Night on the Galactic Railroad and Other Stories from Ihatov (Modern Japanese Classics)

Giovanni is teased by the other boys at his school because of his missing father. Only his friend Campanella stands apart from the teasing.

It is the night of the Milky Way celebration, and Giovanni heads to town to join the celebration. Somehow he finds himself on a train headed out into the Milky Way.

The story has themes of spirituality and self-sacrifice on a trip that takes us to the ends of the universe.

One of the 1001 CBYMRBYGU.