(tent) The Tale of Seven Nights (Part One)

Sayo, a fourth-grade elementary school student, lives alone with her mother. She hasn’t seen her father since her parents divorced. One day, at the town library, she comes across a mysterious book titled The Tale of Seven Nights. As if guided by the story itself, Sayo and her quiet classmate Honokida are drawn into its magical world. There, they encounter a giant rat named Grickler, the seductive pull of sleep, glimpses of their parents’ younger selves, a group of beautiful children, a newborn called Little Pencil, and a battle between light and shadow. Their journey spans seven unforgettable nights—what lies at the end of their adventure? This is Hiromi Kawakami’s first full-length fantasy novel, a deeply imaginative tale that explores childhood, memory, and the boundary between reality and dreams. Includes over 250 captivating illustrations by Komako Sakai, originally featured in the serialized newspaper edition.