Searching for Roy Buchanan by Tory Gates is such a sweet surprise in the YA category. Full of fun, banter, adventures, all the while you follow Aki, Kenji, and Hiro through young adulthood which is difficult at times for anyone who has lost their parents. This reader joined in on learning the musical history during the time travels of the young ones. The idea of the Amida Syndrome is a magical surprise in the storyline. I may be one of few but felt like a little on the anime side. One can learn about the music and its origins and how it connects our history in this novel all the while laughing and crying, yes I cried. I laughed out loud often. I can’t wait to read further adventures written by Tory Gates. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book and caught myself smiling. Kudos Tory Gates.

I enjoyed “Searching for Roy Buchannon.” Despite the title, Buchannon is a tertiary character. The novel’s heart it the relationship between the three main characters, Kenji, Aki, and Hiro. They are siblings (two are in H.S, one has graduated) living in Japan. They have lost their parents in a train accident a year ago. Each sibling is dealing with the life-altering loss in their own way. Kenji has buried himself in carrying on the family’s landscaping business, Hiro has withdrawn unto himself, and Aki—the most emotionally centered child—has walked a line between the two. The story is mostly through her eyes. She has the gift of “Amida”—a rare ability passed on from her mother that allows her to travel in time to different locations. Their lives change when they discover the blues (for Hiro especially) through a new friendship with the novel’s mentor character, Kazu.
As they travel through time and location, the characters are searching for Roy Buchannon (and other blues musicians), but that’s really a metaphor. They are searching for healing—a path to find meaning in loss, and push forward and find their place in an adult world. This novel is well written and the plot well-crafted. I found it be totally original—the unique coupling of traditional Delta-based blues and traditional Japanese culture is really what elevates this novel. It is YA (with fantasy elements) with crossover appeal to adults interested in music, or perhaps have a special interest in Japanese culture.