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“With empathy and insight, Murashige (The Lost Souls of Benzaiten) presents nuanced discussions around emotional abuse and substance reliance, and depicts the characters’ experiences navigating loss and grief as they search for the space to grow and heal.”

—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“[A] poignant, beautifully realized work . . . Generational trauma and the complexity of grief form the thematic core of this introspective story, which handles its weighty topics with care and empathy.”

—Kirkus Reviews

The Yomigaeri Tunnel

Written by Kelly Murashige
Published by Soho Teen

Monika can’t bring herself to celebrate her last summer before college. Instead, she’s still grieving the loss of the one classmate who didn’t make it to graduation, a boy named Shun with whom she had a complicated relationship.

Then, during her final Japanese Club meeting, Monika hears about the Yomigaeri Tunnel, a local urban legend. Those who venture into this mythological passageway undergo harrowing trials to confront their hidden secrets and worst fears. According to the lore, anyone who makes it through is rewarded with the ability to resurrect one soul from the dead.

Monika jumps at the chance to bring back Shun, but she soon discovers she’s not alone. Sharp-tongued and fierce Shiori is hell-bent on reviving her mother and won’t let anyone stop her. As Monika and Shiori confront the ghosts of their pasts, they have to decide: Are they friends, or foes?

With fantastical twists, this emotional, offbeat book about hope and healing is an essential read for anyone who’s ever needed a friend in the darkness.

Primary ISBN: 9781641297035
Publication Date: July 2025
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult, Age 14 or older

Community Represented:

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Setting: Unspecified

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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