Shortcake Cake, Volume 1

October 1, 2018

Gr 5 Up-High schooler Ten Serizawa commutes two hours each way to school. With the support of her friends, she makes the hard decision to move away from her family and into a local boarding house, which introduces an awkward potential love triangle with two of her housemates. Morishita, author of "Hibi Chouchou," visually differentiates between the characters, although readers may struggle to identify which characters are speaking in some scenes. Volume 1 ends on a cliff-hanger, leaving readers excited for the second installment. VERDICT Not an essential purchase, but this sweet shojo manga provides parents and SUBSECTION="Young Adult"s an opportunity to discuss the lifestyle changes that will come with high school (particularly boarding school).-Tammy Ivins, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

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