窓ぎわのトットちゃん

Good for learners

How enjoyable this book is, very much depends on how much the reader enjoys a slow wholesome diary as exposure to bite-size Japanese language.

Useful for learning: (1) Generally readable around N3 level. There are some N1 grammar points but nothing too intense and it should be easy to grasp with a few searches. (2) In the version I read (kindle digital) vocabulary is useful daily, difficult words are marked with furigana the first time they appear so that is helpful. (3) The story itself is split into very short chapters with very weak linkages to each other. Can be read in 10-15 mins for busy learners who seek bite-size inputs.

It reads like a diary and not a story: Plot development and character development were not that strong other than the main character. The ending is a little sad as well and ends on a low note. I do understand the literary value and the thought provocation this book brings to local readers who resonate more with the Japanese education system.