship and the courage needed to face the past in order to embrace the future."--GAIL TSUKIYAMA, AUTHOR OF WOMEN OF THE SILK AND THE SAMURAI'S GARDEN