From the time she was a child, Mas Arai’s daughter, Mari, was completely gasa-gasa–never sitting still, always on the go, getting into everything. And Mas, busy tending lawns, gambling, and struggling to put his Hiroshima past behind him, never had much time for the family he was trying to support. For years now, his resentful daughter has lived a continent away in New York City, and had a life he knew little about. But an anxious phone call from Mari asking for his help plunges the usually obstinate Mas into a series of startling situations from maneuvering in an unfamiliar city to making nice with his tall, blond son-in-law, Lloyd, to taking care of a sickly child…to finding a dead body in the rubble of a former koi pond. The victim was Kazzy Ouchi, a half-Japanese millionaire who also happened to be Mari and Lloyd’s boss. Stumbling onto the scene, Mas sees more amiss than the detectives do, but his instinct is to keep his mouth shut. Only when the case threatens his daughter and her family does Mas take action: patiently, stubbornly tugging at the end of a tangled, dangerous mystery. And as he does, he begins to lay bare a tragic secret on the dark side of an American dream.… Both a riveting mystery and a powerful story of passionate relationships across a cultural divide, Gasa-Gasa Girl is a tale told with heart and wisdom: an unforgettable portrait of fathers, daughters, and other strangers. *Starred Review* Hiroshima survivor Mas Arai is a man of few words: luckily, readers are privy to his thoughts. This follow-up to her highly praised debut, Summer of the Big Bachi (2003), finds Mas leaving his Southern California home-and-gardening business to visit his daughter, Mari, in New York. Despite being married and recently having a baby, Mari, the titular "Gasa-Gasa Girl," is still as restless as her Japanese childhood nickname implies. (For his part, Mas finds all New Yorkers entirely too "gasa-gasa.") Mari and her husband, Lloyd, are going through tough times, both with their baby's health and with Lloyd's job, designing a garden for a half-Japanese multimillionaire. First, the garden is targeted by vandals, and then Lloyd's boss, Kazuhiko "Kazzy" Ouchi, is found murdered in the pond. With Lloyd the obvious suspect, Mas must track down a mysterious gardenia to help clear his son-in-law's name. Although Hirahara generates a satisfying level of suspense, what makes this series unique is its flawed and honorable protagonist. Seeing New York City through Mas' eyes, hearing his amusingly accented English, and struggling with him as he tries to avoid an emotional confrontation with his daughter give readers a fascinating insight into a complex and admirable man. Jenny McLarin Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "[Hirahara] brings heart and elegance to a nifty whodunit.... In the process of solving a murder mystery, an elderly Japanese-American begins to rebuild the strained relationship with his only daughter."— Kirkus Reviews ”What makes this series unique is its flawed and honorable protagonist. … A fascinating insight into a complex and admirable man.”— Booklist, starred review “The endearing, quietly dignified Mas, supported by a cast of spirited New Yorkers, as well as the distinctive Japanese-flavored prose, make this a memorable read.”— Publishers Weekly “A compelling grasp of the Japanese American subculture … absolutely fascinating.”— Asian American Press From the time she was a child, Mas Arai's daughter, Mari, was completely gasa-gasa-never sitting still, always on the go, getting into everything. And Mas, busy tending lawns, gambling, and struggling to put his Hiroshima past behind him, never had much time for the family he was trying to support. For years now, his resentful daughter has lived a continent away in New York City, and had a life he knew little about. But an anxious phone call from Mari asking for his help plunges the usually obstinate Mas into a series of startling situations from maneuvering in an unfamiliar city to making nice with his tall, blond son-in-law, Lloyd, to taking care of a sickly child...to finding a dead body in the rubble of a former koi pond. The victim was Kazzy Ouchi, a half-Japanese millionaire who also happened to be Mari and Lloyd's boss. Stumbling onto the scene, Mas sees more amiss than the detectives do, but his instinct is to keep his mouth shut. Only when the case threatens his daughter and her family does Mas take action: patiently, stubbornly tugging at the end of a tangled, dangerous mystery. And as he does, he begins to lay bare a tragic secret on the dark side of an American dream.... Both a riveting mystery and a powerful story of passionate relationships across a cultural divide, "Gasa-Gasa Girl is a tale told with heart and wisdom: an unforgettable portrait of fathers, daughters, and other strangers. [Starred Review] "What makes this series unique is its flawed and honorable protagonist. ... A fascin