Miki Falls: Spring

At first, I was skeptical about this Americanized "manga" series, but overall I very much enjoyed reading through this short series. The protagonist, Miki Yoshida, is a lovable and relatable heroine; her love story starts out a little Twilighty/Romeo & Juliet ish but ultimately turns out a little different. Which is lovely. As I get tired of that same plot in love stories. The fantasy element was also very fun, and would make the story appealing for boys as well. I chose to read this series because I noticed how popular they were with the students at the elementary school where I volunteer. Definitely understand the appeal and think that this series would be great for reluctant readers or those interested in manga.

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 show more 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. show less

Miki Falls: Spring is a love story about a senior in high school that becomes interested in a newcomer to the town- Hiro Sakurai. She meets him while shooting arrows into a rice paddy and must find a stray arrow. He seems mysterious and very cut off from the student body- as though he is hiding some sort of secret. While trying to become closer to him and gain enough trust for a friendship, she unexpectedly makes him pull away. While snooping into what kind of hobbies and activities he participates in, she learns his supernatural secret and becomes determined to stay a part of his life.

Miki Falls: Spring is a rather predictable love story filled with clichés. This graphic novel would appeal to a target audience of teenage girls or show more reluctant readers, with the main focus in the storyline being crushes on reluctant boys. Excluding the end, there are no suprises in the storyline or dialogue, and the illustrations could be somewhat more developed. The use of scenery is excellent, but characters seem unchanging and inexpressive aside from grimaces. I found the illustrations to be surprisingly soft and subdued, which left a dream like quality to the work. Emotions were portrayed best in neither writing or illustrations- it seemed as though the changes in borders around both really portrayed the climax of the story best. Overall it felt as though the storyline was too straightforward and predictable. Where there were plenty of opportunities for weaving a beautiful story, there seemed to be a lack of imagination that went straight for simplicity, and overall predictability in this tale. show less

I am going to review the entire series at once. This is a great four book arc that is classic teen love but with a supernatural twist. Girl meets boy, boy has secret, both must fight to stay together…and of course a happy ending. The great thing about these is that they are so accessible and easy to read. They will be a hit with female reluctant readers, but probably not so much for the boys. I am ordering a set to put in my ESL classroom because they are full novel (176 pages) size but only have a few words on each page that are supported by the drawings, which are excellent. A fast reading adult can finish all four books in about two hours.

I read this to complete a reading challenge. I thought this was a cute series. I read then all within a couple days. Being graphic novels, they only took about an hour to read. I've never read manga, so it was definitely a different experience for me.

Miki Yoshida has decided that her final year of high school is going to be her best. Then, Hiroo Sakurai shows up, with a secret that Miki desperately wants to know. Then she starts to fall for him and nothing, even Hiro himself, can stop her.

'Akiko' author Mark Crilley really knocks it out of the park on this one. This is the best romance comic I've ever read. Crilley's art is as usual fantastic.
MIDDLE SCHOOL