Yotsuba&! (Manga)

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Name: Yotsuba&!
Type: Manga

Author: Kiyohiko Azuma

Books: 14+
Genre: Comedy, slice of life
Age Rating: n/a

Review: 
Follow the ordinary life of five-year-old Yotsuba, a strange yet adorable girl with green hair who is being raised by her adopted father.

This manga series is adorable! You get to read the surprisingly realistic stories about the everyday life of five-year-old Yotsuba. She is being raised by her adopted father, along with his goofy friends and their kind neighbors. The only character who is truly developed is Yotsuba, though the other characters are just as enjoyable in their own way, by their own right; Jumbo is a big teddy-bear, Ayumi is mature and creative, Ena is open and always smiling. Each character is so sweet to read about, and they treat Yotsuba kindly.

Yotsuba is written by the same author who wrote Azumanga Daioh. Needless to say, this series is full of humor and crazy antics. I will say, though, that many of the stories are about Yotsube learning about every-day life, much like a real five-year-old might. She learns about where milk comes from, she practices drawing, she loves her teddy bear Duralumin, and one day she pretends to be a princess after reading a fairy tale and learning that they really do exist. As someone who looks forward to having children one day, this series was so sweet and made me even more excited. 

The art is simple, yet the normal doe-eyed anime characters aren't as exaggerated, and the simple tones really fit the way this story is read. Unlike some of his other work, Azuma does a good job at differentiating the characters. It's like a funny, care-free daydream featuring a cute little green-haired fairy. Perfect for a rainy day, or when you just need something to wind down with. Suitable for all ages. 

For more from Kiyohiko Azuma, click here.

Mature Content:

• n/a

Personal Note: 
Danbo the robot made of cardboard!

Azumanga Daioh (Manga)

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Name: Azumanga Daioh
Type: Manga

Author: Kiyohiko Azuma

Books: 4
Genre: Comedy, slice of life
Age Rating: 14+

Review:
Comic strips of life in highschool from the viewpoint of 6 girls with unique personalities. Main characters involve Chiyo the 10-year-old genius, Sakaki who secretly loves cats, Tomo the wild one, Yomi with the short temper, and Osaka the ditz.

Along with some teachers and a flying, stuffed cat, this is one manga you won't want to miss! It is one of the (if not the most) hilarious mangas I have read thus far! Having only 4 books in the series, it is a pretty fast read, and a complete volume with the entire series is now available, which I now have because I just loved this story so much. The manga is presented in a different way than others, taking on a more comic-strip style. Each mini-section has it's own title, and four panels to read. Some of the sections relate to one another and are continuations of previous segments, but most can be read alone, which is a fun option.

What's nice about this short series is that it appeals to both genders; my younger brother read them and thought they were hilarious as well. We instantly found quirks from all the characters that we could identify and connect with. Each girl possessed an exaggerated trait, such as Kagura's obsessive love of sports, and each is given time in the strips so it never feels like one character is more important than the others. The art was a bit simple, and, as Nathan pointed out, all the characters looked alike except for their hairstyles. Nevertheless, their personalities were big enough to make up for everything, and I was never confused as to which character was which.

I gave this manga a 14+ rating because the girls talk about each other's breasts a lot (especially in reference to Sakaki). Some of the teachers display immature behavior, which is not entirely realistic, and therefore can be a bit overplayed. Most of the characters might be seen as over-the-top, but it is important to remember that this manga is a work of fiction and not a true, realistic look of what high school life is like. The series on its own is meant to be comical and enjoyable in a quirky way. While there are some serious undertones in some chapters, one gets the sense that the author (who is a male and therefore not an expert on teenage female behavior) had a lot of laughs creating this. A lovely, laugh-out-loud-until-you-cry read!

For more on Kiyohiko Azuma, click here.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- The girls talk about each other's breasts, especially Sakaki's
• One teacher, Kimura, is a pervert. He likes to see the girls in shorts and talks about how cute the young girls are. None of the girls like him
• At the end of one chapter, Miss Kurosawa tells the girls some "adult information" but the reader is never told what this information is
• Homosexuality- Kaori (or Kaorin) idolizes Sakaki, and gets excited about talking to her and being near her. It is never actually said that she is gay, but the way she acts may imply it
• Drugs- The teachers drink alcohol and get drunk and talk about hangovers.
• Profanity- Use of "damn," and "ass"

Personal Note: 
Tomo: You were really good at that one song!
Yomi: Eh? Which one?
Tomo: *singing* Oh I'm the king of the swingers, oh, the Jungle V.I.P!
Yomi: I have never sang that song!

Ao Hana Ride (Manga)

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Name: Ao Hana Ride
Type: Manga

Author: Sakisaka Io

Books: 13
Genre: Drama, romance, slice of life
Age Rating: 13+

Review:
Yushioka Futaba is a cute high school student determined to be so unladylike her friends won't have a reason to be jealous. In middle-school, a misunderstanding led to the inability to express her feelings for a boy named Tahaka before he moves. Now he is back in school and goes by the name Mabuchi Kou and it turns out he liked her back? Can Futaba win his heart back or has she lost him forever?

I really loved this soap-operatic drama more than I thought I would. The only thing that really annoyed me was how fast Futaba gets over Kou and then falls for him again as soon as she broke things off with Toma. We all knoew she loves him, why try to fight it? The whole "I'm confused" act is a bit overdone and a tad unrealistic. It's used by the author to justify a love triangle that complicates things and interferes with Futaba's relationship with Kou. Despite this, I liked the drama and found myself getting sucked into the rush of feelings this series gave me. 

The characters were all enjoyable. In fact, even thought I liked Kou and Futaba together, I was rooting for Toma too. He was very sweet and cute, nothing at all like other romantic interests in books that turn out to be completely awful in order for the heroine to understand that she wants to be with her first choice after-all. I also really loved Yuri! She was the perfect friend for Futaba, and I loved their loyal relationship, with Shuko as well. Another relationship I loved was the "bromance" with Kou and Aya. This is proof that boys can be close friends without any implications of being gay. 

I read this in three days, I loved it so much. I became dedicated to the story the way one would binge-watch soap-operas and empathized with all of the characters. The art Sakisaka Io gave us was gorgeous, with typical large-eyed figures and soft strokes that came across as more realistic than comic. The general flow of things was at a readable pase; this manga is not as long as some, but it was the perfect for what it was. If it was any longer it would have been drawn out for too long. 

Personally, I think that the drama of the series and its soapy-nature will most likely not appeal to boys, though it does not have any content that would be entirely offensive to them. In fact, the strong bonds between the male characters is very inspiring and refreshing to read about. This is a good, non-offensive series for girls who love a good romance story that has a happy ending. There is an anime based off this manga, as well as a live-action movie named "Blue Spring Ride." I have yet to see either, but if they follow the manga, they are bound to be just as good.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Futaba trips and falls in one scene, and accidentally grabs onto Tomo's private parts in an attempt to steady herself
• Shuko falls in love with one of her teachers, Mr. Tanaka. It is hinted that he shares her feelings, but he does not encourage them and nothing ever happens between them
• Intense Scenes- This manga is very emotionally intense
• Violence- Kou is sometimes quite rude to Futaba and other characters
• Kou is involved in a car accident near the end of the book
• Profanity- The use of "damn" in the online versions of the manga

Personal Note: 
Since Futaba got to be with Kou, can I be with Tomo? I need an answer! Please what happened to him?!

W Juliet (Manga)

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Name: W Juliet
Type: Manga

Author:Emura

Books: 14
Genre: Romantic comedy, slice of life, drama, gender bender
Age Rating: 13+

Review:
Ito Muira is an aspiring actress in the drama department who accidentally finds out that the new girl, Makoto Amano, is actually a man.

This was the weirdest manga ever. I mean, I enjoyed it well enough, and it was pretty funny, but it was...weird. The plot was super simple and yet the author kept trying to make things more exciting using old mermaid legends, a random time-traveling bit, and frequent, seemingly needless competitive contests between the characters. I felt that the books dragged on across too many books, and started getting tired and bored of reading them at some points. They could easily have been condensed into 6 or 7 volumes.

As for the romance, I was more interested in the side relationships of Miura's brothers and her classmates. I didn't dislike the two main characters; they were a bit odd, yes, but I did have fun reading about their story. The problem was that their character development was a bit slow, and as people, they lacked a certain depth. In many ways, the minor characters were more interesting albeit a tad cheesy. Their actions were also predictable, even in the random scenes where nothing made any sense.

I had a hard time deciding whether to give this series 2 stars or 3, because it made me laugh more than once, and I did enjoy reading it overall, but I've read better. There was nothing truly offending about the book, but I felt the romance between Ito and Makoto progressed far too quickly when it could have been developed over a period of time across the 14 books (this would have helped the pace and keep the reader's interest a little better). And the idea that they take on the characteristics of the opposite gender is a bit disconcerting.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Mild sexual tension between characters
• Makoto sleeps over at Ito's house even though he is a boy without her family's understanding. Nothing ever happens
• There are several boys who have "set their sights" on Ito and want her to be their girlfriend
• Homosexuality-- One of Ito's female classmates has a crush on her
• Nudity- Some girls lift up Makoto's shirt to confirm his gender (he is wearing fake breasts and a bra) 
• Makoto unintentionally walks in on Ito while she is swimming naked
• Magic- Mermaids and mermaid lore (including magic) is used in one volume, and in another, the characters travel through time
• Profanity- Use of the words"hell" and "damn"

Personal Note: 
This might actually make a better Anime.

Chi's Sweet Home (Manga)

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Name: Chi's Sweet Home
Type: Manga

Author: Hajime Isayama

Books: 12
Genre: Comedy, family, slice of life
Age Rating: n/a

Review:
Follow the world from a cat's perspective as she learns the meaning of home and family after getting separated from her mother.

An absolutely adorable read! Chi is a cute kitten found by a loving family who takes her in as one of the family. The art is simple, but endearing, and the author does a fantastic job of distinguishing other cats from Chi. I could always tell which one she was and did not find myself confused even when she was with her sisters. Every facial expression Chi made was dramatized and delightfully charming (not to mention so adorable!). It was fun to watch Chi grow and learn alongside her human friends.

I really enjoyed reading a series that was easy to digest. A refreshing change to many fast-paced, hard-to-follow comics that I have read. The reader was only responsible for remembering a few characters, mostly centering Chi and her family. All of Chi's relationships with other cats were sweet; I especially appreciated her relationship with Blackie, an older black cat who mentors Chi on cat behavior. The whole idea of Chi being something who needs a little instruction on how to be a normal cat was humorous, and added a great effect to the comic.

The story itself is not overly stretched out; I didn't feel numbed by filler or side stories that had nothing to do with the plot. The books were fast and easy to read, and the series ends on a happy note, leaving the reader feeling warm inside, albeit a little sympathetic towards Chi's mother. I recommend these unoffensive books to lovers of cats, and people who enjoy refreshing, out-of-the-ordinary tales featuring our furry friends.

Mature Content:

• n/a

Personal Note:

Can I please get a Chi of my own?!

Love So Life (Manga)

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Name: Love So Life
Type: Manga

Author: Kouchi Kaede

Books: 17
Genre: Romance, slice of life
Age Rating: 11+

Review:
Shiharu is a high school orphan student who loves children and plans to run her own daycare someday. She works at a daycare after school before being recruited by the uncle of two-year-old twins, Akane and Aoi to be their official babysitter. Shiharu quickly falls in love with her new friends, whom she considers family.

I really enjoyed this manga. As proof, I read all 106 chapters in just two days! It was extremely fluffy and the characters were all loveable--especially Akane and Aoi! It really made me want twins of my own someday, just like them. The plot was cute, fun, and realistic, which was a change from my normal reading. I learned quite a few babysitting tactics from this series. I will have to try them out someday soon!

I didn't recommend it for all ages is because of the age-difference between Shiharu and Seiji, who fell in love. While I personally loved them as a couple, they were 9 years apart, and that may make the reader feel uncomfortable when they realize this fact. The romance didn't take anything away from the story, and it progressed slowly. I thought the author did a fantastic job of handling it, and I appreciated Seiji's mature choice at the end when he told Shiharu they should wait until she was older to start anything.

There weren't too many characters, so it was easy to remember everyone's name and faces, which was nice. It was a great read, that was suggested to me by a good friend of mine. I am so glad she introduced me!I thoroughly enjoyed watching Akane and Aoi grow and develop as little humans. It was, as I said before, so believable! I just want to eat those two up! Well, not really, but still...squeeze them at least. 

Mature Content:

• n/a

Personal Note:
Combine Akane and Aoi with Pudding from Tokyo Mew Mew and Momiji from Fruits Basket, and you have children that I want one day.