Review by: Anonymous
Published: 2024
Series: N/A
Genres: YA Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, LGBT, Contemporary, Fantasy
Grade Levels: 11, 12, Adult
Content Warnings: Implied sexual activity, loss of a loved one, underage drinking
Format: Hardcover or Softcover Book
Goodreads Link: When Haru Was Here
Publisher’s Summary:
We Are Okay meets Wandavision in this novel about loss, and learning to let go. After the death of his best friend, Eric Ly creates imaginary scenarios in his head to deal with his grief. Until one of them becomes real when a boy he met last summer in Japan finds his way back into his life. When he least expects it, Haru Tanaka walks into the coffee shop and sits down next to him. The only thing is, nobody else can see him.
In a magical turn of events, Eric suddenly has someone to connect with, making him feel less alone in the world. But as they spend more and more time together, he begins to question what is real. When he starts losing control of the very thing that is holding him together, Eric must finally confront his reality. Even if it means losing Haru forever.
Review:
This book follows Eric’s journey of processing grief by retreating into his own imagination.
I am not a crier. It happens maybe twice a year. I was struggling by the end of this book. When Haru Was Here follows Eric on his journey through grief and loss during the end of high school and there after. This is a topic that so many students end up having to live through and feeling so alone while they are doing it. This tends to be an age where people are dealing with the grief of losing a loved one for the first time. This book is so important in showing teens that they are not alone in experiencing loss. That it can look different on different days. That it’s okay to handle loss how you need to in the moment to get through it. Also that it’s okay to make mistakes and be angry while grieving. I’m sure this book could be used for an English class or psychology class, but it goes beyond these academic topics. This is a book that will resonate with our students in ways we may never know. Our students, particularly at the high school level spend more time at school than they do at home. It’s important that we are educating them beyond the curriculum.
In the story, Eric takes a gap year to cope with everything that has happened to him. All of the loss that he has experienced. In a world where students may feel forced to excel, it’s nice to see taking time for one’s mental health being normalized. It’s also a very honest presentation of a teenager. Eric is not perfect, but he isn’t a villain either. He makes some mistakes and does some things he probably shouldn’t have. However he grows from these experiences and ends up okay in the end. Hopefully students will be able to see themselves as they rea reading the book.
