Diary of a Tokyo Teen - by Christine Mari Inzer (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

**2017 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award Winner**
**2017 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Gold Medal Winner**

A book for comic lovers and Japanophiles of all ages, Diary of a Tokyo Teen presents a unique look at modern-day Japan through a young woman's eyes.

Born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and an American father in 1997, Christine Mari Inzer spent her early years in Japan and relocated to the United States in 2003. The summer before she turned sixteen, she returned to Tokyo, making a solo journey to get reacquainted with her birthplace. Through illustrations, photos, and musings, Inzer documented her journey.

In Diary of a Tokyo Teen, Inzer explores the cutting-edge fashions of Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district, eats the best sushi of her life at the renowned Tsukiji fish market, and hunts down geisha in the ancient city of Kyoto. As she shares the trials and pleasures of travel from one end of a trip to the other, Inzer introduces the host of interesting characters she meets and offers a unique--and often hilarious--look at a fascinating country and an engaging tale of one girl rediscovering her roots.

**Listed as a 2016 Great Graphic Novel for Teens by the Young Adult Library Services Association**

Review Quotes

"...brimming with humorous insight into Japanese culture." --Tokyo Weekender

"Diary of a Tokyo Teen is a fun multicultural journey...the book is devoid of heavy teenage angst and instead brings the reader on a journey of wonder, fascination, and self-discovery. Teenage readers may be inspired to create their own travel diaries on their own journeys." --Asian Fortune News

"A sweet and funny book that will entice those with an interest in Japan, as well as fans of Lucy Knisley's Relish: My Life in the Kitchen." --School Library Journal

"Readers won't just want to go to Japan by the end of this memoir--they'll want to go with Inzer." --Publishers Weekly

"The art is funny, colorful, and imaginative, which enhances the reading experience. Although this book is technically a memoir, it reads like work of fiction. Inzer writes in an amusing way, highlighting the differences between her two cultures." --VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)

"This funny travelogue is a portal to both modern Japan and the life of a teenage girl experiencing new things while traveling...Teens hoping to travel to Japan--or anywhere, for that matter--will have a lot to gain from Inzer's warts-and-all account of her journey." --Booklist

"This graphic novel explores Japanese culture, food, and fashion and makes for a quick, enjoyable read." --Buzzfeed

"Using a blend of photos and fun illustrations, Japanese-American writer/illustrator Christine Mari Inzer travels at 15 to Tokyo to reacquaint herself with the country while offering up her Diary of a Tokyo Teen: A Japanese-American Girl Travels to the Land of Trendy Fashion, High-Tech Toilets and Maid Cafes packed with interesting observations and plenty of navel-gazing for other teenage visitors." --Travel Channel

About the Author

Christine Mari Inzer was born in Tokyo in 1997 to a Japanese mother and an American father. She spent her early years in Japan and relocated to the United States in 2003. She is currently a college freshman.