The Yomigaeri Tunnel

Praise for The Yomigaeri Tunnel

An Adam Silvera Book Club Pick
A 2026 Children’s Book Council 9th–12th Grade Kids Favorite
A 2026 Children’s Book Council Librarian Favorite

“A creative spin on grief and loss … Unafraid to tackle the tough stuff, Murashige makes sure the reader knows that we are not alone.”
—Nichi Bei News

“An enjoyable and healing read … The Yomigaeri Tunnel is woven with a fabric of hope that I want to wrap myself in.”
—TeenTix

“Cements [Kelly Murashige] as a YA author crafting books of deep emotional resonance … Murashige is an excellent author for teens, someone who truly understands the specific questions that age group faces about their parents, their families and the nature of friendship.”
—Locus

“The Yomigaeri Tunnel is a devastatingly beautiful journey through grief, memory, and the kind of bond that refuses to die even when the people do. If Your Name and The Midnight Library had a baby raised on Japanese folklore and haunting tenderness, this would be it.”
—Adam Silvera, New York Times bestselling author of the They Both Die at the End series

“Heart-wrenching and hopeful, this gorgeously written speculative novel will crack you open and heal you from within. Kelly Murashige’s talent shines in every word.”
—Ann Liang, New York Times bestselling author of If You Could See the Sun

“Immensely thoughtful and poignant, The Yomigaeri Tunnel is a heart wrenching ride from start to finish. A haunting yet heartwarming meditation on what it means to love and lose.”
—Lily Braun-Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookstore on Earth

“I loved this book. It’s a beautifully written, heartfelt, and imaginative journey through interconnected layers of grief, hope, love, and friendship. I laughed and cried and saw life at the end of the tunnel.”
—Cynthia Hand, New York Times bestselling author of The Lady Janies series

“The Yomigaeri Tunnel is a sensitive and highly original exploration of friendship and grief, told with deep emotional understanding and imagination. A compellingly beautiful and heartfelt read.”
—Vanessa Len, internationally bestselling author of Only a Monster

“A haunting, gorgeous meditation on coming of age, forging human connections, and walking into the light from grief’s shadow. Get ready for this book to move and heal you.”
—Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of The Serpent King

“A highly inventive story about grief and the long path to healing told with aching clarity.”
—Shivaun Plozza, author of The Worst Perfect Moment

“One of the most unique portraits of grief I’ve ever read—this book hit me in all the feels.”
—Molly Morris, author of Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet

“With empathy and insight, Murashige (The Lost Souls of Benzaiten) presents nuanced discussions around emotional abuse and substance reliance, and depicts the characters’ experiences navigating loss and grief as they search for the space to grow and heal.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Addiction and abuse are handled with gentle nuance as the two [characters] are pushed to explore the complications of the relationships in their lives, ultimately facing a big question: Do they want to perform resurrection, or do they actually want personal redemption?”
—Booklist

“[A] poignant, beautifully realized work … Generational trauma and the complexity of grief form the thematic core of this introspective story, which handles its weighty topics with care and empathy.”
—Kirkus Reviews


Praise for Kelly Murashige

“A vulnerable, magical tale [that] chronicles the sweetness that can draw us back into the world and toward each other, even after our hearts are broken.”
—Jodi Lynn Anderson, New York Times bestselling author

“Tenderly told and vividly imagined … shines with originality and empathy. A stunning debut.”
—Sarah Suk, author of Made in Korea

“A truly lovely reading experience that I recommend most strongly to anyone who has ever been lost in a whirlwind and needs a gentle hand to lead them back.”
—Locus Magazine

“A new voice that speaks above the silence, unafraid to delve into the painful realities of teenage struggles, and with a touch of fantasy.”
—Nichi Bei News

Kelly Murashige was born and raised in Hawaiʻi. A lifelong reader, she writes contemporary fiction with fantastical twists rooted in Japanese mythology and culture. Though she can be shy, she loves obsessing over books and video games.

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