Library Wars: Love & War, Volume 1

September 1, 2010

Gr 11 Up-In the near future, Japan can legally restrict or censor any offensive media. Only libraries can acquire and circulate materials, censored or not. The Library Defense Force (LDF) was formed to protect libraries and their collections. While in high school, Iku Kasahara witnessed an LDF agent stop a government raid on a bookstore. She vowed to join the organization and be like her hero. Fresh out of college, new recruit Iku struggles through LDF training, which is like military boot camp. Based on the light novels by Hiro Arikawa, this adaptation to manga is well crafted. The artwork features natural, realistic character design and movement. Characters' faces are distinctive and expressive. Scenes are nicely detailed; layouts are not overcrowded. The action is fluid and easy to follow. The writing is very good, with engrossing story lines and nuanced characters. However, a problematic area is the treatment of women. Tall and athletic, Iku is the first woman to apply for a combat Defense Force position and not the traditional Librarian post. At one point, her superior slaps her across the face. In other instances, Iku is comforted by encouraging pats on the head from that same officer. Library Wars delivers an appealing, determined female lead in the midst of an intriguing war on censorship being waged in bookstores and libraries. Readers will be curious to see if future story lines focus on Iku's adventures as an LDF agent or on her quest to find her mystery hero.-June Shimonishi, Torrance Public Library, CA

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.