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Ink and Ashes
Claire Takata has never known much about her father, who passed away when she was a little girl. But on the anniversary of his death, not long before her seventeenth birthday, she finds a mysterious letter from her deceased father, addressed to her stepfather. Claire never even knew that they had met.
Claire knows she should let it go, but she can’t shake the feeling that something’s been kept from her. In search of answers, Claire combs through anything that will give her information about her father... until she discovers he was a member of the yakuza, the Japanese mafia. The discovery opens a door that should have been left closed.
So begins the race to outrun his legacy as the secrets of her father’s past threaten Claire’s friends and family, newfound love, and ultimately her life.
Claire knows she should let it go, but she can’t shake the feeling that something’s been kept from her. In search of answers, Claire combs through anything that will give her information about her father... until she discovers he was a member of the yakuza, the Japanese mafia. The discovery opens a door that should have been left closed.
So begins the race to outrun his legacy as the secrets of her father’s past threaten Claire’s friends and family, newfound love, and ultimately her life.
386 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2015
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June 5, 2018
Ink and Ashes
(Note: For an explanation of my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ policy, please see .)
This excellent YA book sits carefully nestled between several genres. The packaging lists it as a thriller, and that’s not a bad way to present it. The opening chapters focus more on mystery, by my definition, than thriller. (They are more about the characters discovering secrets than they are about people being in danger.) However, as the story escalates, it does move into thriller territory.
However—and few books manage to pull this off as well as Ink and Ashes—it’s also a slice of life drama, mixing family dynamics, friendships, and romance. While many books use these themes as seasoning, I believe that Valynne successfully creates a straight-up hybrid. I was impressed by how well she balanced the growing tension with a girl struggling through day-to-day challenges. Often when someone tries this, one of the two (either the daily life or the mystery) ends up feeling perfunctory. Not so here, and I thoroughly enjoyed the blend.
I can sincerely say this was one of the best books I’ve read this year, and might even be in the top spot. An artful blend of Japanese culture, solid mystery, interesting characters, and an excellent use of viewpoint. I particularly enjoyed how the writer turned a major trope—the single girl in a cast of mostly guys—on its head by making it a feature of the story.
I highly recommend the book to anyone who likes Young Adult fiction.
For Writers
The first thing I’d highlight for you to examine is how Valynne juggles the genres, and expectations for them, as mentioned above. Pay attention to the solid mystery hook, followed by balancing family life, then the escalation of discovery into true danger. Valynne is very good with promises; watch how she eases the reader through the transitions between family/school life and the action scenes.
I’d say the book’s second strong feature is its use of viewpoint. Many first-person narratives rely on snark from the protagonist to give them personality and make their narrative more engaging, but Valynne goes a different direction, making the character powerfully inquisitive, and reinforcing this with the careful use of questions, curiosity, and impulsiveness from the main character. Valynne is excellent in her use of emotion, and the scenes of tension in particular popped for me—I truly felt that I was in the head of someone who was on the brink of panic, trying to keep herself together. This was done through deft manipulation of the first-person (first-person immediate, as I often call it) narrative.
Also pay attention to the pacing, which is very interesting in this novel. It occasionally uses thriller style (short chapters, end on a moment of tension or cliffhanger that you resolve quickly in the next chapter) but often mixes more of a mystery style (end with a tease about a cool secret or clue to pull the reader along) and more of a traditional style (full arc within a chapter, ending on a short bit of falling action to give closure to issues raised early in the chapter). These help with the transition between action and drama, and vary the storytelling style to allow payoffs and different types of subplots to play out.
The Short Version
An excellent, fast-paced YA mystery/thriller with an engaging character narrative and a nice mix of action, romance, and family drama.
Rating Notes
I noticed no content in this book requiring specific warning.
Bias Notes
I’m very good friends with the author’s editor, Stacy Whitman at Tu Books.
(Note: For an explanation of my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ policy, please see .)
This excellent YA book sits carefully nestled between several genres. The packaging lists it as a thriller, and that’s not a bad way to present it. The opening chapters focus more on mystery, by my definition, than thriller. (They are more about the characters discovering secrets than they are about people being in danger.) However, as the story escalates, it does move into thriller territory.
However—and few books manage to pull this off as well as Ink and Ashes—it’s also a slice of life drama, mixing family dynamics, friendships, and romance. While many books use these themes as seasoning, I believe that Valynne successfully creates a straight-up hybrid. I was impressed by how well she balanced the growing tension with a girl struggling through day-to-day challenges. Often when someone tries this, one of the two (either the daily life or the mystery) ends up feeling perfunctory. Not so here, and I thoroughly enjoyed the blend.
I can sincerely say this was one of the best books I’ve read this year, and might even be in the top spot. An artful blend of Japanese culture, solid mystery, interesting characters, and an excellent use of viewpoint. I particularly enjoyed how the writer turned a major trope—the single girl in a cast of mostly guys—on its head by making it a feature of the story.
I highly recommend the book to anyone who likes Young Adult fiction.
For Writers
The first thing I’d highlight for you to examine is how Valynne juggles the genres, and expectations for them, as mentioned above. Pay attention to the solid mystery hook, followed by balancing family life, then the escalation of discovery into true danger. Valynne is very good with promises; watch how she eases the reader through the transitions between family/school life and the action scenes.
I’d say the book’s second strong feature is its use of viewpoint. Many first-person narratives rely on snark from the protagonist to give them personality and make their narrative more engaging, but Valynne goes a different direction, making the character powerfully inquisitive, and reinforcing this with the careful use of questions, curiosity, and impulsiveness from the main character. Valynne is excellent in her use of emotion, and the scenes of tension in particular popped for me—I truly felt that I was in the head of someone who was on the brink of panic, trying to keep herself together. This was done through deft manipulation of the first-person (first-person immediate, as I often call it) narrative.
Also pay attention to the pacing, which is very interesting in this novel. It occasionally uses thriller style (short chapters, end on a moment of tension or cliffhanger that you resolve quickly in the next chapter) but often mixes more of a mystery style (end with a tease about a cool secret or clue to pull the reader along) and more of a traditional style (full arc within a chapter, ending on a short bit of falling action to give closure to issues raised early in the chapter). These help with the transition between action and drama, and vary the storytelling style to allow payoffs and different types of subplots to play out.
The Short Version
An excellent, fast-paced YA mystery/thriller with an engaging character narrative and a nice mix of action, romance, and family drama.
Rating Notes
I noticed no content in this book requiring specific warning.
Bias Notes
I’m very good friends with the author’s editor, Stacy Whitman at Tu Books.
July 8, 2017
About: Ink and Ashes is a young adult mystery written by Valynne E. Maetani. It was published on 5/13/15 by Tu Books, an imprint of Lee & Low Books, hardcover, 386 pages. The genres are mystery, thriller, and young adult fiction. This is the author's debut.
My Experience: I started reading Ink and Ashes on 6/28/17 and finished it on 7/7/17. This book is an excellent read! I love the Nancy Drew vibe where the main character goes snooping around, breaking into locks to seek for info, and always asking questions. I love the mystery and suspense. I love learning Japanese culture and Asian superstitions in this book. The characters and plot win my attention and keep me turning the pages.
“I’m mad because I feel like everyone thinks I can’t take care of myself. I’m tired of not fitting in because I’m a girl. And I’m tired of not fitting in with girls because I’m always with boys.� p81
In this book, readers will follow the point of view of Claire Takata, an only girl who is never satisfied with the answers she received about her father and intended to dig as much info as she can including picking locks from her family’s drawers. She’s the middle sibling between an older brother Parker and a younger brother Avery. Their best friends are Forrest, Nicholas, and Fed who are neighbors next door and down the block. Nick and Parker are seniors, Forrest and Claire are juniors, and Fed and Avery are sophomores. Claire along with her brothers and guy friends are very close. They carpool together to school, have sleepovers, jujitsu training, and even have a group name for when they need to have a get together to discuss. Their teamwork mostly due to Claire’s theory that something is going on and she needs them to help either to distract her parents or someone so that she can sneak around to complete her tasks. This book started out with celebrating Claire’s father’s death almost a decade ago. The ceremony is very traditional with incense and prayers. Then Claire discovered a letter from her father written to her step Dad before his death. This occurrence started a chain of events where Claire does her detective work to uncover what’s going on. There are a lot involved in the plot, the most exciting is the Yakuza aka Japanese mafia.
“Both of us are suffering because of decisions my father made. We had no choice regarding the consequences of his actions, but we have a choice now. I refuse to believe his poor judgment defines the kind of people we become.� p349
This book is very well written. I love following Claire’s train of thoughts. She’s careful, curious, and determine. I love the friendship. I love the humor. The romance is cute. I love how protective her step dad is and how protective her brothers and friends are to her. I like Claire’s family and how the guys often stayed over for dinner and how her dad helped to review Nicholas� college applications. I like the self defense trainings. I couldn’t guess the outcome and I’m glad to read a mystery that is less dark and wicked than other books I have read. Overall, this book is a fantastic read and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
Pro: family dynamic, friendship, Nancy Drew vibe, adrenaline rush, fast paced, page turner, Japanese culture, cover, humor,
Con: none
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Lee & Low Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at for a detailed review
My Experience: I started reading Ink and Ashes on 6/28/17 and finished it on 7/7/17. This book is an excellent read! I love the Nancy Drew vibe where the main character goes snooping around, breaking into locks to seek for info, and always asking questions. I love the mystery and suspense. I love learning Japanese culture and Asian superstitions in this book. The characters and plot win my attention and keep me turning the pages.
“I’m mad because I feel like everyone thinks I can’t take care of myself. I’m tired of not fitting in because I’m a girl. And I’m tired of not fitting in with girls because I’m always with boys.� p81
In this book, readers will follow the point of view of Claire Takata, an only girl who is never satisfied with the answers she received about her father and intended to dig as much info as she can including picking locks from her family’s drawers. She’s the middle sibling between an older brother Parker and a younger brother Avery. Their best friends are Forrest, Nicholas, and Fed who are neighbors next door and down the block. Nick and Parker are seniors, Forrest and Claire are juniors, and Fed and Avery are sophomores. Claire along with her brothers and guy friends are very close. They carpool together to school, have sleepovers, jujitsu training, and even have a group name for when they need to have a get together to discuss. Their teamwork mostly due to Claire’s theory that something is going on and she needs them to help either to distract her parents or someone so that she can sneak around to complete her tasks. This book started out with celebrating Claire’s father’s death almost a decade ago. The ceremony is very traditional with incense and prayers. Then Claire discovered a letter from her father written to her step Dad before his death. This occurrence started a chain of events where Claire does her detective work to uncover what’s going on. There are a lot involved in the plot, the most exciting is the Yakuza aka Japanese mafia.
“Both of us are suffering because of decisions my father made. We had no choice regarding the consequences of his actions, but we have a choice now. I refuse to believe his poor judgment defines the kind of people we become.� p349
This book is very well written. I love following Claire’s train of thoughts. She’s careful, curious, and determine. I love the friendship. I love the humor. The romance is cute. I love how protective her step dad is and how protective her brothers and friends are to her. I like Claire’s family and how the guys often stayed over for dinner and how her dad helped to review Nicholas� college applications. I like the self defense trainings. I couldn’t guess the outcome and I’m glad to read a mystery that is less dark and wicked than other books I have read. Overall, this book is a fantastic read and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
Pro: family dynamic, friendship, Nancy Drew vibe, adrenaline rush, fast paced, page turner, Japanese culture, cover, humor,
Con: none
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Lee & Low Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at for a detailed review
September 18, 2015
A FIVE STAR READ!
This is a cause for celebration, because I say so.
I didn't know, I needed Ink and Ashes...then it happened to me.
I'm still trying to form coherent reasons why you should pick this book up. And I guess for now, this will do:
The family dynamics is everything, I want and more.
The friendship and sibling love.
Bestfriend turned into lovers. My favorite trope ever.
Japanese Family. Japanese heroine. The culture is alive in the story.
It's a character driven book.
Humor. You can expect lots of snorting and laughing will ensue.
Swoon.
I have so much love and adoration for Ink and Ashes. I am imploring everyone, this is certainly worth your time! Review to come.
Note: There's plenty of testerones but over all. I am completely besotted.
This is a cause for celebration, because I say so.
I didn't know, I needed Ink and Ashes...then it happened to me.
I'm still trying to form coherent reasons why you should pick this book up. And I guess for now, this will do:
The family dynamics is everything, I want and more.
The friendship and sibling love.
Bestfriend turned into lovers. My favorite trope ever.
Japanese Family. Japanese heroine. The culture is alive in the story.
It's a character driven book.
Humor. You can expect lots of snorting and laughing will ensue.
Swoon.
I have so much love and adoration for Ink and Ashes. I am imploring everyone, this is certainly worth your time! Review to come.
Note: There's plenty of testerones but over all. I am completely besotted.
February 25, 2017
I'm slightly over 100 pages in this book, and seriously nothing is making me want to finish it. Not even the mystery or suspense of Clair finding out about what happened with her father's death (and I'm a big sucker for not ending a book until I get answers!)
I was ecstatic when I first picked this up, because 1) LOOK at THAT COVER and 2)The main character is ASIAN!! (YAY for DIVERSITY!) But unfortunately, the writing is just not there. The execution is suffering big time, the characters aren't properly introduced nor developed, there is no flow in the text which makes the writing feel stilted, and so far the book has been filled to the brim with cliches and is highly predictable. Ink and Ashes has an interesting premise and lots of unmet potential, and as much as I want to love this novel I don't think I can bring myself to finish it.
I was ecstatic when I first picked this up, because 1) LOOK at THAT COVER and 2)The main character is ASIAN!! (YAY for DIVERSITY!) But unfortunately, the writing is just not there. The execution is suffering big time, the characters aren't properly introduced nor developed, there is no flow in the text which makes the writing feel stilted, and so far the book has been filled to the brim with cliches and is highly predictable. Ink and Ashes has an interesting premise and lots of unmet potential, and as much as I want to love this novel I don't think I can bring myself to finish it.
July 12, 2015
If you like rampant paranoia and wild speculation that all turn out to be correct, you will like Ink and Ashes.
This book also has: stilted writing, the least believable seventeen-year-old I've read in a while, the least believable romantic relationship, an overprotective father composed of cliches, an indistinguishable cast of brothers, and a prosthetic finger.
It was not my thing.
This book also has: stilted writing, the least believable seventeen-year-old I've read in a while, the least believable romantic relationship, an overprotective father composed of cliches, an indistinguishable cast of brothers, and a prosthetic finger.
It was not my thing.
June 4, 2015
I loved this! The ending was killer (pun intended). Also, I want my own Forrest (not a forest, but I want one of those too). Read this book! It has: Mystery! Suspense! Boys! Japanese culture! Friendship! More things!
Want to read
May 24, 2016
Look at this book
It looks like
My next best read
June 20, 2015
Valynne E. Maetani’s mystery/thriller debut novel, Ink and Ashes, is the book I wish I could have read when I was growing up. After consuming this novel within 24 hours of starting it, I would give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5.
On the surface, Ink and Ashes explores the power of friendship, family, and love as a group of teenagers confront a family secret, which may have dire consequences in the present. Maetani provides a number of potential suspects and twists to keep a reader guessing throughout the book. While the first few chapters may have dragged a bit, the overall pacing was perfect and kept me engaged and interested.
Besides being a well-written mystery, Maetani incorporates diversity in her characters by centering Ink and Ashes around the Takata family—a family of Japanese-American ancestry. I love that I was reading a book with characters who looked like and behaved like my own friends and family. Japanese traditions and values are seamlessly weaved into Maetani’s character’s lives, but at the same time the three teenaged children of the Takatas—Parker, Claire, and Avery—act like any other teenager you may run into at a local high school. As much as Ink and Ashes highlights Japanese-American culture, it also shows how similar we all are despite ethnicity as well.
Being born and raised in Hawaii, I may have a different appreciation of Maetani’s allusions to island culture. Sometimes in TV shows and movies, Hawaii culture and traditions come off as campy and cheesy, but Maetani’s references about local landmarks, food, and language are worthy of praise. I found myself thinking, more than once, that my own students would love seeing parts of their lives mentioned in a book without it feeling forced, fake, or misrepresented.
I was originally attracted to this book because of the book’s blurb: Japanese- American characters? Cool. Problem centered around the yakuza? Cool. Mystery/thriller? Cool. However while reading Ink and Ashes I came to realize what an accomplishment Maetani achieved through this book. It’s gratifying knowing my own children will be able to pick up this book and see themselves in the characters of Ink and Ashes one day. I believe the ending leaves room for potential sequels and I look forward to following along on future adventures of the Takatas, Langfords, and Russos.
On the surface, Ink and Ashes explores the power of friendship, family, and love as a group of teenagers confront a family secret, which may have dire consequences in the present. Maetani provides a number of potential suspects and twists to keep a reader guessing throughout the book. While the first few chapters may have dragged a bit, the overall pacing was perfect and kept me engaged and interested.
Besides being a well-written mystery, Maetani incorporates diversity in her characters by centering Ink and Ashes around the Takata family—a family of Japanese-American ancestry. I love that I was reading a book with characters who looked like and behaved like my own friends and family. Japanese traditions and values are seamlessly weaved into Maetani’s character’s lives, but at the same time the three teenaged children of the Takatas—Parker, Claire, and Avery—act like any other teenager you may run into at a local high school. As much as Ink and Ashes highlights Japanese-American culture, it also shows how similar we all are despite ethnicity as well.
Being born and raised in Hawaii, I may have a different appreciation of Maetani’s allusions to island culture. Sometimes in TV shows and movies, Hawaii culture and traditions come off as campy and cheesy, but Maetani’s references about local landmarks, food, and language are worthy of praise. I found myself thinking, more than once, that my own students would love seeing parts of their lives mentioned in a book without it feeling forced, fake, or misrepresented.
I was originally attracted to this book because of the book’s blurb: Japanese- American characters? Cool. Problem centered around the yakuza? Cool. Mystery/thriller? Cool. However while reading Ink and Ashes I came to realize what an accomplishment Maetani achieved through this book. It’s gratifying knowing my own children will be able to pick up this book and see themselves in the characters of Ink and Ashes one day. I believe the ending leaves room for potential sequels and I look forward to following along on future adventures of the Takatas, Langfords, and Russos.
June 4, 2015
KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW:
Claire’s parents are keeping secrets that could kill her.
Sixteen-year-old Claire Takata is a spirited, inquisitive amateur locksmith and sleuth. Claire and her brothers have always believed their father died of a heart attack 10 years ago and that their mother met their stepdad after he died. But when Claire finds an old letter in her father’s journal and pictures locked away in her stepdad’s desk that reveal otherwise, she is determined to find out the truth. Why have her mom and stepdad lied to her? Why does her mom never want to talk about her father? And what really happened to him? Through letters Claire has written to him over the decade since his death, Claire’s father has served as her confidant, an outlet for her grief, frustrations, and longings. The author also makes smart use of these letters, interspersing them between chapters to deliver important back story. Claire’s grief and sense of loss are compounded when she eventually discovers that her father had been a member of the yakuza, transnational Japanese organized crime syndicates—and then her sleuthing attracts the attention of someone tied to her father's past....The romantic tension between Claire and her best friend, Forrest, plays out authentically in a subplot, and the novel’s twists and turns will keep readers riveted and guessing even after they finish the book.
This fantastic debut packs a highly suspenseful blend of action, intrigue, and teen romance. (Thriller. 12 & up)
Claire’s parents are keeping secrets that could kill her.
Sixteen-year-old Claire Takata is a spirited, inquisitive amateur locksmith and sleuth. Claire and her brothers have always believed their father died of a heart attack 10 years ago and that their mother met their stepdad after he died. But when Claire finds an old letter in her father’s journal and pictures locked away in her stepdad’s desk that reveal otherwise, she is determined to find out the truth. Why have her mom and stepdad lied to her? Why does her mom never want to talk about her father? And what really happened to him? Through letters Claire has written to him over the decade since his death, Claire’s father has served as her confidant, an outlet for her grief, frustrations, and longings. The author also makes smart use of these letters, interspersing them between chapters to deliver important back story. Claire’s grief and sense of loss are compounded when she eventually discovers that her father had been a member of the yakuza, transnational Japanese organized crime syndicates—and then her sleuthing attracts the attention of someone tied to her father's past....The romantic tension between Claire and her best friend, Forrest, plays out authentically in a subplot, and the novel’s twists and turns will keep readers riveted and guessing even after they finish the book.
This fantastic debut packs a highly suspenseful blend of action, intrigue, and teen romance. (Thriller. 12 & up)
March 5, 2017
This book promised me yakuza. It gave me Utah. I feel let down.
Read
June 25, 2015What a pageturner! I read the entire book in one day (staying up till 3 am because I just couldn't put it down).
September 23, 2016
Ink and Ashes is about a girl named Claire Takata. Claire's father passed away when she was seven and as her 17th birthday approaches Claire finds a letter addressed to her stepdad from her real father. Claire knows that she shouldn't try to find more about it but she does anyway. As Claire finds more about her father she finds out he was part of the Japanese mafia Yakuza. With the help of friends and family she finds secrets she never should have known. This book is really good and I would recommend it to any one who loves a good mystery. This book reminds me a little bit about my friend who once found a paper that I don't think she should have seen. So my friend asked her mom about it and she responded that it wasn't something that she should have looked at.
August 4, 2015
Claire Takata has very few memories of her father who died ten years ago when she was still a child. When she finds a mysterious letter from father to her stepfather � who she believed had never met each other � she enlists the help of her brothers and several other boys in the neighborhood to help her figure out who her father really was. Claire discovers that her father had been part of the yakuza � a Japanese organized crime syndicate, and she soon realizes that her investigation may have revealed her family’s location to enemies of her father who are still out for revenge.
The novel begins with the main character tied to a chair getting shouted at and slapped around by an unknown assailant. It gives the impression that the reader is in for an action-packed thriller. Unfortunately, this is not the case. On the positive side, Ink and Ashes has a diverse cast of characters and incorporates interesting elements of Japanese culture. For those who prefer to avoid books with teens behaving badly - drinking, drugs, sex, swearing � this would fit the bill. There is some violence, but that’s about it.
On the negative side, this book was way too long. There were so many details that didn’t serve a purpose and could have easily been cut out to keep the plot moving along at a steadier clip. The character of Claire did not ring true for me nor did her relationships with the boys of the “Axis Powers,� who were at times hard to distinguish from one another. The romance that develops between Claire and Forrest was so obviously going to happen and then sort of sickening when it finally did. It was a distraction from the central mystery of the book that only served to bog down the plot more.
The adults in this book, though not the central focus, had some issues that were hard to ignore. Claire’s mother exists quietly in the background preparing meals while her stepfather is constantly taking off on mysterious business trips. He makes up for this by being insanely overprotective in a borderline sexist manner when he is home. It’s fine to have characters who are terrible people but it doesn’t seem like any of the shortcomings of the parents in this book are ever addressed,
Though this novel had potential, it ultimately fell flat for me. Optional purchase.
The novel begins with the main character tied to a chair getting shouted at and slapped around by an unknown assailant. It gives the impression that the reader is in for an action-packed thriller. Unfortunately, this is not the case. On the positive side, Ink and Ashes has a diverse cast of characters and incorporates interesting elements of Japanese culture. For those who prefer to avoid books with teens behaving badly - drinking, drugs, sex, swearing � this would fit the bill. There is some violence, but that’s about it.
On the negative side, this book was way too long. There were so many details that didn’t serve a purpose and could have easily been cut out to keep the plot moving along at a steadier clip. The character of Claire did not ring true for me nor did her relationships with the boys of the “Axis Powers,� who were at times hard to distinguish from one another. The romance that develops between Claire and Forrest was so obviously going to happen and then sort of sickening when it finally did. It was a distraction from the central mystery of the book that only served to bog down the plot more.
The adults in this book, though not the central focus, had some issues that were hard to ignore. Claire’s mother exists quietly in the background preparing meals while her stepfather is constantly taking off on mysterious business trips. He makes up for this by being insanely overprotective in a borderline sexist manner when he is home. It’s fine to have characters who are terrible people but it doesn’t seem like any of the shortcomings of the parents in this book are ever addressed,
Though this novel had potential, it ultimately fell flat for me. Optional purchase.
January 9, 2016
I really like this one. A very good amount of action and mystery, but it was the friendship the characters shared that was my favorite part.
Want to read
December 27, 2017The mc is named Claire so I know I have to read it. I rarely come across a protagonist with my namesake. Claire is usually a fictional side character who is meant for death. Yes, I've come across ya books where all the Claires die in the first few pages.
January 3, 2017
Claire's parents have hid a secret from her and her brothers that could do more than hurt them; it could kill them.
Claire's father died of a heart attack when she was very young. All she has is good memories of him and a box of some of his things that she is "borrowing" from her mother. When his death date comes along, she is in a sour mood. While going through her box of his things, a letter falls out of his journal. This letter is written in Japanese, and even with her roots, Claire can't make any sense of it. All she can read are the names; a letter addressed to her stepfather from her father. What is going on?! This is not right. They never knew each other. Claire would know... right?
When Claire starts digging deeper into the mystery of her two dads, she finds a series of clues unlocking more questions instead of answers. Her parents deny, deny, deny. Her brothers and her best friend think she has gone crazy. And worst of all, one phone call or one letter could be a death sentence in disguise. Claire has just found an answer; one that she wishes she never had. She is informed that her father was in the yakuza; a Japanese crime committee. One that does things unimaginable. What has happened to the man Claire once knew? Not only that, but is there a chance that her dad didn't really die from a heart attack? Suddenly things have gone too far. Everywhere Claire goes there are black vans following her. She is receiving "presents" that symbolize death. She has pictures stolen from her locker. She is accused of cheating by some anonymous person, making her temporarily suspended from the soccer team. Claire no longer knows who to trust. To make matters even more complicated, Claire might be in love! Who is behind all of this torture? Why are they doing it? Claire's father's past has come back to haunt her; for she was born into a legacy she wishes she never knew existed....
Ink and Ashes was fabulous! I was so interested; I couldn't put it down! Oh my gosh, I could just feel that I was there; watching everything lay out. The beginning was a little bit slow; but the story will redeem itself towards the middle. I honestly felt a little scared at some points. But then I would feel splurges of anger towards the "villains" or sadness to what the characters had to go through and loose. Of course, I also felt happiness toward the love the characters had for each other. I will say that this book is, at some points, very romantic. Nothing too extreme, but I just wanted to let you know. Ink and Ashes reminded me of the fighting/friendship in books like I Become Shadow and The Darkest Hour. I would totally recommend this book!
Claire's father died of a heart attack when she was very young. All she has is good memories of him and a box of some of his things that she is "borrowing" from her mother. When his death date comes along, she is in a sour mood. While going through her box of his things, a letter falls out of his journal. This letter is written in Japanese, and even with her roots, Claire can't make any sense of it. All she can read are the names; a letter addressed to her stepfather from her father. What is going on?! This is not right. They never knew each other. Claire would know... right?
When Claire starts digging deeper into the mystery of her two dads, she finds a series of clues unlocking more questions instead of answers. Her parents deny, deny, deny. Her brothers and her best friend think she has gone crazy. And worst of all, one phone call or one letter could be a death sentence in disguise. Claire has just found an answer; one that she wishes she never had. She is informed that her father was in the yakuza; a Japanese crime committee. One that does things unimaginable. What has happened to the man Claire once knew? Not only that, but is there a chance that her dad didn't really die from a heart attack? Suddenly things have gone too far. Everywhere Claire goes there are black vans following her. She is receiving "presents" that symbolize death. She has pictures stolen from her locker. She is accused of cheating by some anonymous person, making her temporarily suspended from the soccer team. Claire no longer knows who to trust. To make matters even more complicated, Claire might be in love! Who is behind all of this torture? Why are they doing it? Claire's father's past has come back to haunt her; for she was born into a legacy she wishes she never knew existed....
Ink and Ashes was fabulous! I was so interested; I couldn't put it down! Oh my gosh, I could just feel that I was there; watching everything lay out. The beginning was a little bit slow; but the story will redeem itself towards the middle. I honestly felt a little scared at some points. But then I would feel splurges of anger towards the "villains" or sadness to what the characters had to go through and loose. Of course, I also felt happiness toward the love the characters had for each other. I will say that this book is, at some points, very romantic. Nothing too extreme, but I just wanted to let you know. Ink and Ashes reminded me of the fighting/friendship in books like I Become Shadow and The Darkest Hour. I would totally recommend this book!
September 13, 2016
On the anniversary of her father's death, Claire finds a letter from her deceased father to her stepfather written in Japanese. Claire doesn't know much about her father, but she had no idea that the two men knew each other. She can't help but think that something has been kept hidden from her and her siblings. She keeps digging to learn more information about her birth father, until she learns the reason the past was kept in the past. It turns out that her father was a member of the yakuza - and his old life with the Japanese mafia is catching up to his family today.
Ink and Ashes by Valynne E. Maetani is a fantastic debut YA mystery thriller that deserves more attention. I haven't read very many novels featuring the yakuza (more movies really), but I was really pleased to see how this novel was handled. While the story has a wonderful mystery that I enjoyed figuring out alongside Claire, at it's heart it's about family and friendship. Claire, Parker, and Avery are well developed and feel just as real as any current high school student. Japanese culture (and language, to a degree) also take a front seat and it's woven seamlessly into the family's narrative. I studied Japanese while I was in school, so of course, I felt very pleased with myself when I could "translate" part of the story.
Overall, Maetani's debut has been one of my favorite reads of the year. I was hooked right away and sped quickly through it - while still attempting to savor the story. If you're interested in Japanese culture, tightly knit families and friends, plus a crackling mystery thriller, you might want to try Ink and Ashes. I'm looking forward to her 2018 release of Seven Dead Gods, which she is teaming up with Courtney Alameda to write.
Ink and Ashes by Valynne E. Maetani is a fantastic debut YA mystery thriller that deserves more attention. I haven't read very many novels featuring the yakuza (more movies really), but I was really pleased to see how this novel was handled. While the story has a wonderful mystery that I enjoyed figuring out alongside Claire, at it's heart it's about family and friendship. Claire, Parker, and Avery are well developed and feel just as real as any current high school student. Japanese culture (and language, to a degree) also take a front seat and it's woven seamlessly into the family's narrative. I studied Japanese while I was in school, so of course, I felt very pleased with myself when I could "translate" part of the story.
Overall, Maetani's debut has been one of my favorite reads of the year. I was hooked right away and sped quickly through it - while still attempting to savor the story. If you're interested in Japanese culture, tightly knit families and friends, plus a crackling mystery thriller, you might want to try Ink and Ashes. I'm looking forward to her 2018 release of Seven Dead Gods, which she is teaming up with Courtney Alameda to write.
September 25, 2019
"We make an unbeatable team, our three families, don't we?" "A powerful triumvirate."
Rep: Japanese-American mcs
I promise, there will be a proper review at some point, but for now a few things:
1. the protectiveness of Nicholas/Claire's dad/Parker/occasionally Forrest pissed me off no end,
2. apparently the Japanese in the letter at the beginning is badly written, and given that language is probably the easiest thing to get right, that's sad,
3. there was no indication from Claire's POV that she felt the same way as Forrest, it was just BAM! she loves him too,
4. occasionally there were little bits of information that were just thrown in without anything beforehand which didn't seem to fit,
5. it may look like a lot of complaints but I did overall enjoy the book, especially the last 20% where everything started to happen,
6. best friends to lovers trope [heart eyes],
7. found families trope [double heart eyes]
I'll try write this up as a proper review when I have time (probably not until term finishes), but until then, here you go.
March 18, 2016
Curiosity and an impulsive streak land Claire Takata in a heap of trouble when she tries to dig into her parents' mysterious and unspoken of past. Strange incidents happen to Claire as she starts to dig deeper into the questions she has about her father who died when she was seven years old. Claire stumbles upon an old letter written by her father to her now step-father, the man she calls Dad. How did they know each other and why didn't her parent ever say anything about this?
This was okay but it could have been better if the author had done more showing than telling.
This was okay but it could have been better if the author had done more showing than telling.
February 13, 2017
I thought that this book was stunning. A girl named Claire lives with her mom, stepdad, and two brothers Avery and Parker. Every year, they hold a memorial for her dead father. She decides to do some investigating and find out how he died. She does some research with the boys on her computer, and together they decipher a Japanese code. They discover that her new dad who claims to have never met her real father, had received a note from her real father, and seemingly they were really close. Soon after Claire calls a phone number she found in the letter, does strange, scary things begin to happen to her. First, someone gives her four crows eyeballs. Four is a unlucky number in Japan, and crows mean death. Then she receives a bouquet of white flowers with her name written in red on the note- the color they use for gravestones in Japan. When someone lights a bomb in her front yard with a dummy dressed like her tied to it, she knows that someone is after. But who, and why?
I disliked the violence that was in the ending of the book. It was really deep and scary as I read it, so if you don't like blood then you won't enjoy this book very much. It made me feel very lucky not to have this going on in my life, even though I longed for the excitement. If you liked The Truth About Twinkie Pie then you will love this book.
I disliked the violence that was in the ending of the book. It was really deep and scary as I read it, so if you don't like blood then you won't enjoy this book very much. It made me feel very lucky not to have this going on in my life, even though I longed for the excitement. If you liked The Truth About Twinkie Pie then you will love this book.
February 7, 2017
Claire Takata lives with her brothers, Parker and Avery, her mother, and her stepdad. Claire never really knew her biological father, Henry, who as she and her brothers were told, had died from a heart attack. The only memoir she had of him was his journal and the few pictures they had. Claire's mother was depressed after her husband's death so she picked her family up and moved them to Utah. Claire and her brothers believed their mother had met, George, their stepdad after Henry died until a letter fluttered out of the cardstock in the back of Henry's journal. The letter was adressed to George, their stepdad, and signed by Henry, their biological father. The rest of the letter was written in Japanese. Claire knew her father had moved from Japan to America where he had met their mother, but she didn't know that her fathers knew each other. When the letter went through the Japanese software Claire had downloaded, the pieces made no sense. Claire did some other research then tried to see her father's death certificate. The certificate said death of heart disease then undetermined. She tried to order a copy of the autopsy and called a number that showed up. At the other end was a man with a japanese accent. The man said hello in Japanese then went quiet. After that call lots of bad things started happening to Claire. They were all superstitions in Japanese that meant bad luck. Read Ink and Ashes by Valynne E. Maetani to find out what large bumps Claire has to face during this long journey. I liked this book and thought it was sweet until the action started. I recommend reading this book in daylight and with other people with you if you don't want to get freaked out! This book is an action book but it has some parts that are pretty frightening! This book was written very well and that's why I would give it a 5-star rating. This book has a lot of action and mystery similar to Harry Potter, so Harry Potter fans Ink and Ashes by Valynne E. Maetani should be next on your checkout list for the library!
January 12, 2016
*I received this book in a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway.
Ink and Ashes was a really fun read. It was a thriller, full of twists and turns. The characters were better developed than I expected them to be, honestly.
I have two critiques:
1. Although there was no major cattiness between girl characters, there was still the trope of the main female character being "not like other girls," (i.e. less interested than many others girls in clothes, boys, etc.) as though there is only one way to be a girl, or as though differing from other girls makes you inherently superior. Newsflash: girls, like boys, are all individuals with different personalities, and caring less about stereotypical girl interests doesn't make you better than others.
2. I'm also not really into the trope of a teenager having been in love with their best friend literally the entire time they have known each other, the way Forrest was with Claire. For me, it can borderline seem obsessive and creepy to harbor such feelings in secret for nearly a decade. I realize I'm probably in the minority with this opinion, but I wasn't super into that aspect of their relationship. (This is not to say that best friends can't fall in love; they obviously can and it can be great. I just think it's weird for one of them to have "been in love" since second grade.)
Ink and Ashes was a really fun read. It was a thriller, full of twists and turns. The characters were better developed than I expected them to be, honestly.
I have two critiques:
1. Although there was no major cattiness between girl characters, there was still the trope of the main female character being "not like other girls," (i.e. less interested than many others girls in clothes, boys, etc.) as though there is only one way to be a girl, or as though differing from other girls makes you inherently superior. Newsflash: girls, like boys, are all individuals with different personalities, and caring less about stereotypical girl interests doesn't make you better than others.
2. I'm also not really into the trope of a teenager having been in love with their best friend literally the entire time they have known each other, the way Forrest was with Claire. For me, it can borderline seem obsessive and creepy to harbor such feelings in secret for nearly a decade. I realize I'm probably in the minority with this opinion, but I wasn't super into that aspect of their relationship. (This is not to say that best friends can't fall in love; they obviously can and it can be great. I just think it's weird for one of them to have "been in love" since second grade.)
December 12, 2017
This cover totally screams fantasy to me, and I was totally shocked when it never went speculative.
Claire discovers a secret about her long-dead father, and starts to unravel the truth about her family's past. I loved the hook of discovering that her birth father had all these tattoos she didn't know about.
I loved the group of friends she has here - three different families who are all super tight.
There were a few continuity things that bugged me, but the thing that seems highlighted when I look at my notes is what happens to Forrest.
That said, though, I enjoyed reading this and watching where it went. It's thick and angsty, and thriller-ish. I'll be booktalking this to middle schoolers in winter 2018.
Claire discovers a secret about her long-dead father, and starts to unravel the truth about her family's past. I loved the hook of discovering that her birth father had all these tattoos she didn't know about.
I loved the group of friends she has here - three different families who are all super tight.
There were a few continuity things that bugged me, but the thing that seems highlighted when I look at my notes is what happens to Forrest.
That said, though, I enjoyed reading this and watching where it went. It's thick and angsty, and thriller-ish. I'll be booktalking this to middle schoolers in winter 2018.
Read
December 3, 2015Graded By: Poshdeluxe
Cover Story: Photoshop Tutorial
BFF Charm: Nay
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Underdeveloped
Bonus Factors: Diversity, Yakuza
Relationship Status: Flirtation
Read the full book report .
Cover Story: Photoshop Tutorial
BFF Charm: Nay
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Underdeveloped
Bonus Factors: Diversity, Yakuza
Relationship Status: Flirtation
Read the full book report .
July 21, 2015
Brava, Valynne! This book has wonderful dialog, a super fast pace, sooooo much tension, a wonderful twist in the end, and a delicious first kiss that made me wish I were 17! LOVED it!
July 6, 2020
1 Sentence Summary: On the anniversary of Claire's father's death, she finds a mysterious letter from him to her stepfather and discovers that he was part of the yazuka (Japanese mafia)—a deadly secret that is now catching up with their family.
My Thoughts: I couldn't really get into this at first, but it did pick up more towards the middle. It just wasn't that amazing to me. Also, the romance element felt extremely out of place and I think the story would've been better without it.
Recommend to: People who want to read a suspenseful story about the yazuka.
My Thoughts: I couldn't really get into this at first, but it did pick up more towards the middle. It just wasn't that amazing to me. Also, the romance element felt extremely out of place and I think the story would've been better without it.
Recommend to: People who want to read a suspenseful story about the yazuka.
October 10, 2018
4.5/5
Review to come
Review to come
October 19, 2015
I knew from the moment I read the summary that I needed to get my hands on Ink and Ashes, and I’m pleased to say that Valynne E. Maetani’s debut novel did not disappoint me.
For me, an integral part of a mystery is making me anxious for the characters, and Maetani did an excellent job keeping me on the edge of my seat. As Claire continued to dig deeper and deeper into the mysteries surrounding her father, the more the danger ramped up. Maetani used different types of suspense so the audience didn’t get bored with repetition: sneaking around places to pick locks, being followed, unnerving threats, car chases, etc. The different types of dangers made it hard to predict what kind of obstacles Claire, her friends, and her family would face, and that made the read all the more engaging.
The actual mysteries were complicated, and I loved watching Claire throw herself into solving them. It was great to see her brothers, friends, and eventually parents rally around her, but I particularly liked the glimpses we got into the less glamourous side of mystery solving, like painstakingly typing a letter written in Japanese into an internet translator or trying to figure out how to order an autopsy report.
The romance between Claire and Forrest was nicely interwoven with the main mystery plot. I’m always a sucker for best friends turning into something more, and Maetani generally did a great job of keeping me engaged in the romance without letting all of the tension out of the mystery. (I will note a bit of disappointment that it took so long for things to start getting dangerous—based on the summary, I was expecting potential deadly situations to show up sooner.) Claire and Forrest were a great team, and their concern for and support of each other made it easy to root for them.
While Ink and Ashes had a nicely fleshed out supporting cast (I was particularly fond of Claire’s stepfather and Fed), there were very few women in the book overall. Claire easily spent more time interacting with her stepfather than her mother, and her friends on the soccer team barely appeared in the story. Her core investigative team—five people in addition to herself—was entirely boys. I wish Claire had had a close girl friend to do some mystery solving with.
Recommendation: Get it soon, especially if you like stories about uncovering family secrets. While there are a few flaws in Maetani’s debut, Ink and Ashes is a fun, compelling mystery. The book balances its genres well and is anchored by an inquisitive and determined heroine. Tu Books has published some amazing novels, and Ink and Ashes is one of them.
For me, an integral part of a mystery is making me anxious for the characters, and Maetani did an excellent job keeping me on the edge of my seat. As Claire continued to dig deeper and deeper into the mysteries surrounding her father, the more the danger ramped up. Maetani used different types of suspense so the audience didn’t get bored with repetition: sneaking around places to pick locks, being followed, unnerving threats, car chases, etc. The different types of dangers made it hard to predict what kind of obstacles Claire, her friends, and her family would face, and that made the read all the more engaging.
The actual mysteries were complicated, and I loved watching Claire throw herself into solving them. It was great to see her brothers, friends, and eventually parents rally around her, but I particularly liked the glimpses we got into the less glamourous side of mystery solving, like painstakingly typing a letter written in Japanese into an internet translator or trying to figure out how to order an autopsy report.
The romance between Claire and Forrest was nicely interwoven with the main mystery plot. I’m always a sucker for best friends turning into something more, and Maetani generally did a great job of keeping me engaged in the romance without letting all of the tension out of the mystery. (I will note a bit of disappointment that it took so long for things to start getting dangerous—based on the summary, I was expecting potential deadly situations to show up sooner.) Claire and Forrest were a great team, and their concern for and support of each other made it easy to root for them.
While Ink and Ashes had a nicely fleshed out supporting cast (I was particularly fond of Claire’s stepfather and Fed), there were very few women in the book overall. Claire easily spent more time interacting with her stepfather than her mother, and her friends on the soccer team barely appeared in the story. Her core investigative team—five people in addition to herself—was entirely boys. I wish Claire had had a close girl friend to do some mystery solving with.
Recommendation: Get it soon, especially if you like stories about uncovering family secrets. While there are a few flaws in Maetani’s debut, Ink and Ashes is a fun, compelling mystery. The book balances its genres well and is anchored by an inquisitive and determined heroine. Tu Books has published some amazing novels, and Ink and Ashes is one of them.
April 13, 2019
DNF @ 11%
I just couldn't do it. The writing was awful -- who's giving out all these awards to books with terrible writing? --> "'It's still hard, isn't it?' His voice fell at the end as if it was more of a statement than a question.'" [...] "'Yes?' he sang as if innocent."
The whole book (I assume, if it's all written like this) is told rather than shown, as if young adults aren't smart enough to figure out what's going on.
The book also uses such coincidental things to push the plot forward:
The protagonist mentions how she played soccer, and her dad made her learn martial arts as a way to cross-train. Every Saturday he trained her and her brothers ... but not ... Today.
"Even if he had other things to do, he always made sure we practiced for an hour or two. But today, he seemed to have completely forgotten. Why would he have offered to pick up energy bars when Mom was at the grocery store anyway?"
?? It's like a game of clue or something; it doesn't seem organic and it's there just to make sure the plot points fall into place. There's also an extreme imbalance of the protag falling into inner monologue about just about anything. She'll see an apple? Somehow there's a story about apples in her childhood or something.
Also, dang, that fatphobia. In two pages of introducing her older brother the author managed to let us know he was "large, lumbering, etc." in four different ways. We get it! He's fat and you need to make a huge ol' point of it, especially compared to everyone else who's skinny! "Parker gave her hip a gentle bump and put an arm around her, eclipsing her slight frame." Move on. Let fat characters (and people) just exist, please.
Between all that and an otaku (cringe) and the main characters forming "APM"s --> "Axis Power Meetings", I was out. On the page they literally admit they knew what the Axis powers were, but thought it was still a cool name, so ... whatever, right?
And this is geared towards young adults. In this current day and age. Yikes.
The APM was the last straw.
I just couldn't do it. The writing was awful -- who's giving out all these awards to books with terrible writing? --> "'It's still hard, isn't it?' His voice fell at the end as if it was more of a statement than a question.'" [...] "'Yes?' he sang as if innocent."
The whole book (I assume, if it's all written like this) is told rather than shown, as if young adults aren't smart enough to figure out what's going on.
The book also uses such coincidental things to push the plot forward:
The protagonist mentions how she played soccer, and her dad made her learn martial arts as a way to cross-train. Every Saturday he trained her and her brothers ... but not ... Today.
"Even if he had other things to do, he always made sure we practiced for an hour or two. But today, he seemed to have completely forgotten. Why would he have offered to pick up energy bars when Mom was at the grocery store anyway?"
?? It's like a game of clue or something; it doesn't seem organic and it's there just to make sure the plot points fall into place. There's also an extreme imbalance of the protag falling into inner monologue about just about anything. She'll see an apple? Somehow there's a story about apples in her childhood or something.
Also, dang, that fatphobia. In two pages of introducing her older brother the author managed to let us know he was "large, lumbering, etc." in four different ways. We get it! He's fat and you need to make a huge ol' point of it, especially compared to everyone else who's skinny! "Parker gave her hip a gentle bump and put an arm around her, eclipsing her slight frame." Move on. Let fat characters (and people) just exist, please.
Between all that and an otaku (cringe) and the main characters forming "APM"s --> "Axis Power Meetings", I was out. On the page they literally admit they knew what the Axis powers were, but thought it was still a cool name, so ... whatever, right?
And this is geared towards young adults. In this current day and age. Yikes.
The APM was the last straw.
July 31, 2015
On the tenth anniversary of her father's death,seventeen-year-old Claire Tanaka discovers a letter that links him with her stepfather, although Claire and her brothers never knew anything about this relationship. As Claire digs into the mysteries of her family, she learns her father's death my not have been accidental but instead, tied to the Yakuza (Japanese organized crime. This new information threatens Claire's life to the point where someone leaves her unwelcome messages tied to her Japanese heritage, and eventually she's hospitalized for a concussion as a result of an intentional rear end to her car.
As a debut author and winner of the New Visions Award from Lee and Low Books, Ms. Maetani created a great premise that delivered a fast actioned plot that dealt with an interesting aspect of the Japanese culture. I also enjoyed having the book set in Utah because it gave meaning, in my opinion, to how it influenced the character's point of view on romance and a large family (even though Claire's large family included some of the boys in her neighborhood). I will be following this author's career.
As a debut author and winner of the New Visions Award from Lee and Low Books, Ms. Maetani created a great premise that delivered a fast actioned plot that dealt with an interesting aspect of the Japanese culture. I also enjoyed having the book set in Utah because it gave meaning, in my opinion, to how it influenced the character's point of view on romance and a large family (even though Claire's large family included some of the boys in her neighborhood). I will be following this author's career.
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