Numamushi: A Fairy Tale | 
pick(2023) Numamushi is an infant victim of war, orphaned, badly burned, and floating down the river when he is taken in by a giant white snake who teaches him to shed his skin, hunt mice and frogs, and stay hidden. Things become complicated when Numamushi grows older and befriends a human stranger. It's a literary fairy tale that draws from Japanese folklore; also a novella about family, trauma, and growing up, and one of my favorite reads this year.
Bookwomble That sounds intriguing! 3w