This is a fantasy middle grade novel that takes place in Japan.  It centers around a young girl named Elin who is orphaned and taken in by a place that takes care of these mystical beasts.  Elin discovers that she is able to communicate with these beasts and actually be able to give them a good life.  She especially is close to one of them.  I'm working my way through some Brave Writer picks and this was one of the books.  I'm not huge into fantasy, so this wasn't my favorite.  I think that my boys would have liked it when they were younger.  I got lost during some parts of the book and couldn't figure out what was happening.  I found that when Elin was taking care of "her" beast that those were the best parts of the book.