Libby Reads November Pick: The Fascinating Tale “The Village Beyond the Mist”
Posted on November 18, 2025 at 6:00 am
What Is Libby Reads?
Libby Reads is a global eBook club for families—and it’s completely free! Readers around the world can enjoy the same featured book at the same time, with no wait lists and no holds. All you need is your library card.
Formerly known as Big Library Read, Libby Reads continues the same beloved program that has connected millions of readers worldwide for more than a decade.
Download the Libby app to borrow the selected eBooks and audiobooks from your local library, and start reading on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Note: Students may also have access with Sora Reads from their school library.
Libby Reads November Book Selection
Read & Listen for Free
November 18–December 2
No holds and no waiting!
The Village Beyond the Mist
Written by Sachiko Kashiwaba
Translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa
Illustrations by Miho Satake
Available in eBook and audiobook formats with Libby
About the Book
Sachiko Kashiwaba’s classic novel The Village Beyond the Mist is now available in English and was the inspiration for Spirited Away, the animated Studio Ghibli film directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
The story follows Lina into Misty Valley, a hidden world of magic, mystery, and danger. Called “transporting” by The New York Times, this enchanting tale will captivate readers of all ages.
Lina’s father suggested she go “someplace different” for the summer, and she’s beginning to wish she hadn’t listened. She could be at her grandma’s house in Nagano, instead of trudging through a forest in search of a town that might not even exist.
But when a gust of wind carries off her umbrella, it leads Lina down a secret path between the trees to a strange and incredible world. In the hidden village of Misty Valley, centaurs roam the cobblestone streets and gnomes visit shops stuffed with spellbooks and enchanted desserts.
All magic has a dark side, though, and sometimes even sorcerers need a human’s helping hand.
Fifty years after its debut and decades of blockbuster success in Japan, Sachiko Kashiwaba’s acclaimed novel is now available in English and certain to delight readers of all ages.
Publisher’s recommended reading age is 8–13. Families are encouraged to read this tale together.
About the Author
Sachiko Kashiwaba is a prolific writer of children’s and young adult fantasy whose career spans more than five decades. In Japan, her works have garnered the prestigious Sankei, Shogakukan, and Noma children’s literature awards. Her books have also been animated as the films The Wonderland and The House of the Lost on the Cape, among others, and her 1975 novel The Village Beyond the Mist—published in English in 2025—inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away.
Her novel Temple Alley Summer, illustrated by Miho Satake and translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa, won the American Library Association’s 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Award, and her novel The House of the Lost on the Cape, translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa and illustrated by Yukiko Saito, was named a 2024 Batchelder Honor Book. She lives in Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
Libby Reads Extras
Libby Reads has program extras including a reading guide and coloring pages you can download and print.
The reading guide includes discussion questions that families and book clubs can share to engage readers and prompt conversation.
The coloring pages feature the illustrations by Miho Satake, ready to come alive with color, providing visual interest and a glimpse into Lina’s world.
Readers can also check out “The Art of Writing with Sachiko Kashiwaba,” a writing workshop from the author, available on the Libby Reads web page.
Tags: adults, audiobooks, books, eBooks, family, kids, libby, overdrive, reading, teens, tweens
