  | Hikaru in the light! 1 (Hikaru In The Light) Author: Matsuda, Mai | |
| Price: $18.38 | ||
Summary:
Middle-school student Hikaru Ogino is known as the songbird of her family's bathhouse in Tokyo. Her beautiful singing echoes from room to room as she cleans up after school, but she dreams of holding a microphone, not a mop! When her best friend, Ran invites her to try out for a pop star survival camp together, it's the chance of a lifetime to put her talents to the test. Can Hikaru outshine the competition and make her stage debut, or will she fall flat? In graphic novel manga format.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (10/15/25)
School Library Journal (00/03/25)
Booklist (+) (12/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 02/01/2025 *Starred Review* This bright, fresh manga perfect for younger readers follows one girl’s journey to idol stardom. Singing every day in her family’s bathhouse, Hikaru is sure the only fans she’ll ever have are the old people who frequent the business. But when a music producer announces a new idol group concept, Hikaru’s friend Ran challenges her to try out, too. Soon, Hikaru is giving her all in an effort to achieve her dreams of becoming an idol as the two girls engage in healthy competition to join this new group. Readers who are not quite ready for Tsurumaikada’s Medalist will appreciate this energetic series opener, which engages in similar themes of striving to achieve one’s dreams while remaining authentic to one’s roots. With a dynamic balance of humor and heartfelt determination, this manga is vibrant with bubbly character illustrations and a diverse group of characters vying for the idol spotlight. Social bathing is a common cultural practice in Japan, and scenes in the bathhouse feature only implied nudity suiting the context. While the final artwork was not seen, this manga, unlike most others, will be in full color. The gentle story, noticeably lacking violence, focuses on friendship and self-determination, which is sure to appeal to younger readers looking for stories with heart, especially elementary schoolers who dream of pop stardom. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
