 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | DEL REY | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | SURT LIM / HIROFUMI SUGIMOTO | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 202 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | T | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 07/22/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 07/14/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
A girl discovers she has a magical ability when she transfers to an elite school in this enchanting new shojo series. Del Rey offers up a superb original new manga with Kasumi. This is original North American manga done right. A reader would be hard put to tell from looking at Kasumi that it was not hot off the shelves from Japan. It looks great, flows well and the story is charming through and through. The tale begins with a girl who is sad to leave her friends when her widower father drags her off to a new place, a new school and a new life yet again. Kasumi always tries to make the best out of their situation though. She has an effervescent spirit. During one of their treks though a forest (her father’s a botanist), Kasumi can’t resist climbing a strange, large tree to get a closer look at some unusual glowing lights swirling amidst its branches. This is just the beginning of a mysterious and magical change in her life as she starts school at the equally unusual elite school and meets its secretive residents. Seiran High is as elite a school as you can get, its posh grounds a luxury beyond Kasumi’s ‘commoner’ experience. She isn’t just the new transfer student, she’s the only transfer student in the history of the school! Immediately she finds herself at odds with the snobby students and their rude behavior. But it’s when the bullying starts that this girl really begins to shine – one might say she glows. She’s always used magic tricks to break the ice and make new friends but it quickly sets the ‘quan’ of the school, Reina, out to put Kasumi down and run her out of the school – for good. But Kasumi is no willing wallflower. She stands up for others and herself, infuriating Reina to do even dirtier tricks to push Kasumi out of Seiran’s hallowed halls. Kasumi even seems to have caught the interest of the boy everyone sighs over, the aloof and handsome Ryuuki. However, Reina wants him for herself. And Ryuuki seems to have a few secrets of his own. And he’s not the only one. Kasumi has discovered that she can turn invisible and her new friend Maiko who never speaks seems to have mystical abilities of her own. Meanwhile Reina is searching for something, something she’ll go to any lengths to ensure will be her’s alone. The story is fantastic. It has the same qualities as it’s heroine: engaging and pretty. The shojo has just the right amount of angst, plenty of courage and an enticing string of mysteries to keep readers eager for more. Surt Lim’s excellent storytelling is complimented by Hirofumi Sugimoto’s glossy art style and appealing imagery. The first volume includes manga extras such as translation notes, bonus comic strips, character profiles and notes from the author and artist.
IN SUMMARY:
Kasumi turns high school drama into magic. Kasumi is a delight! |
