Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi | Book Review

Have you ever read a book that made you wish your school was completely different? That’s exactly how I felt when I first read Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window in 8th grade. A friend brought it to school and asked me and a few others to read it together. We took turns borrowing it, and when we were all done, we couldn’t stop talking about it. We cried over Yasuaki-chan, felt heartbroken when Tomoe Gakuen was lost, and dreamed about how amazing it would be if our school was as fun and free as Totto-chan’s.  

This book is based on the childhood of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, who was an energetic and curious girl that got expelled from her first school for being too "troublesome." But instead of being forced to fit in, she was lucky enough to find Tomoe Gakuen, a one-of-a-kind school run by the kind and open-minded headmaster, Sosaku Kobayashi. At Tomoe, Totto-chan and her classmates experience a completely different way of learning, one that values creativity, exploration, and individuality. But as World War II looms, their joyful school life is cut short, which makes this story even more emotional.  

I’ve reread this book several times since then, and every time, I discover something new. It’s one of those books that grows with you and makes you see things differently as you get older.

(Pernah nggak sih baca buku yang bikin kamu berandai-andai, "Ah, kalau sekolahku kayak gini, pasti seru banget!"? Nah, itu yang aku rasakan saat pertama kali membaca Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window waktu kelas 8. Waktu itu, temanku membawa buku ini ke sekolah dan mengajak aku dan beberapa teman lain untuk baca bareng. Kita gantian pinjam bukunya, dan setelah selesai baca, jadi nggak berhenti ngobrolinnya. Kita nangis waktu baca bagian Yasuaki-chan, sedih banget pas Tomoe Gakuen harus tutup, dan terus mikir, "Keren banget ya kalau sekolah kita kayak sekolahnya Totto-chan, bebas dan seru gitu."

Buku ini sebenarnya based on kisah masa kecil Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, yang waktu kecilnya super aktif dan punya rasa penasaran yang tinggi sampai dia dikeluarkan dari sekolah pertamanya karena dianggap "terlalu merepotkan." Tapi, beruntung, dia malah dipertemukan dengan Tomoe Gakuen, sekolah unik yang dipimpin oleh kepala sekolah yang super baik dan open-minded, Sosaku Kobayashi. Di Tomoe, Totto-chan dan teman-temannya belajar dengan cara yang jauh berbeda yang lebih menghargai kreativitas, eksplorasi, dan individualitas setiap anak. Tapi, cerita bahagia mereka harus terputus karena Perang Dunia II, yang membuat ceritanya jadi semakin emosional.

Sejak pertama baca, aku sudah membaca ulang buku ini beberapa kali, dan setiap kali membacanya, selalu ada hal baru yang aku temukan. Ini adalah salah satu buku yang seperti tumbuh bersama kita, dan membuat kita melihat banyak hal dengan cara yang berbeda seiring kita bertambah dewasa.)

TL;DR: A heartwarming-but-heartbreaking memoir about a "problem" kid who finds her perfect school (think free-range education), only for WWII to destroy it. Celebrates curiosity, kindness, and why schools shouldn’t feel like prisons. 9/10, would ugly-cry again.

⚠️ SIDE EFFECTS & WARNINGS

🔺May cause: Nostalgia for childhood you never had, rage at outdated school systems, sudden urge to hug a teacher.

🔺Emotional damage: That wartime ending hits like a truck. Avoid reading in public if you’re a crier.

🔺Side quests: You’ll 100% Google "Tomoe Gakuen" afterward and wish it still existed.

PERFECT FOR PEOPLE WHO

🔺Were the "annoying kid" in class (Totto-chan is your patron saint).

🔺Believe education should be fun (not just tests and trauma).

🔺Love stories that mix joy + sorrow (like Studio Ghibli but in book form).

🔺Need a reminder that kindness > rules.

 🌟Works for all ages. Read it as a kid, teen, or adult, and it’ll always teach you something new.

BOOK REVIEW 

Totto-chan is that kid who’s full of energy and basically a walking ball of curiosity, always asking questions, bouncing off the walls, and low-key annoying her first teachers. But instead of nurturing her spark, her school labels her "a problem" and expels her. Sound familiar? Even today, schools often expect kids to sit still, stay quiet, and color inside the lines, so anyone who doesn’t fit the mold gets left behind. But the truth is curiosity isn’t a flaw because it’s how kids learn. This book delivers the message that instead of shutting down "different" kids, we should be giving them space to shine.

That’s exactly what happens when Totto-chan transfers to Tomoe Gakuen. Unlike her old school, Tomoe is built around the idea that learning should be fun and personal. The headmaster, Sosaku Kobayashi, is the kind of teacher every student wishes they had, someone who actually listens, understands, and believes in his students. At Tomoe, kids don’t memorize facts from textbooks. They learn through real experiences, whether it’s farming, playing music, or exploring nature, whatever gets students excited. Even now, so many schools struggle to accommodate different learning styles, which makes me think: wouldn’t education be so much better if more places followed Tomoe’s approach?

But this book isn’t just about school, it’s also about kindness. One scene that wrecked me? When the headmaster tells Totto-chan, "You’re a good child." After years of being called a troublemaker, those words change her life. It’s a reminder how powerful a little belief in someone can be. This book also explores important issues like disability and inclusion through Totto-chan’s friendship with Yasuaki-chan. Their bond is so pure and beautiful, but this story is also a gut-punch about life’s unfairness. Still, their friendship proves that kindness can make even the hardest things a little easier.

Sosaku Kobayashi is the kind of teacher every kid deserves, someone who actually listens, understands, and believes in their potential instead of just enforcing rules. While most schools obsess over uniformity and grades, he focuses on what actually matters: helping kids grow into themselves. His approach literally changes Totto-chan’s life. And honestly? I think his philosophy is something we can learn from. Education shouldn’t just be about test scores, it should fuel curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Imagine how many kids would thrive if more schools thought like this.

But this book is also about the simple joys of childhood. The little moments like eating lunch with friends, climbing trees like it’s your personal jungle, learning through real experiences, make this story feel different in our fast-forward, screen-glued world. It’s like a detox for your soul, which reminds you to slow down and savor the small everyday things: a home-cooked meal, sunshine on your face, and that feeling of pure wonder when the world still feels huge and magical. Childhood innocence doesn’t last forever, and this book makes you wanna hold onto it just a little tighter.

But beneath all the warmth, there’s a slow-creeping sadness like a shadow you don’t notice until it’s too dark. World War II looms in the background, and eventually, Tomoe Gakuen gets wiped out. It's really heartbreaking to see such a special place disappear because of war. This isn’t just a history lesson. Right now, kids in war zones are losing schools, homes, childhoods, same story, different decade. It makes you realize: peace isn’t just "no fighting." It’s safety to learn, to play, and to exist without fear. And that’s something worth protecting.

(Totto-chan adalah anak yang energinya meledak-ledak kayak baterai nggak pernah habis, selalu nanya ini itu, lompat-lompatan, dan bikin guru-gurunya geleng-geleng kepala. Tapi bukannya memberikan dia ruang berekspresi, sekolahnya malah cap dia "anak bermasalah" dan mengeluarkannya. Ngena banget kan? Sampai sekarang, banyak sekolah masih ingin semua anak duduk manis, diam, dan fokus mewarnai gambar dengan rapi, tanpa keluar dari garisnya. Padahal, rasa penasaran itu bukan aib, karena itu cara anak-anak belajar. Buku ini menyampaikan pesan bahwa anak yang "berbeda" bukan harus dihentikan, tapi diberi kesempatan agar mereka bersinar.

Nah, itu yang terjadi saat Totto-chan pindah ke Tomoe Gakuen. Berbeda dengan sekolah lamanya, Tomoe dibangun dengan konsep bahwa belajar itu harusnya menyenangkan dan personal. Kepala sekolahnya, Sosaku Kobayashi, adalah tipe guru yang pasti diidam-idamin semua murid. Dia beneran mendengarkan, memahami, dan percaya pada murid-muridnya. Di Tomoe, anak-anak nggak menghafal isi buku pelajaran. Mereka belajar lewat pengalaman langsung, entah itu bercocok tanam, bermain musik, atau menjelajah alam, pokoknya apa yang bikin mereka semangat. Sampai sekarang, masih banyak sekolah yang kesulitan untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan gaya belajar yang berbeda-beda ini. Jadi, aku mikir, pasti keren banget ya kalau lebih banyak sekolah yang mengikuti cara Tomoe.

Tapi, buku ini bukan cuma tentang sekolah, lho. Ini juga tentang kebaikan. Adegan yang bikin mewek? Pas Pak Kepala Sekolah bilang ke Totto-chan, "Kamu anak yang baik." Setahun-tahun dicap "nakal", kalimat sederhana itu bisa mengubah hidupnya. Ini bukti bahwa dukungan kecil bisa punya dampak yang besar Buku ini juga mengangkat isu-isu penting seperti disabilitas dan inklusi lewat persahabatan Totto-chan dan Yasuaki-chan. Chemistry mereka tuh wholesome banget, tapi sekaligus mengingatkan bahwa hidup kadang nggak adil. Tapi di tengah semua itu, pertemanan mereka menunjukkan bahwa kebaikan bisa bikin hal-hal sulit jadi sedikit lebih ringan.

Sosaku Kobayashi adalah tipe guru yang seharusnya dimiliki setiap anak. Dia benar-benar mendengar, memahami, dan percaya pada potensi murid-muridnya, bukan cuma menjalankan aturan aja. Di saat sekolah lain sibuk memaksakan keseragaman dan nilai ujian, beliau fokus ke hal yang lebih penting yaitu bikin anak-anak berkembang jadi diri sendiri. Gayanya ini literally mengubah hidup Totto-chan. Dan jujur? Filosofinya patut kita tiru. Pendidikan nggak cuma soal nilai ujian, tapi harus bisa menyulut rasa penasaran, kreativitas, dan percaya diri. Bayangin betapa banyak anak yang bisa bersinar kalo lebih banyak sekolah yang kayak gini.

Tapi buku ini juga bikin kangen banget ke keseruan sederhana di masa kecil. Momen-momen kayak makan bekal bareng temen, memanjat pohon seakan itu hutan pribadi, dan belajar lewat pengalaman langsung, bikin ceritanya terasa beda di dunia kita yang sibuk dan kecanduan gadget kayak sekarang. Ini kayak detox buat jiwa kita, yang mengingatkan buat pelan-pelan dan menikmati hal-hal sederhana: makanan rumahan, hangatnya matahari, dan perasaan takjub waktu dunia masih terasa luas dan ajaib. Masa kecil yang polos nggak akan bertahan selamanya, dan buku ini bikin kita pengen memeluknya lebih erat lagi.

Di balik semua kehangatan itu, ada kesedihan yang merayap pelan kayak bayang-bayang. Perang Dunia II mengintai sebagai latar belakangnya, dan akhirnya Tomoe Gakuen pun lenyap. Nyesek banget lihat tempat spesial kayak gini musnah karena perang. Ini bukan cuma pelajaran sejarah. Sekarang pun, anak-anak di zona perang masih kehilangan sekolah, rumah, dan masa kecil, ini cerita yang sama, tapi di zaman yang berbeda. Ini bikin kita sadar: perdamaian bukan cuma "nggak ada perang". Tapi tentang rasa aman buat belajar, bermain, dan hidup tanpa ketakutan. Dan itu sesuatu yang worth it buat kita jaga.)

👩🏫 TEACHER’S CORNER

FOR EDUCATORS WHO:

🔺Dream of a no-boring-lectures classroom.

🔺Side-eye standardized testing.

🔺Want to teach empathy alongside math.

CLASSROOM HACKS:

🔺Assign "Design Your Tomoe": Students create their dream school.

🔺Compare/contrast Totto-chan’s expulsion vs. modern "problem kid" labels.

🔺WWII Discussion: "How does war steal childhood?" (Tissues recommended.)

THINGS I LOVE

■This book is like a time machine to childhood, that phase when curiosity was your superpower, lunch breaks felt like adventures, and the world was full of "why?" and "what if?" I first read it in 8th grade with my friends, and whew, we were not emotionally prepared. We ugly-cried, obsessed over how much better our school could be (Tomoe Gakuen, we stan), and basically turned into Totto-chan fan clubs. That’s the magic of this book, that the memory alone makes this book so special to me.

■The writing is super easy to follow, so it’s perfect for all kinds of readers. But don’t let the simple style fool you. Kid-me loved the funny, wholesome moments. Grown-up-me? Suddenly noticing all the quiet, heavy themes about war, loss, and why adults need to listen to kids. There’s always something new to take away from it, no matter how many times you read it.

■Totto-chan is such a fun and lovable character. She’s full of energy, always curious, and has a way of looking at the world that makes us smile. It’s so easy to connect with her, especially if you were the kind of kid who asked a lot of questions or had a hard time sitting still in class. And then there’s the headmaster, Sosaku Kobayashi, he’s the kind of teacher everyone wishes they had. No yelling, no shaming, just pure "I see you, and you’re amazing" energy. We need more adults like him, ASAP.

■One of my favorite things about this book is how it challenges the idea of what school should be. Instead of forcing kids to follow strict rules, Tomoe Gakuen focuses on encouragement, patience, and letting kids be themselves. It made me think about how education should be more than just grades and exams, because it should be about helping kids grow, learn, and discover what makes them special.

■Tomoe Gakuen is honestly such a dream school. Learning by doing? Choosing your own lessons? Treating kids like actual humans? Revolutionary. It’s wild how a book from 1940s Japan still schools us on what education should be.

■ For most of the book, war feels like distant thunder, you know it’s coming, but you’re too busy laughing with Totto-chan to panic. Then suddenly Tomoe Gakuen is gone. Not with a dramatic explosion, but with a quiet sentence. That’s the scariest part, how war doesn’t care about good things. It just takes. And the worst part is kids today still lose schools to bombs. Instead of screaming, this book whispers, "war is bad" and that’s what sticks.

■Even though Totto-chan’s story happened decades ago, everything it talks about like kindness, curiosity, individuality, and the importance of understanding children, still matters today. This book makes us think about how we treat kids, how we teach them, and how important it is to appreciate the little joys in life. Whether you’re 15 or 50, it leaves you with one question: Why can’t life (and school) be more like Tomoe Gakuen?

(■Buku ini kayak mesin waktu yang membawa kita balik ke masa kecil, zaman ketika rasa penasaran adalah kekuatan super, istirahat sekolah terasa seperti petualangan, dan dunia penuh dengan "kenapa?" dan "gimana kalau?" Aku pertama kali baca pas SMP bareng temen-teman, dan duh kita nggak siap secara emosional. Kita nangis heboh, berkhayal gimana kerennya kalau sekolah kita kayak Tomoe Gakuen (yas queen!), dan basically jadi fanclub Totto-chan. Itulah ajaibnya buku ini, kenangannya aja bikin buku ini spesial banget.

■ Tulisannya simpel banget buat diikuti, jadi cocok buat semua jenis pembaca. Tapi jangan terkecoh sama gaya bahasanya yang sederhana. Waktu kecil, aku suka bagian-bagian lucu dan wholesome-nya. Sekarang udah gede? Aku baru ngeh tema-tema berat soal perang, kehilangan, dan pentingnya orang dewasa dengerin anak-anak. Setiap baca ulang, selalu ada pelajaran baru yang bisa diambil.

■ Totto-chan tuh karakter yang seru dan menggemaskan. Energinya meledak-ledak, selalu penasaran, dan cara dia melihat dunia bikin kita auto senyum. Gampang banget relate sama dia, apalagi kalau dulu kamu tipe anak yang banyak nanya atau susah diem di kelas. Dan ada Pak Kepala Sekolah Sosaku Kobayashi, guru impian semua orang. Nggak ada teriakan, nggak ada penghinaan, cuma energi positif "Aku lihat kamu, dan kamu luar biasa". Kita butuh lebih banyak orang dewasa kayak dia, ASAP!

■ Salah satu hal favoritku dari buku ini adalah cara dia menantang konsep sekolah yang ideal. Daripada memaksa anak-anak mengikuti aturan ketat, Tomoe Gakuen berfokus ke dorongan semangat, kesabaran, dan membiarkan anak-anak jadi diri sendiri. Ini bikin aku mikir kalau pendidikan harusnya lebih dari sekadar nilai dan ujian, tapi tentang membantu anak-anak tumbuh, belajar, dan menemukan keunikan mereka.

■ Tomoe Gakuen tuh beneran sekolah impian. Belajar sambil praktek? Pilih pelajaran sendiri? Memperlakukan anak selayaknya manusia? Revolusioner banget! Nggak nyangka buku dari Jepang tahun 1940-an masih bisa mengajarkan kita tentang pendidikan ideal.

■ Di sebagian besar buku ini, perang terasa kayak petir di kejauhan, kita tahu bakal datang, tapi terlalu sibuk ketawa sama Totto-chan sampai lupa panik. Tiba-tiba Tomoe Gakuen lenyap. Bukan dengan ledakan dramatis, tapi dengan satu kalimat sederhana. Ini bagian yang paling ngeri, bagaimana perang nggak peduli dengan hal-hal baik. Dia tinggal ambil semuanya. Dan yang paling parah? Sampai sekarang masih ada anak-anak yang kehilangan sekolah karena bom. Daripada teriak-teriak, buku ini bisik-bisik aja "perang itu buruk", tapi justru itu yang nempel di kepala kita.

■ Meski cerita Totto-chan sudah puluhan tahun lalu, semua yang dibahas seperti kebaikan, rasa penasaran, individualitas, dan pentingnya memahami anak-anak, masih relevan sampai sekarang. Buku ini bikin kita memikirkan gimana kita memperlakukan anak-anak, gimana kita mengajar mereka, dan betapa berharganya menikmati hal-hal kecil dalam hidup. Mau kamu umur 15 atau 50 tahun, buku ini ninggalin satu pertanyaan: Kenapa hidup (dan sekolah) nggak bisa kayak Tomoe Gakuen?)

🌟 RATING (OUT OF 5)

👗 Whimsy & Nostalgia: 5/5 (Totto-chan’s energy = unmatched)

📚 Educational Vibes: 4.5/5 (Tomoe Gakuen >>>> your school, sorry)

💔 Emotional Damage: 5/5 (That wartime ending? Pain.)

🚀 Re-readability: 5/5 (Grows with you like a TikTok trend)

🌈 Life Lessons: 5/5 (Be kind, let kids be weird, war sucks)

WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT TOTTO-CHAN 

🔺Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables): "Totto-chan’s spirit is kindred! Though I never got expelled, just stuck with a slate over my head. Marilla could never."

🔺Jo March (Little Women): "Totto-chan’s my reckless little sister! Also, scribbles furious play about Tomoe’s destruction, take that, war!"

🔺Robin Swift (Babel): "A school that listens to its students? laughs in colonial academia. I’d trade Oxford in a heartbeat."

CONCLUSION 

Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window isn’t just a childhood memoir, because it’s a whole story about why kids (and schools) need freedom, not factory-style education. Through Totto-chan’s experiences, this book talks about letting curiosity run wild (instead of punishing it), teaching like Headmaster Kobayashi (that encourages creativity and to appreciate the little joys in life), and holding onto joy, even when the world feels dark. Even though this story feels warm and nostalgic, there’s also a deeper message about war and how it can take away even the most beautiful things. And no matter when you read it, its lessons still matter. I’ve reread it multiple times, and every time, I notice something new. It’s one of those books that grows with you, and leaves a lasting impression whether you read it as a kid, a parent, or even a teacher.

(Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window bukan cuma sekadar memoar masa kecil biasa. Ini adalah buku yang berbicara tentang kenapa anak-anak (dan sekolah) butuh kebebasan, bukan sistem pendidikan kaku kayak pabrik. Lewat pengalaman Totto-chan, buku ini menjelaskan pentingnya membiarkan rasa penasaran anak berkembang (daripada dihukum karena "kepo"), gaya mengajar ala Pak Kobayashi yang memberikan ruang buat kreativitas dan mengajarkan kita menghargai hal-hal kecil yang bikin bahagia, dan holding onto joy, even when the world feels dark. Meski ceritanya wholesome dan nostalgia banget, ada pesan tersembunyi tentang perang yang bisa menghancurkan segalanya bahkan hal-hal paling indah sekalipun. Yang keren, pesannya tetep relevan mau kamu baca pas kecil, udah jadi orang tua, atau bahkan pas jadi guru. Aku sendiri udah baca beberapa kali, dan tiap kali baca selalu nemu pelajaran baru! Buku ini tuh benar-benar "hidup" dan berkembang bareng pembacanya.)