The Samuai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama

Stephan is a teenager in 1930s Hong Kong when he comes down with tuberculosis. His family sends him off to the family vacation home in a small coastal town in Japan, where he is cared for by the long-time family servant, Matsu. While he at first misses the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, he soon learns to love his new home. After a time, he, Matsu and Matsu's true love, Sachi (banished to the countryside after a diagnosis of leprosy) become almost a family unit. All the while, in the background, the Japanese war on China rages. I thought the writing in this book was quite lovely. Though I did think it was a little odd that no one held it against Stephan that he was Chinese since Japan was at war with China. That seemed a little unrealistic. Also, I did wonder whether Stephen's TB was still active since he seemed to be spending a lot of time interacting with the people of the little town--and those in the leper colony. Still and all, it is a sweet story and I do recommend it.