Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
Miki Yoshida is about to start her first day as a senior in high school. She is resolved -- no more Mr. Nice Girl! From now on she's going to just be herself and not try to please everyone else. On the way to school she gets an earful from her boy-crazy best friend, Yumi, who is determined to find her a boyfriend. Miki isn't interested, but Yumi is not convinced. There's a new boy in town, and maybe he'll be just what Miki needs. I guess they'll find out when he starts school the next day.
As it turns out, Miki won't have to wait till the next day to meet him. She runs into him after school, knee deep in a rice paddy. She was practicing archery when a fly buzzed in her ear and her arrow went right out the window. Instead of the lost arrow, she finds Hiro Sakurai. Talk about an embarrassing way to meet someone. Especially a really cute someone, of the dark and brooding variety.
Hiro, however, is beyond antisocial. To the point of being rude. But, Miki is sure that there's more to him than the face he shows to the world. She is determined to be his friend. The less he wants her around, the harder she tries to break through. It's obvious that there is more to Hiro than meets the eye, and Miki has every intention of figuring him out. No matter what it takes.
First off, I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of Manga. It's actually a bit unfounded as a prejudice, since I've never actually read any of it. Reviewing these books has opened me up to pop fiction, but I still wasn't sure about actual Manga. Low and behold, this book and its sequel arrives, and they look kind of like comic books. So I put off reading them. Finally I get to opening the book, and the next thing I know I'm done with both and wondering when the next one is coming out!
MIKI FALLS: SPRING is a quick, fun read, with an unexpected twist. Actually, the themes are pretty familiar: wanting the boy who doesn't seem interested, resolving to be a stronger person... That's kind of what high school is all about! Definitely a "chick" book, and great fun, much to my surprise. Give Miki a chance -- you'll be glad you did.
Miki Yoshida is about to start her first day as a senior in high school. She is resolved -- no more Mr. Nice Girl! From now on she's going to just be herself and not try to please everyone else. On the way to school she gets an earful from her boy-crazy best friend, Yumi, who is determined to find her a boyfriend. Miki isn't interested, but Yumi is not convinced. There's a new boy in town, and maybe he'll be just what Miki needs. I guess they'll find out when he starts school the next day.
As it turns out, Miki won't have to wait till the next day to meet him. She runs into him after school, knee deep in a rice paddy. She was practicing archery when a fly buzzed in her ear and her arrow went right out the window. Instead of the lost arrow, she finds Hiro Sakurai. Talk about an embarrassing way to meet someone. Especially a really cute someone, of the dark and brooding variety.
Hiro, however, is beyond antisocial. To the point of being rude. But, Miki is sure that there's more to him than the face he shows to the world. She is determined to be his friend. The less he wants her around, the harder she tries to break through. It's obvious that there is more to Hiro than meets the eye, and Miki has every intention of figuring him out. No matter what it takes.
First off, I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of Manga. It's actually a bit unfounded as a prejudice, since I've never actually read any of it. Reviewing these books has opened me up to pop fiction, but I still wasn't sure about actual Manga. Low and behold, this book and its sequel arrives, and they look kind of like comic books. So I put off reading them. Finally I get to opening the book, and the next thing I know I'm done with both and wondering when the next one is coming out!
MIKI FALLS: SPRING is a quick, fun read, with an unexpected twist. Actually, the themes are pretty familiar: wanting the boy who doesn't seem interested, resolving to be a stronger person... That's kind of what high school is all about! Definitely a "chick" book, and great fun, much to my surprise. Give Miki a chance -- you'll be glad you did.
