Hinako Ashihara

From the back cover: Sweet 16-year-old Ann returns to rural Shimane from Tokyo for the summer, eager to reconnect with her boyfriend Daigo. But will the allure of their close friends—wealthy brother and sister Fuji and Shika—sunder the romantic ties that have bound Ann and Daigo since they were 12? Review: I didn't like this volume quite as much as the first two because it … [Read more...] about Sand Chronicles 3 by Hinako Ashihara: B+

From the back cover: Just when Ann has adjusted to life in the countryside—and even has a boyfriend!—her father invites her to live with him in Tokyo. Now she must choose between a father she hardly knows and a young man she is just beginning to know. But she soon discovers that they aren't the only ones vying for her affections! Review: In a recent post on his blog, David … [Read more...] about Sand Chronicles 2 by Hinako Ashihara: A

From the back cover: After her parents get divorced, Ann Uekusa and her mother move from Tokyo to rural Shimane. Accustomed to the anonymity of city living, Ann can't get used to the almost overbearing kindness of the people in her mother's hometown. But when personal tragedy strikes, Ann discovers how much she needs that kindness. Review: This was really good, with an … [Read more...] about Sand Chronicles 1 by Hinako Ashihara: A-