In a Japanese seaside neighborhood lives Jason Parker:

a sixth grader
one year older than his classmates
a stinking foreigner to some classmates
an orange belt in aikido
a big brother

Jason Parker is just a boy trying to get through his days with calm and courage. If only everyone around him would let him.

This is a beautifully spare novel in verse about one boy's life--a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to fit in.