Books Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami (Author)

"Ms Ice Sandwich" by Mieko Kawakami is a tender and nuanced Japanese novella about a young boy's coming of age and his innocent crush on a deli worker he dubs "Ms Ice Sandwich" because of her electric blue eyelids. The story is narrated by an unnamed fourth-grade boy living in a household marked by loss and quiet struggles—his father is deceased, his mother distracted, and his grandmother bedridden and unable to communicate.

The boy is fascinated by Ms Ice Sandwich’s aloofness and skill as she quietly works at the local grocery store, drawing him to visit daily during his summer vacation just to watch her. The story delicately explores themes of youthful innocence, loneliness, first love, and the complexities of family relationships.

As the narrative unfolds, the boy finds friendship and courage through a girl named Tutti, who understands pain and encourages him to confront his feelings and experiences openly. The novella balances humor, poignancy, and quiet reflection, capturing the shifting emotions of childhood transitioning into maturity.