After making a splash on the international literary scene with the translations of her psychological feminist thrillers — “Butter” and “Hooked” — Asako Yuzuki has unexpectedly pivoted to children’s literature.
“Mari the Unwonderful Witch,” published in Japan in 2023 and coming out in an English translation by Ecre Karadag at the end of September, is described in promotional materials as “cozy.” Do not be deceived by the ad copy. The only cozy things about it are the charming illustrations by Yukako Sakaguchi and the cute cover by Yuuki Jia. And we all know the old adage about covers and judging them.
Complex and profound, yet irresistibly fun, Yuzuki’s “Mari the Unwonderful Witch” is not a diversion from her common themes, but rather a clever reframing of them for a younger generation.
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