Description

‘A beautiful and highly original voice’ Observer
‘A deeply satisfying read’ Irish Times
‘Pure captivation from one of Ireland’s rising talents’ Irish Examiner

From Catfish Rolling’s Clara Kumagai, a second novel full of longing, love and heartbreak, inspired by Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.

Turn the page, strike a chord.

There are restless ghosts to be appeased…

When Japanese-American teenager, Adam, discovers a diary in his attic, he is enthralled by its account of a young Japanese woman’s life. A hundred years separate them yet she, like Adam, is caught between cultures, relationships and heartbreak.

She also writes of the ghosts that have begun to seek her out, which Adam dismisses as fantasy – until he too, begins to be haunted. It leads him to Nagasaki, trying to solve the mystery of the diary, and his own identity.

And the ghosts gather…

Publisher Review

'An evocative story of love, history and identity, Kumagai's bewitching blend of lyricism and magical realism makes for a beautiful and highly original voice' * Observer * 'This novel is a beautiful tale of love, family and identity... The author masterfully creates a tale spanning multiple generations, with revelations that will leave readers truly gripped.' * Inis Magazine * [An] unforgettable tale of culture and identity through the generations... pure captivation from one of Ireland's rising talents * Irish Examiner * 'Kumagai's sophomore novel is an exciting blend of paranormal, mystery, and romance elements. The past and present are entwined and parallel one another in this beautifully emotional story of love, betrayal, heartbreak, death, and family... A thrilling and creative story of growth' * Kirkus, starred review * [A] smart, nuanced investigation of identity, heritage and heartbreak... A deeply satisfying read * Irish Times * 'Lyrical and haunting, Kumagai's ghostly tale of love and identity is a testament to the healing power of story and its capacity to bridge divides between cultures and generations... a beautiful and necessary work' * Booklist, starred review * 'Songs for Ghosts is a thing of beauty, of echoes and of memory. A novel to break the heart wide open.' * Patricia Forde, Ireland's Children's Laureate * 'Spanning multiple generations, with revelations that will leave readers truly gripped, this novel is a beautiful tale of love, family and identity' * Children's Books Ireland, Best Irish Books 2025 * 'With all the deftness of a master biwa player, Kumagai skillfully strings together the lives of its characters both past and present. Hauntingly tender and full of warmth, Songs for Ghosts is a book that will stay with you long after the last page.' * Ann Sei Lin, author of the Rebel Skies trilogy * 'With deft grace, Clara Kumagai has taken a strained and challenging song and made it her own... A contemporary ghost story that explores ideas of love and voice with sympathy for the imperfect and a kaidan's atmospheric strangeness, you will enjoy this if you like Madame Butterfly, and you will enjoy this if you don't.' * Mina Ikemoto Ghosh, author of Hyo the Hellmaker * 'Songs for Ghosts is a beautiful and layered novel about love, grief, memory - and how they all weave together. It is at once poignant and sincere, and its story and characters will stay with you long after the last page' * Adiba Jaigirdar * 'Clara Kumagai's second novel beautifully and movingly explores ideas of identity, loss and belonging across different cultures... compelling' * Just Imagine * 'An incredible story, perfectly executed' * Mrs Sydney's World's Smallest Library *