MORIBITO (Guardian)
Guardian of the Awful God Volume 2: Return from the Hard Journey
by Nahoko Uehashi
illus. by Makiko Futaki
Heroine Balsa encounters a brother and sister being sold by a slave trader in the market. The girl, who seems to have a strange aura, is called Asra. Impulsively Balsa takes her away. However, later she comes to wonder if the girl is a divinely appointed guardian or a child of disaster. Author Uehashi likens her multi-award-winning "MORIBITO (Guardian)" series to a tree that keeps growing new branches of rich foliage. Illustrator Futaki is an animator for Studio Ghibli, creator of international hits "Princess Mononoke" and "Spirited Away."
Award
2003 SHOGAKUKAN CULTURAL PRIZE IN PUBLISHING FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS
22 x 16 cm, 284-361 pages, Black-and-white illustrations
First published January 2003
Rights sold: China & Taiwan
