Folk Remedy: Book 1

Ages 12 to 15, Grades 3 to 7

The world is changing…can you keep up?

Meet Maple, apprentice apothecary who unearths a lost yokai with questionable motives and a penchant for mischief. Fans of Netflix's ONI: Thundergod's Tale and Pilu of the Woods will delight in this new graphic novel series inspired by Taisho Era Japan.

At twelve years old, Maple Akimura’s future has already been decided. With her mother insisting she become an apprentice at the family apothecary business, Maple sees a small life in her village ahead of her.  

Maple would rather spend her time with Kunio, her new friend visiting from Taisho City, than study her family's history. Her mother insists she reads the family book detailing the Akimuras’ relationship to yokai (spirits and supernatural beings) over generations. To Maple, the stories of the yokai are just a remnant of traditional village living, amid 1920s Japan’s rapidly advancing technology and the glamor of modern urban life—especially in bustling Taisho City. But Maple’s encounter with a mischievous yokai named Ember sweeps the pair into the hidden spirit world, with only Maple's family stories to guide them. 

Now, they must navigate hidden dangers, strange creatures, and dark secrets to send Ember home and empower Maple to find her own path.

About the Author

Jem Yoshioka is an award winning comic artist and illustrator from Wellington, New Zealand.