"Are you OK?
She was looking
right back at me ...
that tiny little bird ...
she really saw me.
I hope we didn't scare
her too much.
She'll be OK."
It starts with walking her dog. It's clear she is not paying attention to where they are or where they are going. Eyes on the phone in her hand and headphones offering listening pleasure, she is unaware whenever the dog wants to stop or notices something of interest. On they go!
As they come to a broken gate, the dog notices a fox at the entrance. The dog pulls away, and tears through the gate in hot pursuit. The girl follows, searches, fights her way through old tree branches, and finally, trips down a hill. As she continues looking for Pepper, she takes note of her surroundings ... dilapidated, neglected. From the top of a brick wall, a young boy points her in the direction Pepper has gone. It's a great start to a tale that makes perfect use of visual storytelling.
Exploring the natural environment together, time passes quickly. Rob leaves. Poppy realizes she needs to get home. Once there she tries to tell her mom, who is languishing on the sofa in a house filled with work that must be done. Poppy and Pepper return the following day, and meet up with Rob again. His interest and knowledge about the old forest is inspiring. It leads to more meetings, more enjoyable observations. Poppy wants to share her enthusiasm for nature with her mother, who is grieving Poppy's grandmother's death.
The transition from dependence on the digital world to immersion in nature is subtly handled. Few words are needed as the beautifully realistic artwork provides details of both flora and fauna in the forest setting. Listening to birdsong and gazing in wonder at all that is happening around her provides a solace that she wants her mother to share.
This is Kengo Kurimoto's debut novel. I will be on constant watch for his next.
Outstanding!
"What does the wild speak?"
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