Eiko Kadono: Kiki’s Delivery Service (Originally published in 1985)
Eiko Kadono Japanese writer was born on January 1, 1935 in Tokyo. In addition to children’s books, she also writes picture books, non-fiction works and essays. She currently works as a university professor. Her most famous work, Kiki’s Delivery Service, was first published in 1985, from which Hayao Miyazaki made a successful animation movie. There were 5 sequels to the novel, but unfortunately they cannot be read in English. In 2018, the writer received the Hans Christian Andersen Award.
The story is about Kiki, the little witch, who has to spend a year in a town, where she has to not only get by on her own, but also serve the good of the town. Kiki only has one ability, she can fly, so she must use that and her wits to complete her mission. She comes to the bustling city of Koriko because she wants to see the sea. Here she does not receive the warm welcome she is used to in her hometown, but she soon finds friends and fits in. And by the end of the year, after a series of daring and heart-warming adventures, she might even be able to say that she was useful to her city.
Truly extraordinary story! I have already read it in English and I was really looking forward to it being published in Hungarian. A very nice and touching book that shows that even though Kiki is a witch, she is also concerned with the same problems as a little girl of her age: how to find her place in the world. I think everyone should read it!
