Content levels
Trigger warnings
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
"In this sweeping magical-realist epic set in the fictional south sea island republic of Navidad, Ikezawa gives his imagination free rein to reinvent the myths of twentieth-century Japan. A delegation of Japanese war veterans pays an official visit to the ex-World War II colony, only to see the Japanese flag burst into flames. The following day, the tour bus, and its passengers, simply vanish. The locals exchange absurd rumors - the bus was last seen attending Catholic mass, the bus must have skipped across the lagoon - but the president suspects a covert guerrilla organization is trying to undermine his connections with Japan. Can the real answers to the mystery be found, or will the president have to be content with the surreal answers?"--Jacket p. [2].
Is The Navidad Incident: The Downfall of Matías Guili appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This magical-realist political fantasy explores post-colonial themes and WWII legacy through surreal mystery. Contains mild violence related to war history and political tension, but no graphic content or sexual material.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include colonization and war.
Who'll love this
Teens interested in thought-provoking, surreal mysteries with political intrigue will find this literary fantasy engaging.