The gods lie by Kaori Ozaki

OVERVIEW:

Natsuru Nanao, a 6th grader who lives alone with his mother, strikes up an unlikely friendship with the reserved and driven Rio Suzumura. Natsuru plays hookey from soccer camp that summer, and instead of telling the truth to his mother, he spends all his time with Rio and her kid brother at their rickety house, where a dark secret threatens to upend their fragile happiness.

REVIEW:

This one off story from Kaori Ozaki devels into the darkness that is the human heart while balancing the innocences of children and their hopes and dreams. Natsuru lives a peaceful life with his mother which is a bit of a trope in Japanese storytelling; however, this story takes an unexpected turn once Rio enter's his life. This gentle almost-love story will leave you in solum refection afterwards yearning to know what will happen to sweet Rio and Natsuru. Its the kind of numbness that allows you to search your heart and return renewed and refocused; a rollercoaster if you will. There is so many wonderful, tear jerking moments in this stroy that make it a must read that I do not want to ruin for you by going into more detaill. This is definitely a must read and is appropriate for most audiences.