Kiki's Delivery Service (A Puffin Book)

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They do everything together and Jiji helps by being a companion, friend, sense of reason, and source of information. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. But while the novel of Howl’s Moving Castle was written by a beloved Welsh author, Kiki began her life in Japan, created and written by Eiko Kadono in 1985. Each new task (or mistake she must fix) is a little tougher than the last and takes a little more mental or physical energy.

The profound loneliness of Kiki’s Delivery Service - Polygon The profound loneliness of Kiki’s Delivery Service - Polygon

Children’s books with overly simplified language and a lack of expression are patronising and deeply frustrating. In Princess Mononoke, Ashitaka ventures out from his village to seek a solution for the terrible curse consuming him.She even delivers a love note and on New Year’s Eve, she delivers a gear that helps the clock ring at midnight to bring in the New Year for the whole town. As the old witch Zeniba says in Spirited Away, “Once you’ve met someone, you never really forget them. Fans of the movie will find that the tone of the novel is definitely of a piece with its cinematic sibling.

Review: Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono | Books and Bao Review: Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono | Books and Bao

It is hard for Kiki’s mother to send her off on her own to find her way as a witch even though she knows deep down its best for her daughter. Kiki, Jiji, and their family are established quickly and with just enough detail before our hero whisks herself away on an adventure. When Kiki arrives in her new city, the citizens don’t take too kindly to her — a hint that this journey won’t be as smooth and victorious as she might have thought.All in all, I found the novel to be a fun, quick read that young readers looking for a little enchantment will devour. Kiki leaves home because of witch tradition, but unlike other Ghibli heroes, she jumps at the idea — even skipping a planned camping trip with her father because she’s so excited.