LGBT YA

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 9, by Luka Kobachi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Final exams are over and with Winter Break in full swing, the friend group decides to have a Christmas party. Nanoha searches for a goal to work towards for after graduation. 

What Nanoha will decide to do seems to be a ball that just keeps getting kicked down the line in favor of more slice-of-life events like New Year’s or Valentine’s Day. Those scenes are fine, but the way things are going, it’s just gonna be a bigger problem later on. Also, the way it’s just tucked in between Christmas parties and cookie baking makes me wonder if this will actually be a thing or if it just fizzle out. Guess we’ll see. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “I Wanna Be Your Girl” Vol. 2, by Umi Takase

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

As Akira struggles to be seen at school as a girl, Hime has a heart-to-heart with Yukka, who shares her backstory about her time in the track club.

This volume is very insightful. It not only addresses how Hime can be a better ally, but also how Akira perceives being a girl. Akira also talks to her father about presenting a girl, and Hime tells her parents why she’d started wearing a boy’s uniform to school. Spoilers, but I think it’s important for potential readers to know that the parents we’ve seen so far are pretty supportive. Akira’s dad is iffy, though. Overall, I like the growth we’re getting. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 7, by Luka Kobachi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

With their first fight resolved, Nanoha and Chidori enjoy the last of their class trip and return home. Mai not only still has a crush on Nanoha but also knows she is dating Chidori.

This series continues to be very light-hearted and sweet, focusing on people being true to themselves with no huge dramatic blowups. Even the tiff from the last volume wasn’t that bad, and it all worked out in the end. There are no real threats here, which makes me wonder if this will stay very slice of life or take an angsty turn. Since Nanoha and Chidori are enjoyable, either one could work for me. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “I Wanna Be Your Girl” Vol. 1, by Umi Takase

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Hime is in love with her childhood best friend, Akira. When Akira comes out to her and says he feels more comfortable in girls’ clothes, she is super supportive but wonders what to do with her romantic feelings.

I like this as a start to the series. The focus isn’t on how Akira feels as a trans girl; it’s about Hime’s role as a friend and ally. She’s not perfect, blowing up at people and not considering how her actions make Akira feel or impact how her classmates feel about the whole thing. Then there’s Hime’s romantic feelings throwing a spanner in the works. I’m glad for the representation, but I get this very superficial feeling. A nugget of wisdom will get dropped and then we move swiftly on without really diving into it. Maybe it will get more depth as we go on. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 5, by Luka Kobachi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

After their kiss at the festival, Nanoha and Chidori are struggling to communicate with each other about wanting to do it again. Also, a former classmate of Nanoha’s, Mai, joins their school and literature club.

These two are so damn adorable.

Even with this potential rival showing up, I’m still thinking this relationship won’t crumble because of Mai unless she threatens to out them. If I were to guess, that’s probably what’s going to happen since keeping their secret is so important. If Mai doesn’t do it, someone/thing else might. It doesn’t seem like the type of series to get really dark, so if it did, it would be very out of character. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 4, by Luka Kobachi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

This volume has our secret couple Nanoha and Chidori going on their first beach trip with their friends as well as introducing Igarashi; Chidori’s first love that broke her heart.

It’s interesting to see how f/f relationships are seen in Japan. I remember reading/watching somewhere that these little intimacies are seen as cutesy things you grow out of as life gets “serious,” then you go on to have a family. My mother believed something similar. It was so fucking sweet to see Nanoha put her foot down and say Chidori is her girlfriend. They’re still a secret to their friends but this isn’t a passing thing for them. While this isn’t a flash forward 20 years in the future to see they’re still together for a real confirmation but I’ll take it. They are so damn adorable. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “I Ship My Rival x Me” Vol. 1 by PEPA & Qualia

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Wei Yanzi and Gu Yiliang are both young up-and-coming actors currently working on the same show but Wei Yanzi feels as if he’s overshadowed by Gu Yiliang’s natural talent and good looks. Since he’s getting some hate from Gu Yiliang’s fans, Wei Yanzi leans into those online shipping him and his costar so he sees more positive things about himself.

This is so goofy. Wei Yanzi doesn’t realize how flirty he sounds when he talks to Gu Yiliang and it’s funny to see him encouraging fanfiction of himself and his costar. I say costar because (spoiler?) they’re not really rivals; they get along pretty well the entire time. Gu Yiliang is clearly developing some feels while Wei Yanzi is clueless. It feels a little scattered but it’s still cute. And a clean read so far at a 13+ rating.3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reivews: “Is Love the Answer?” by Uta Isaki

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High schooler Chika believes something is wrong with her because she’s never fallen in love and has no desire for intimacy; unlike her peers who incessantly talk about it. In college, she finally realizes there is nothing wrong with her at all.

While I get the goal of this manga is to teach the reader about how sexuality is a spectrum and you don’t have to claim a label and live in it forever, it doesn’t do it quite as well as Love’s in Sight or Perfect World. It has a lot of exposition and I got the feeling of being talked at rather than going on the same journey as Chika. It’s not bad but I think it could have been smoother in that respect. It’s probably not really fair to compare a series that has a bunch of time to grow rather than this small collection, though. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Brooms” by Jasmine Walls & Teo Duvall

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In 1930’s Mississippi, magic is common but either banned or severely restricted for people of color. Despite this, Billie Mae and Cheng Kwan introduce young Mattie and Emma broom racing in order to participate in underground broom racing to earn money to learn magic from a real school.

Despite the abundance of characters, it’s easy to empathize with their struggles and hopes. The racing is a lot of fun and while the representation is wide – there are participants of all races, ages, and ability – it doesn’t feel forced; more like all of these “outcasts” can come together to buck the system and cut loose. I would LOVE to see this as an animated movie. The flying scenes scream for it. Absolutely check this one out! 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Cuckoos Three” by Cassandra Jean & Mosskat

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Murry is a football star, hardworking, and obedient son, with a ton of friends. However the new kid, Jacob, is a small outcast and stands out as the quiet kid with piercings and a goth look. Despite being so different, they are drawn to each other. But, Jacob is hiding the reason why he moved with his family out to the small country town.

This is the sweetest story. Murry is so delightfully earnest and kind, Jacob is a darling, and they are precious together. It also contains some educational info on DID and how to help someone who switches. I wouldn’t mind a long running webcomic or something with these two since it’s so aggressively calm and heart warming. And the art is so colorful and soft, and it’s all young around friendly. 5 out of 5.

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