Kino No Tabi

KINO NO TABI by Keiichi Sigsawa
Illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi
Category: Manga/Comics/Pop Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 10/3/06
Publisher: TokyoPop
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
Rating: 5 Stars

"The World is not beautiful, therefore it is."

The first line in this book, and a powerful one. How funny it is that the one thing everyone strives for is perfection, yet we all
agree that a perfect world is impossible. Even if it was possible, would we really want it?

Kino doesn't remember what her original name was, only that it was the name of a flower. The first Kino came into the town
she lived in when she was eleven, days before she was to have the operation to make her a grownup. The first Kino was a
traveller, spending only three days in each new place.

While "curing" a junked and discarded motorcycle, the first Kino tells the young girl about other places and other lives.
Places where you don't have to have an operation to be considered an adult. Places where you don't have to do a job that
makes you unhappy, just because it's required. He sparks a light in this little girl, and inadvertently brings about his own
death. A new Kino is born. She escapes on Hermes, the repaired and animated motorcycle.

Kino becomes a traveller, moving from place to place, staying only three days. Some places are nice, some strange, some
scary, and some are downright dangerous. Kino and Hermes learn about life, themselves, and humanity as a whole.

This was not only a really great story, but a really interesting look at the nature of people and society. As well as an
interesting take on the concept of "be careful what you wish for". It challenged my ideas of right and wrong, and what cost
they come at. It's the first of a planned eight books, and I am extremely interested to see what Kino and Hermes get into
next.