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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
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
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"When I realized I had feelings for someone else, I knew what I had to do. Obviously, I was supposed to do my best to get rid of those feelings, right? But I can't tell where the line is between 'trying' and 'forcing'."
"Did trying to get rid of those feelings help? If trying didn't work and you just kept at it, then that turned it into forcing it, right? And if I were your girlfriend, I'd be sick of seeing you forcing yourself all the time."
I love this love triangle even though Ando isn't really in the running for Ninako's heart at all (lol) because the triangle is as much about Ando and Ren's friendship as it is about Ninako's love life. It's a proper love triangle with different kinds of love and I love that.
About the extra story, Colorless Dreamer: I hated it lol.
"Did trying to get rid of those feelings help? If trying didn't work and you just kept at it, then that turned it into forcing it, right? And if I were your girlfriend, I'd be sick of seeing you forcing yourself all the time."
I love this love triangle even though Ando isn't really in the running for Ninako's heart at all (lol) because the triangle is as much about Ando and Ren's friendship as it is about Ninako's love life. It's a proper love triangle with different kinds of love and I love that.
About the extra story, Colorless Dreamer: I hated it lol.
(01/23/2021)
Ah the misunderstandings abound. I was wondering how we would progress in the series now that five volumes in Ren is single. And I appreciate the focus on their friendship. Oh Ando and Ren they are such kids. I'm rooting for their relationship to be healed.
This volume included is the one shot "Colorless Dreamer" which was, okay but not my thing. 2 stars.
Ah the misunderstandings abound. I was wondering how we would progress in the series now that five volumes in Ren is single. And I appreciate the focus on their friendship. Oh Ando and Ren they are such kids. I'm rooting for their relationship to be healed.
This volume included is the one shot "Colorless Dreamer" which was, okay but not my thing. 2 stars.
This volume is interesting simply because Ren is truly upset over breaking up with Mayuka. Even though he was falling in love with Ninako, he wasn't dating Mayuka out of habit. As he himself points out in the previous volume, she was his first love. It was supposed to last forever. Now that it's over, he's not interested in any relationship at all.
And what's great is that Ninako picks up on this and focuses only on being his friend. She doesn't put him in a situation where he feels he has to do anything.
Although the progression of Ninako and Ren's relationship is great to watch, there are two sub-plots that are becoming even more interesting. One involves Sayuri and Daiki. The other focuses on Ren and Ando's friendship. The way Io Sakisaka tackles forgiveness, and resentment, is really interesting.
And what's great is that Ninako picks up on this and focuses only on being his friend. She doesn't put him in a situation where he feels he has to do anything.
Although the progression of Ninako and Ren's relationship is great to watch, there are two sub-plots that are becoming even more interesting. One involves Sayuri and Daiki. The other focuses on Ren and Ando's friendship. The way Io Sakisaka tackles forgiveness, and resentment, is really interesting.
Sakisaka, Io. Strobe Edge. VIZ Media, 2013.
Ninako is in love with Ren, but he's already dating someone. And another boy likes Ninako, but she's only interested in Ren and continually turns down Boy #2. This is the entire plot for at least the first six of these books. Ninako is obsessed with Ren, who thinks she's nice and all but is already dating and isn't looking for someone new.
This book irritated the fire out of me. The first volume was bad enough with this, "I love Ren!! He's so cute! I want to date him! But he's not interested. But he's so cute!" line repeated ad nauseum. But when I discovered that this. same. storyline continues in all six of the books, I about died. I had to allow myself breaks between volumes so I could clean out my head with something enjoyable, something that contained a plot.
The only interesting things in these books were the scattered side panels the author threw in with information about herself - her chinchillas, how she learned to drive, the fact that mints make her sneeze, etc.
The art in these books is okay. Not awesome. The main character very often looks drugged and spacey (see the cover of Vol. 4 for proof), and the rest of the art is average for a manga, but didn't stand out to me at all. I just cannot understand why these books won a YMA from ALA this year, unless they decided they had to include a manga in the graphic novel awards.
All of that being said, my students who love manga will eat this up. I'm glad they will, because these books are certainly not staying in my house.
Recommended for: tweens and teens, probably mostly girls due to subject matter
Red Flags: none
Overall Rating: 2/5 stars
Ninako is in love with Ren, but he's already dating someone. And another boy likes Ninako, but she's only interested in Ren and continually turns down Boy #2. This is the entire plot for at least the first six of these books. Ninako is obsessed with Ren, who thinks she's nice and all but is already dating and isn't looking for someone new.
This book irritated the fire out of me. The first volume was bad enough with this, "I love Ren!! He's so cute! I want to date him! But he's not interested. But he's so cute!" line repeated ad nauseum. But when I discovered that this. same. storyline continues in all six of the books, I about died. I had to allow myself breaks between volumes so I could clean out my head with something enjoyable, something that contained a plot.
The only interesting things in these books were the scattered side panels the author threw in with information about herself - her chinchillas, how she learned to drive, the fact that mints make her sneeze, etc.
The art in these books is okay. Not awesome. The main character very often looks drugged and spacey (see the cover of Vol. 4 for proof), and the rest of the art is average for a manga, but didn't stand out to me at all. I just cannot understand why these books won a YMA from ALA this year, unless they decided they had to include a manga in the graphic novel awards.
All of that being said, my students who love manga will eat this up. I'm glad they will, because these books are certainly not staying in my house.
Recommended for: tweens and teens, probably mostly girls due to subject matter
Red Flags: none
Overall Rating: 2/5 stars
Love this
I love the one shot at the end. And I love the story and characters so far in this story!
I love the one shot at the end. And I love the story and characters so far in this story!
Forget Ninako, Ren and Ando are the real couple of this story. I ship them so hard its not even funny!