Monday, July 18, 2011

Manga Monday: Why don't adults get summer break too?

Note:  Yotsuba&! Volume 3 is, of course, the sequel to Yotsuba&! Volume 2.  The review of Yotsuba&! Volume 1 is here, and the review of Yotsuba&! Volume 2 is here.  Otherwise, read on!


Every day is another adventure, especially during summer break, and Yotsuba finds plenty to keep herself occupied in Yotsuba&! Volume 3.

It’s the week of Obon, the Japanese festival for the dead, when families get together to clean the graves of their ancestors.  That’s certainly keeping Jumbo hopping at the flower shop.  When Yotsuba comes in to by flowers with her 10¥ piece, she ends up getting quite the bargain when Jumbo and the shop owner give her all the leftover flowers that would be too old to sell.

So, now that the house is full of flowers, Koiwai declares Yotsuba the ‘flower cupid’ and suggests that she hand out flowers to the people she meets on the street.  She meets several people this way, though a few might have been a bit confused why a girl with fairy wings was handing out flowers.

Yotsuba also receives a packet of sparklers from Akane, which she and Ena get to play with.  Yotsuba had never played with sparklers before, nor has she seen a real fireworks display before.  After finding this out, Jumbo takes everyone to a ‘real’ fireworks show, which is much more impressive than the sparklers.

This volume especially captures the feeling of summer break from elementary school.  The days stretch forever, one blending into the next, which each still having its own bit of fun like trips to the zoo or the playground.  Stories like this make me with I’d become a teacher, so I could still have adventures during the summertime, too.

Highs:  Elephants are REALLY jumbo!

Lows:  More Jumbo + Akane

Verdict:  Lots of nostalgia, which shows that this is a very well crafted volume

Further Reading:  Azumanga Daioh Volume 1, Honey and Clover Volume 1

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