Review: “6393 miles”
I chose this book out of hundreds in a book club’s library, because I hadn’t read a YA book in quite awhile, and I was feeling for something sweet and suitable for younger readers.
The Premise
14-year-old Chloe’s budding romance with long-term friend and crush Noah comes to a crashing halt when her father gets a promotion and moves their family all the way from Kansas, USA to Japan — 6393 miles away. Upset at her parents’ disregard for her social life, she is determined to dislike Japan, but the country soon works its charm on her — in particular, via her classmate Jayden, a fellow American who also ended up Japan at his parents’ will. When she has a chance to reconnect with Noah, she realises her feelings for him may no longer be the same. As Chloe makes deeper emotional connections to both Jayden and also the fellow girls in her international school of just around 20 students, she begins to learn that distance is a fact of life, and wallowing in resentment at her current location will only be to her own detriment — instead, she should appreciate the opportunity, the adventure and all the possibilities it brings.
The Pros
I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story. The character’s voice felt genuine, especially in its awkward moments of teenage angst. While the drama wasn’t huge, the author did a great job of conveying just how big every emotion felt to the mind of a 14-year-old girl — who, understandably, had a flair to be dramatic! I appreciated that while it was about a romance of sorts, this wasn’t the only theme here. There was much, much more — her relationships with her parents, her girl friends, her teachers, and the country itself. The scene-setting made everything feel tangible, and I could imagine the beauty of both the country and the woven tapestry of all the relationships tied to Chloe. The ending was a reality check for both Chloe, who hadn’t expected such a sudden change; and also for me as a reader: it suddenly grounded the book in its time and place — prior to that, this could have taken place just about anywhere at any time, as this story is so evocative of the teenage experience of young love.
The Cons
There were a few pedantic descriptions at the beginning before the book hit its stride, but these were easily forgettable because the narrative soon steals your heart. My only thought, as I was reading through, was that I hoped for more of the Japanese experience — but instead, an American girl went to an American school (in Japan) and made friends with mostly Americans, and her new love interest was an American! There was an element of diversity — Jayden was black; but beyond that, apart from the insertions of Japanese outings (mostly tourist adventures that weren’t off the beaten track), this story could easily have taken place on mainland U.S.A. I loved that Chloe grew and developed as a human being, but I didn’t feel like Japan itself had any great impact on her. While this can be attributed to the typical outlook of a self-centred teen, I kept hoping for something deep and distinctly Japanese to influence her decisions or approach to life… but she spent a year in Japan and didn’t integrate fully with the culture, as she was focused on a boy. This was my only quibble though; this lack was a mere blip amidst an excellent story.
Conclusion
This was a touching, fast-paced read that I enjoyed even as an adult, and I would highly recommend it for teenage readers as well as anyone who enjoys clean, young adult stories. Chloe is a protagonist that is easy to love — a down-to-earth, somewhat insecure, clumsy, cute confection of childhood that is on her way to maturing into a young adult. Her story resonates with many, and the writer’s voice and talent kept the book flowing nicely from beginning to end. The story and its overall message were just beautiful, and I enjoyed the emotional journey the book took me on.
