Magical realism is a genre that’s harder to do well than you think. The author needs to balance the mundane with the magical, building a world that is recognizable but also has small wonders that, ideally, allow us to find magic in our own lives—a handsome drowned man transforms a small town, and those who follow Your Book You need to read the green hair messages that circulate in the family, or the anonymous letters that may bring happiness. Cho Hyun Ah’s your letter is a beautiful example of the genre, reminiscent of Korean animated films My beautiful girl Mary In quiet execution, it brings us the story of three middle school students who need a little magic in their lives.
The story follows Sori Lee, a middle school student who one day had enough of the bullying in her class. In her words, Sori decided not to be a bystander and told the bullies to stop, which instead turned their anger on her. The situation quickly became untenable, and Sori transferred schools mid-year, leaving her private school for a public school. Although the bullying didn’t last long, it was enough to leave a mark on her, and she entered her new school fearful of her peers. Every word they said sounded cruel to her, even if that wasn’t the intention, and Sori isolated herself as a means of protection.
However, that all changes when she discovers a letter taped to the bottom of her desk. It was a welcome letter with a map of the school, information about all the new classmates, and instructions on how to find the second letter hidden in the school library. From the second letter, she learned that the writer was named Hoyeon Jung, and he gave her clues on where to find the third letter, which contained more information about the school. Sori followed his instructions and eventually met Suni Jin, a school security officer, and a boy named Dongshun Park.
According to school lore, Suni is a witch, opening the door for real magic to enter the story. It’s never far from the surface—even if spells and tea aren’t part of the plot, Cho’s art is full of hidden magic: fireflies that guide people, vistas that look more than beautiful, and, of course, the letters themselves. It’s almost reassuring to discover that Suni can use magic, more of a confirmation than a gimmick. Part of Sori’s problem is feeling out of place, like when she accidentally curses herself out loud when the social laws of middle school say she’s not supposed to, seeing someone making a firefly lantern or using tea to remove moisture from a piece. She saw that not everything was bad. There are still wonders in the world, which she lost when she arrived at her new school.
She needs to discover this and believe that it’s all over after the bully attacks her, which is emotionally honest. Middle school can be evil, and transferring mid-year, even if it’s to escape a bad situation, can still feel like a punishment. If you’re like me and have been through Sori’s situation, there’s something hugely cathartic about seeing her turn things around and knowing that there are people out there who can help her. it Do Finding a secret place that most people will pass by or finding an adult who will take you seriously can feel like magic. Hoyeon is the catalyst for Sori’s growth, but he’s not the cause; ultimately, Sori himself must follow the letters, connect with Dong-soon, and trust So-ni. When she realizes she did the right thing for that girl who was bullied in her first school, it’s because she learned to like herself more. External forces are confirmations, not causes.
Hoyeon and Dongsoon are Sori’s foils in some ways, with Dongsoon (cruelly nicknamed “Ding Dong” by his classmates) serving as the halfway point in Sori’s journey. He is hurt by Hoyeon’s disappearance and the fact that Sori was the recipient of the letters he left behind, but the two eventually work together to solve the mystery he left behind. Together they become stronger, and Hoyeon completes their circle. The ending may be a little too neat, but it’s clearly the ending the story needs. Middle school can be heartbreaking, this is a story about finding a way out. Will everything be easy? No, of course not. but your letter It’s about learning the strength to keep moving forward.
Drenched in blue tones and highlighted with earth tones, your letterThe deceptively simple art and story make it a beautiful book. It’s a hopeful story filled with quiet magic and an eerie familiarity that sticks with you.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation and the majority shareholder of Anime News Network, LLC. Yen Press, BookWalker Global and J-Novel Club are subsidiaries of KWE.