 | Neighborhood story 1 (Neighborhood Story (Manga)) Author: Yazawa, Ai | |
| Price: $20.49 | ||
Summary:
Welcome to Happy Berry! No, this isn't a fruit stand, but the label dreamed up by aspiring fashion designer Mikako Koda. In her quest to make a name for herself in the fashion world, Mikako enters Yazawa Arts Academy, a prestigious art school, alongside her strictly platonic childhood friend Tsutomu. But there's one problem. Tsutomu's uncanny resemblance to a rock star skyrockets him to popularity and leads him to date the prettiest girl in school. In manga graphic novel format.
Reviews:
School Library Journal (02/01/24)
Booklist (01/17/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 02/01/2024 Gr 8 Up—In this sweet coming-of-age story, Yazawa follows the lives of Mikako and her friend at an arts academy school while trying to navigate friendships, relationships, and budding identities. Mikako must parse out her own emotions when her longtime childhood friend Tsutomu starts going out with his first girlfriend. Are Mikako's strong feelings actually jealousy, or is she just protective? Added to the mix is a colorful cast of friends surrounding Mikako and Tsutomu, where Yazawa invests time and care in their development. Group scenes have emotional payoffs, and readers will enjoy the larger cast without worrying about characters blending together, despite similar designs or names. Yazawa's illustration style is unique and enjoyable, though many of the fashion choices in the character designs will read a bit dated. But they're still enjoyable and will possibly read as vintage to today's readers. VERDICT The voice and pacing are still fresh, even though the original manga was published nearly 30 years ago, making this a classic that readers will still enjoy.—Sara Smith - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 01/17/2024 In print in English at long last, Neighborhood Story is an essential shojo manga from the legendary mangaka Yazawa, known for her popular works Nana and Paradise Kiss. Neighborhood Story was published before Paradise Kiss, but the two stories are connected. Mikako Kouda is a bubbly fashion student at Yazawa Arts Academy, which she attends with her neighbor and childhood friend, Tsutomu. Tsutomu's resemblance to a musician propels him to popularity and a relationship with the hottest girl in school—and Mikako can't stand it! While Mikako wants to focus on her future as a fashion designer, her troubles with Tsutomu are an endless distraction. Yazawa's distinctive eye for fashion illustration captures 90s Japanese aesthetics and style with effervescence, and the frustrations and distractions of young love will be highly relatable to teen readers. This is a manga that appeals to both seasoned and new manga fans. Dramatic, hilarious, and endlessly fun to read, Neighborhood Story shows how Yazawa became the talented mainstay of manga she is now. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
