Onibi: Diary of a Yokai Ghost Hunter

When Cécile and Olivier find an old camera in a store in Saruwada, Japan, the shopkeeper insists that it will capture any ghost’s image. After purchasing the magic device, the kids travel all over Japan in search of yokai, or spirits. The chapters are largely formulaic (the two arrive, learn about a ghost, and take a picture of it), but they are woven together by the supernatural creatures, which reflect a variety of values. Brun and Pichard deploy watercolors in soft hues that often bleed into one another—a perfect visual metaphor for a story about the blurry separation between natural and supernatural. The kids’ photographs add a powerful visual element at the end of each chapter. Drawn in a realistic style, these “photos,” coupled with notes about when and where the image was taken, both incorporate glowing figures signifying the yokai and help to create a haunting experience for readers. Ages 10–18. [em](Aug.) [/em]