Heaven

The novel "Heaven" whose English translation reached the short list for the Man Booker International Prize in 2022 takes place in a Japanese school where a fourteen-year-old boy faces all kinds of suffering at the hands of his classmates because he is albino. Nevertheless, the boy remains patient and does not resist but suffers in silence. Kojima, his classmate, is the only one who understands his suffering because she is also not spared from bullying and ill-treatment by others. They become close friends who comfort each other and exchange messages away from others' eyes. But what is the essence and core of this friendship if what unites them is the fear of others? This novel, despite its apparent simplicity, is multi-layered and deep in meaning, combining sharpness and tenderness, and offers a testimony to the environment of Mebiko Kawakami, who is undeniably talented. No wonder her reputation has spread as one of the most prominent young writers today.