Synopsis
Kokoro, the protagonist, is a first-year junior high school student. Due to bullying at school, she has stopped attending and is confined to her home.
One day, the mirror in her room suddenly begins to glow, and when she reaches out, she is sucked into it.
Beyond the mirror is a mysterious, fairy-tale-like castle, where a girl wearing a wolf mask, “Wolf Lady,” and seven other boys and girls, including Kokoro, are gathered.
Life in the castle has rules and objectives.
The castle is home to a “Wish Room,” and only one person who finds the key can have their wish granted.
However, they can only stay there between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Japan time. After that time, they will be “eaten by the wolf,” and the other children are held jointly responsible.
The stay ends on March 30th. If they do not find the key by then, they will never be able to enter the castle again.
Seven children live in the castle.
Each has their own reasons for not being able to attend school, and they live with loneliness and anxiety.
Through their interactions at the castle, they gradually open up and begin to understand each other’s pain.
As the story progresses, their pasts and worries are revealed, and the mystery of why these seven people were chosen is also unraveled.
Thoughts
This work is filled with a compassionate look at young people struggling with the difficulties of life and a sense of place in the world.
Through its fantasy worldview, it is a story that gives you the strength to face real-life problems.
The ending is surprising.
This timeless, moving story leaves a deep impression after reading.
This book will teach those who feel lonely that they are not alone and the importance of friends.
