The Lost Souls of Benzaiten

Murashige’s fantasy debut follows an outcast teen who, after striking a deal with a Japanese god of fortune, embarks on a transformative journey to discover life’s beauty. Following a friendship fallout, 17-year-old Machi lost “the will to speak.” Now, she ardently wishes she was a robot vacuum cleaner instead of a person: “They’re treated like humans... but no one expects them to be anything more than what they are.” Unexpectedly, the goddess Benzaiten appears and counters Machi’s prayer with a plea that she “realize the beauty of being human and rediscover my voice.” With each new encounter on Machi’s quest—and each new question posed by her therapist throughout—Machi comes to accept her broken relationships as well as herself. This heartfelt and original exploration of one teen’s reasoning for her way of thinking and her growth into a new version of herself focuses on connection and communication in fun, fantastical ways. Murashige’s fresh blend of Japanese mythology and frank depictions of mental health challenges rendered via simple prose allow readers to relate to Machi’s emotions and struggles and gain new perspective into the complexity of human nature. Ages 14–up. Agent: Savannah Brooks, KT Literary. (July)