This is a dark novel about four Japanese high school girls who get involved with a crime. Told in alternating voices, chapter by chapter, (view spoiler)[it ends tragically (hide spoiler)]. It is a commentary on modern Japanese life and the disconnectedness that young people feel from their families and community. While well-paced, it doesn't provide much hope for the future of young people in Japan, with high parental expectations, holidays filled with cram school, bullying, and boredom. 
 Not recommended for the despairing or faint of heart.