Anyone who has experienced loneliness or bullying, especially as a child, will find “Heaven,” by Mieko Kawakami, deeply affecting and possibly disturbing.
The book is graphic in its dealing with bullying and discrimination, which may be triggering for some. It follows a 14-year-old protagonist with a lazy eye who is relentlessly teased and subjected to severe physical harm.
Isolated, with no friends, an absent father and a distant stepmother, he reflects on his life until a classmate begins sending him anonymous notes saying, “We should be friends.”
At first he suspects that it’s simply another humiliating prank, but when he receives a letter asking to meet after school, he learns that the sender is Kojima, who is also a victim of bullying.
Their bond grows through their letters and, during summer break, Kojima takes him to a museum to see a painting she calls “Heaven,” which depicts a woman finding peace after suffering.
Meanwhile, the leader of the bullies continues to influence his group to torment their classmate, resulting in disturbing scenes of him being forced to eat chalk, being shoved into a locker for long periods, and cruelly made to wear a basketball over his head. The middle schooler has endured this for so long that he has resigned himself to these humiliations, telling neither the school nor his parents.
However, bullying is not the novel’s primary focus. Instead, it examines the complexities of adolescence through the lens of bullying and isolation. The protagonist, who had accepted his fate, begins to question the nature of consequences and who gets to face them. He observes his bullies escaping punishment while he, despite minding his own business, is often mistreated. This leads him on an internal moral journey that delves into human relationships, friendship and the meaning of power.
Kawakami’s prose is both lyrical and stark, capturing the narrator’s emotional turmoil. The boy’s internal struggles are depicted with sensitivity, conveying the weight of loneliness and the psychological effects of bullying. The narrative alternates between bleak moments and fleeting glimpses of hope, offering a dynamic reading experience.
The novel is a haunting reminder of the effects of bullying and the profound need for human connection. Through her empathetic storytelling, Kawakami encourages readers to reflect on their own lives and the importance of kindness in a world often overshadowed by cruelty.
