Guardian of Fukushima

French author Grolleau (Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage) and illustrator Blain present a cleverly framed, folktale-studded graphic novel telling of Japan’s devastating 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. Young Koichi adores his playful uncle Naoto Matsumura, a construction worker who helps Koichi’s grandparents run their farm. When an earthquake destroys phone lines, power grids, and homes, Naoto—typically a prankster and jovial storyteller—steps up to oversee the safety of their family and neighbors. He comforts Koichi by explaining that earthquakes are caused by Namazu, “a giant catfish holding up all of Japan” who occasionally tosses violently yet always calms down. As disasters multiply—the earthquake causes a tsunami, which destroys nearby villages and results in explosions at the Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Plant—Naoto continues to provide comfort via storytelling. By recounting tales of Urashima the fisherman and the demon Akashita, Naoto interlocks the happenings within a mythic timeline of Japan’s resilience. A moving, if underdeveloped, subplot surrounding animal advocacy is woven throughout. Blain’s evocative illustrations, rendered using flat, vibrant colors and delivered via easy-to-follow panels, and paired with Grolleau’s quietly profound dialogue, elegantly portrays wrenching events in Japan’s history. Ages 10–up. (Feb.)