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wolfiegrrrl's reviews
241 reviews
Princess Tutu: Volume 2 by Junichi Satō, Mizuo Shinonome
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
Since the manga's story is different from the anime's plot, it's unfair to compare them. What I will say is that, despite my affection for the concept of the series, I really was not a fan of the "thirsty lesbian gets sexually assaulted by the antagonist" trope that popped up in this volume. The story really could have done without that and... the cat.
The director of the anime really said that Mr. Cat was a vital character in the series and I don't know how to feel about that when he keeps harassing little girls with threats of marriage. The contrast between that testimonial and the lighthearted one from Mytho's voice actor at the end of the volume is so stark, but I really love Naoki Yanagi's humor and thoughtfulness regarding the series.
Also, the little gag comics made me smile, so those were a treat to see.
The director of the anime really said that Mr. Cat was a vital character in the series and I don't know how to feel about that when he keeps harassing little girls with threats of marriage. The contrast between that testimonial and the lighthearted one from Mytho's voice actor at the end of the volume is so stark, but I really love Naoki Yanagi's humor and thoughtfulness regarding the series.
Also, the little gag comics made me smile, so those were a treat to see.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Princess TuTu, Vol. 1 by Junichi Satō, Mizuo Shinonome
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
I'm not exactly a fan of the sexualization of several characters or the abundance of panty shots - and I don't want to talk about the pervy cat preying on the children - but I'm a sucker for wholesome magical girl content and I adore this fairy tale ballet concept.
While the plot is predictable, it's enjoyable and my only major disappointment so far is that some of the descriptions I came across for this series gave me the impression that a literal duck was going to be transformed into Princess Tutu... not a human girl whose name means duck. But I guess that one's on me and whoever translated those online summaries.
I also quite liked the cute translators notes and the testimonials in the back of the book from the people behind the manga and anime. Reading their thoughts and perspectives on the series is pretty interesting.
While the plot is predictable, it's enjoyable and my only major disappointment so far is that some of the descriptions I came across for this series gave me the impression that a literal duck was going to be transformed into Princess Tutu... not a human girl whose name means duck. But I guess that one's on me and whoever translated those online summaries.
I also quite liked the cute translators notes and the testimonials in the back of the book from the people behind the manga and anime. Reading their thoughts and perspectives on the series is pretty interesting.
Elmer and the Rainbow by David McKee
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
A unique main character shows his friends that giving to others doesn't necessarily mean losing something of yourself in the process. This is a very sweet and important lesson for kids to learn when being taught about healthy relationships.
The Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Nate Evans
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A book that explains to a group of characters with different interests why books are good and why reading them is good for you. It's pretty cute.
Sprite's Secret: A Branches Book (Pixie Tricks #1), Volume 1 by Tracey West
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I grew up with the original Little Apple Paperback print of this series and absolutely adored it. As a tutor, I have introduced Pixie Tricks to my students who struggle with reading and building vocabulary. They are reading the Branches Book reprint because the old books are hard to find, and I've found that both versions are an equally great tool for getting kids invested enough to want to read and learn.
The Branches Book reprint redesigns the characters with new artwork, raises the reading level just a smidge, and substitutes more story/chapters for the Little Apple Paperback's stickers and activity pages. It's interesting to see the differences between the two versions and I think the Branches Book leaves less to the imagination but certainly maintains the magical charm of the original.
The Branches Book reprint redesigns the characters with new artwork, raises the reading level just a smidge, and substitutes more story/chapters for the Little Apple Paperback's stickers and activity pages. It's interesting to see the differences between the two versions and I think the Branches Book leaves less to the imagination but certainly maintains the magical charm of the original.
Sprite's Secret by Tracey West
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I love James Bernardin's cover designs for this series and Thea Kliros did an amazing job with the interior illustrations! The artwork truly brings this story to life and gives it the magical feel that drew me to it as a kid. The writing itself is pretty choppy, since it's aimed at a younger audience, but it holds a lot of charm and this first book effortlessly establishes the lore of the world its characters come from in a way that will make kids curious for more.
Saint Young Men, Omnibus 1 by Hikaru Nakamura
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
This series is a rich example of a story jam-packed to the brim with cultural appreciation. Japanese culture meets Buddhism meets Christianity in a humorous slice-of-divine-life adventure...with roommates!
The translation notes at the end of each chapter provide the added context needed to understand a lot of the jokes and references, which I am particularly grateful for. Not only are these notes enlightening, they're educational and served to further bolster my respect and appreciation for the translation and localization process. The team had their hands full with this one, but their hard work really shines through!
Jesus and Buddha have such a cute and wholesome friendship that I can't help smiling every time I read a chapter. Their landlady is delightfully fearless and I love the ridiculous turn the story takes when the yakuza get involved.
The translation notes at the end of each chapter provide the added context needed to understand a lot of the jokes and references, which I am particularly grateful for. Not only are these notes enlightening, they're educational and served to further bolster my respect and appreciation for the translation and localization process. The team had their hands full with this one, but their hard work really shines through!
Jesus and Buddha have such a cute and wholesome friendship that I can't help smiling every time I read a chapter. Their landlady is delightfully fearless and I love the ridiculous turn the story takes when the yakuza get involved.
Manga Classics: Frankenstein by M. Chandler, Mary Shelley
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have always been more fascinated by the Creature than his creator and this adaptation of Frankenstein does a splendid job of highlighting the achingly human side of the character that lies beneath his rather chilling visage.
The wordiness of the original 1818 text (particularly "Volume II Chapter VI") slowed down the pace for me a lot when I first read it, but the manga format does great work to help readers like me overcome that hurdle by improving the pace and keeping us firmly in the story for longer between reading sessions. The added and revised dialogue between characters seamlessly matches the original writing style and themes, and I love that we get to see Victor being eaten alive by the weight of his actions.
While I'm personally not a huge fan of the textured lips in a lot of the close up panels, I do really like how the textured shadows perfectly illustrate the Gothic horror vibes. And, as always, it is a joy to read the notes at the end of the book. Great care was taken with this adaptation and it shows.
The wordiness of the original 1818 text (particularly "Volume II Chapter VI") slowed down the pace for me a lot when I first read it, but the manga format does great work to help readers like me overcome that hurdle by improving the pace and keeping us firmly in the story for longer between reading sessions. The added and revised dialogue between characters seamlessly matches the original writing style and themes, and I love that we get to see Victor being eaten alive by the weight of his actions.
While I'm personally not a huge fan of the textured lips in a lot of the close up panels, I do really like how the textured shadows perfectly illustrate the Gothic horror vibes. And, as always, it is a joy to read the notes at the end of the book. Great care was taken with this adaptation and it shows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder
Minor: Animal death, Incest, Suicide, Death of parent
Time Heist by Matthew Cody
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
"Chapter 8: Time Heist" is a fun James Bond parody adventure with a bit of a sci-fi mystery sprinkled on top. As a teacher, I am particularly fond of the dialogue exchange where Master Hamster asks Marcie if she knows what chronol energy is and she uses root words as clues to help her figure it out. That's a tip I try to teach the kids I work with, so it's great to see it in a book they're fond of.
Cat Ninja Book 3: You Only Live 9 Times by Matthew Cody
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
"Chapter 3: You Only Live 9 Times" does a great job addressing how not only the children of divorce but the parents can feel displaced by the shift in their family dynamic. I also love how we get to see Master Hamster and Cat Ninja both taking care of their family in different ways even though they don't see eye to eye yet.