Back of Book: 

The heartwarming transgender love story, based on true events!

Drawn in the style of diary comics with an upbeat, adorable flair, this is a charming tale about Chii, a woman assigned male at birth. Her story starts with her childhood and follows the ups and downs of exploring her sexuality, gender, and transition—as well as falling in love with a man who’s head over heels for her. Now they want to get married, so Chii’s about to embark on a new adventure: becoming a bride!

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Memoir | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A cute, informative manga featuring a trans girl and her awkward, yet faithful, husband. 

Chii was born into the wrong body, but it took her awhile to do something about it. "The Bride Was a Boy" tells the story of Chii's transition physically and emotionally into the women that she was always meant to be. And the best part? She's now ready to get married to the love of her life! 

This was a cute, quick read focusing on the massively important topic of transitioning from one's birth gender to the gender they identify as. It is packed full with informative graphics that allow the reader some knowledge on terminology surrounding sexual/gender identity, legislation (especially in Japan), and answers to some very personal questions surrounding Chii's identity journey. I found these graphic to take away from the story slightly, but I understand their importance to readers that are highly unfamiliar with these types of topics. I also got the impression that these asides were much more prevalent in Japan, due to the discussions on the language used and the laws that were talked about in them. 

My favorite parts of this manga most definitely are the art style, the awkward moments of this couple (the proposal was so uncomfortable in the cutest of ways), and the highlight on Chii and her husband's relationship. It really made for a fluffy, feel-good atmosphere, even though this book does talk about some very tough things, such as same-sex marriages not being allowed in Japan, which I found really surprising. This book most definitely has to be viewed through the lens that it was written in 2016, because much of the terminology, laws, and legislation will shift over time. However, this does not take away the validness of Chii's experiences and the memoir that she penned to share with the world. 

Overall, "The Bride Was a Boy" isn't anything too crazy, but it was a fun, light read with some very cute moments. I think it is nice to read translated memoirs due to how different people's lives are in different countries. I feel that much can be gained from this experience alone. I'm sure this book was really helpful in Japan also, and I'm glad that Chii was willing to share her story with the world. 

Back of Book: 

A Bittersweet Romance

In this deeply moving first-person story, an introverted high school boy finds his classmate’s diary―and learns her biggest secret. Yamauchi Sakura is dying from a pancreatic disease and now he is the only one person outside her family to know the truth. The last thing the boy wants is to be her friend, but Sakura’s cheerful demeanor and their shared secret draw them together in this heartrending tale of friendship and mortality. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Contemporary 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

One fateful day, a girl with a terminal illness meets a lonely boy in a hospital and the two begin to explore what it truly means to be alive. 

The main male character is a lonely, introverted boy who assumes that no one knows who he is or cares about him. His perspective begins to change when he meets Yamauchi Sakura, a fellow classmate who has a terminal pancreatic disease. Sakura is a strong-willed girl who won't take no for an answer, so our young protagonist finds himself spending most of his free time with Sakura. As the two get to know one another, they teach each other what it truly means to live and be loved.

Wow. I knew this one was going to be bittersweet, but it somehow managed to still catch me off guard. This one is often compared to "Your Lie in April," and I can certainly see why after finishing this one. 

The best part about this book is the wonderful prose and the way the author talks about life, death, and mortality. Living life to its fullest is front and center in this novel, but it obviously deals with grief, too. The discussion of trying to not take things for granted is another prominent lesson that this manga passes on to the reader. 

This book is mostly a slice of life novel that follows Sakura and Introverted Classmate. They really just bask in the everyday joys of being alive, which is something I strive to do as best as I can. Seeing two friends go out to eat, travel, and make each other laugh is good for the soul at any time. This book does a great job of reminding the reader to not take the little things for granted and to appreciate the moments that you are given. 

Obviously, things don't end great for Sakura and Introverted Classmate in the end. Things rarely do for those that with terminal illnesses. Despite knowing that Sakura wouldn't make it through the whole book (heck, the prologue starts with Introverted Classmate mourning her death), it still managed to catch me by surprise. I wasn't ready for the moment that it finally happened, which is another reminder that things rarely go the way they are planned. 

This one also heavily touches on how impactful people can be in our lives. Even those who only know us for a short while can leave rippling effects on any given person, which I think is pretty cool. We make decisions that lead us to the people we meet and some may chalk it up to fate or destiny, but I really like Sakura's perspective on us choosing to be where we are. It is true that sometimes people get thrust together unexpectedly, but it is on the individuals to choose to continue a relationship after the initial meeting. 

The art in this manga is also gorgeous. It is pretty standard artwork for manga with nothing that really stands out, but the attention to detail is amazing. It's easy to find oneself lost in the art, and it does a great job of bringing the story to life. 

Overall, "I Want to Eat Your Pancreas" is a touching manga collection that follows two good friends trying to make the most of the life they are given. They are both different than others, but that doesn't stop them from living their lives to the fullest. The themes about not taking things for granted and appreciating the little things in life are so well done. Grief is also touched on, but this manga is truly a celebration of life. I highly recommend this manga and hope that I am given the chance to check out both the light novel and the movie of the same name someday! 

Back of Book: 

A classic Shakespearean tragedy, Romeo and Juliet is the tale of two star-crossed young lovers who dare to defy their feuding families, put aside all obstacles, and find happiness together—but at a tremendous cost. This grimly beautiful tale, set in Renaissance Italy, follows Romeo and Juliet from their fateful first meeting to their last. Manga Classics brings you this incredible manga version of William Shakespeare's most popular play, with full, adapted modenr English text for easy reading!

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Shakespeare's classic tale of star-crossed lovers brought to life as a manga!

I'm going to start by saying that I am a huge fan of Shakespeare and manga, so this was super fun for me to read. Despite my long lived thought that "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet" is highly unrealistic and that both Juliet and Romeo are idiots, I find myself coming to love the classic tale even more with each version of it I have experienced. This was also the first time that I have ever read a modern English version of the play, so I picked up on several jokes and messages that I had never noticed before.

Reading this manga, I could tell how much work the team that worked on this put into it. Shakespeare's metaphors were brought to life with creative imagery, Romeo's daydreams were fleshed out in a drawn art form, and it was made abundantly clear how young Juliet is. I think that the art added so much to this story, allowing me to find deeper meaning in Shakespeare's figurative language. It also made Romeo's overdramatic side much more vivid and it was hilarious to see his imagination. The facial expressions are genuinely quite unhinged in manga, which I adore. The nurse, Friar Laurence, Romeo, and Mercutio have some especially over-the-top expressions, and I found them so endearing.

Overall, I enjoyed seeing the classic tale of "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet" in a whole new way. It was super fun to relive this story in a completely new format that kept to the authenticity of the original work. I didn't think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did, but every panel kept me entirely engaged and it often felt like I was reading the story for the first time; it felt so fresh! If one loves manga and Shakespeare like me, I feel that Manga Classics are a dream come true. It didn't disappoint me, and I don't even love the original play all that much. It's a fun way to spend your afternoon if you are interested!

Back of Book: 

Sazan, a young man from Earth, works construction on other planets and has seen his share of galactic oddities. But when he meets Mina, a vivacious redhead who zooms into his life on a space scooter, he knows he's run into someone special. Almost as suddenly as she arrived, Mina races out of Sazan's life, yet Sazan is determined to find her again... no matter how far he must chase her across the galaxy.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Science Fiction | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the first manga that have I ever read and I truly enjoyed the experience. When I went to the library and my sister pulled "Sazan & Comet Girl" off the shelf, I was a bit worried about what I was about to read. Boy was I surprised in a good way!

"Sazan & Comet Girl" is a space opera that features a happy go lucky guy named Sazan who kind of reminds me of Emmet from "The LEGO Movie." Sazan has heard stories of the destructive Comet Girl who is feared across the galaxy, but when he meets Mina, it's love at first sight! Later, he learns that Mina is in fact the Comet Girl. The story escalates into a tale of Sazan racing across the galaxy to rescue his true love, prove himself, and maybe even save the planet along the way.

I think the thing that surprised me about this manga was how in-depth the side characters were. I fell in love with all of the alien creatures and I was even rooting for the antagonists to get their happy endings by the conclusion. The themes also were very in-depth, which surprised me a bit, because the premise was so lighthearted and ridiculous.

Another thing about this manga is that the artwork is truly stunning. It was all hand painted in watercolor and the panels were so striking that I spent several moments staring at many of them. I would read anything by Akase just to drool over their art!

Overall, I really loved "Sazan & Comet Girl" and believe that it was a great introduction to manga. I am super excited to dive deeper into the world of manga and hope that I can find some fellow readers who would enjoy a goofy space opera such as this!

Back of Book: 

“It was the start of spring. It was raining. That was the day that she brought me home.”

This is the story of Miyu, a woman who lives alone with her cat, Chobi. As Miyu navigates the world of adulthood, she discovers both the freedom and loneliness that come with living independently, and Chobi learns of the outside world through her actions. Time drifts slowly for Miyu and her cat, but the harsh realities of the world soon catch up... 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Contemporary 

Review: 🌟🌟

A bland tale about, wait for it, a girl and her cat.

This manga focuses on a young women, Miyu, who obviously suffers a bit from depression and loneliness. The story is told through the perspective of her cat, Chobi, who loves her with all his heart.

This manga was simplistic, boring, and rather pointless. The story tries to address some pretty heavy topics such as suffering from anxiety and depression, trying to fulfill stressful deadlines, and wanting to be less alone. Unfortunately, none of these topics are really explored, which make the story seem rather pointless in my opinion. I'm glad that Chobi loves Miyu with his entire being, but I feel like even the relationship between cat and owner is skewed. The cat pretty much only thinks of how beautiful she looks and how kind she is to him. It's borderline creepy at times.

Overall, this manga tries to conquer some heavy topics in a lighthearted way that just didn't accomplish anything for me. I wouldn't recommend this to people looking for a complicated story, but I could see die-hard cat lovers really enjoying this quick read.

Back of Book: 

What if you never had the ability to express yourself? 

High school can be a stressful time for many young people. For Shino Oshima, things go wrong on her first day as she fails to even say her name during her class introduction. Ostracized and afraid, she struggles to find her place in this new world... But thankfully she finds her voice through music and some unexpected new friends. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Contemporary 

Review: 🌟🌟

A short manga about a girl named Shino and her speech impediment that keeps her from pronouncing her own name.

Personally, this one didn't do a whole lot for me. I haven't seen too many literary representations of characters that stutter, so this was a cool thing to experience. I also liked the importance of music in this one and how it helped Shino find her voice. Beyond these couple things, I wasn't too enthused with anything. I didn't get attached to any of the three main characters (Shino, Kayo, or Kikuchi) throughout the story, so there wasn't really anything for me to grab onto.

Overall, "Shino Can't Say Her Name" was an alright manga with some good representation of those with dysphemia. However, there wasn't anything that I really loved about the story and found pretty much every part of this manga to be lackluster.