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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The kind of book where you miss the characters when you close the covers. I loved the use of language and accents, as well as the fun use of drawing styles.
slow-paced
Such a lovely graphic novel and funny at times! It hit me with all the feels, I could relate to Nao's character so much of feeling like an imposter in your own culture and the struggle to find the right words to cross that divide. Late last year I started to try to learn Spanish (again) and I continued in January but feeling hard on yourself when you make mistakes is something i need to overcome.
Too cute!
I can totally relate as an Asian living in the States more than half of my breathing days on earth. The main plot resonated with me when it came to finding my self identity as a foreigner living in a different country. Or how foreign I felt at home after spending overt 25+ years in the States. The manga format made an excellent way to narrate the struggles the characters were facing. There were a few places that the flow of the story was a tad confusing but otherwise an overall well illustrated and written story. A breath of fresh air. So glad I gave it a try given I am not a graphic novel person at all! :)
I can totally relate as an Asian living in the States more than half of my breathing days on earth. The main plot resonated with me when it came to finding my self identity as a foreigner living in a different country. Or how foreign I felt at home after spending overt 25+ years in the States. The manga format made an excellent way to narrate the struggles the characters were facing. There were a few places that the flow of the story was a tad confusing but otherwise an overall well illustrated and written story. A breath of fresh air. So glad I gave it a try given I am not a graphic novel person at all! :)
This graphic novel was so wholesome. If you are someone who enjoys a good plot, this is not the book for you. It is very slice-of-life style, which I loved. I felt like Tina, Nao, and Hyejung were my friends and I was right there with them. The character development was beautiful, and the subtle hints at their mastery of the Japanese language were well done by the creator. As someone who has studied a second language before, she really hit the nail on the head for what it feels like to listen to native speakers. The use of dialect is *chef's kiss* for anyone who has studied linguistics before.
This three point of view story from three different girls who move to Japan to peruse their goals is delightful. They all live at the Himawari House located in Tokyo Japan. Two of the girls are studying Japanese to work towards their goals and reconnect with family. The other is trying to make a life of her own.
The art in this is gorgeous! I loved that the kanji was written above the english each character was speaking. The author's note about why she included written accents was also very touching and made me appreciate it more. This was very emotional and the focus on each character trying to find themselves/where they belong was done very well.