Loosely autobiographical, Sachiko by Shizue Tomoda is a romantic novel that turns the tides of fortune and misfortune into a spiritual awakening. Robust and heartfelt, this novel is filled with genuine love and heartache as a young Japanese girl comes-of-age during the Viet Nam era. This breathtaking book describes the vibrant backdrop against which she begins to define herself and the things she will hold dear. After the death of a father with whom she shared a tumultuous relationship, and amidst a relationship with a man that she must learn to love with complete abandon, she sketches the portrait of the strong woman she will become. Wonderfully prophetic, achingly tender, and ultimately tragic, this is a story of bitter disappointment, soaring hope, ingenuity, and truth.