THE LOST RYU

Kurt Kanazawa gives a keenly connected performance of this sweet and emotionally complex middle-grade audiobook. The setting is 1960s Japan, and dragons exist alongside humans; Japan's dragons are called ryu. Kanazawa sounds eminently believable as Kohei, whose little ryu, Yuharu, is always perched on his shoulder. Kohei's grandfather is angry and sick, and Kohei is convinced he can help Ojisan by finding a big ryu, which all disappeared after WWII. Then Kohei meets new neighbor Isolde from America. Kanazawa is fluent with the Japanese words and phrases, and he gives Kohei a slight hesitancy and accent when he is speaking English with Isolde. Their ensuing adventure explores the mystery of Kohei's father's death, the lingering trauma of war, and the power of friendship. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2022]