This was… wild. Many parts of this story reminded me of slaughter-house five, because it incorporates some sci-fi to symbolize the affects of trauma. In this case, Natsuki is a young girl who is constantly made to feel like an outsider, a feeling only deepened after she undergoes trauma. She starts to create her own reality (as an alien) to feel a sense of belonging and usefulness. 

I think this book also tackles the idea of society using people as simply cogs in a machine. For women especially, they are seen as baby-making machines. When they don’t fulfill this role, they are often cast out in many ways. 

This book is very deep, but you should also be VERY prepared for the traumatic events that happen. Look over the trigger warnings, even if you don’t think you need them!