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Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane When I closed the second volume of Kimi ni Todoke, one thing that struck me was how tidy it was, plot-wise. This volume encompasses exactly one storyline: the school is abuzz with nasty rumors about Sawako's new friends, Yano and Yoshida, and the more insidious rumor that Sawako is the one badmouthing them. Now, for anyone who's read volume 1, it's overwhelmingly obvious that Sawako is incapable of even grasping why anyone would want to spread rumors, never mind actually doing so herself. It's almost equally obvious to her friends and Kazehaya (Sawako's prospective love interest), but unlike the readers, they don't really understand Sawako or know what she's thinking; while both Yano and Yoshida instinctively want to trust her, they're also aware that they barely know her. Their uncertainty is as believable as Sawako's innocent inability to figure out what's going on around her. Kazehaya takes a fairly sidelined role in this volume, as he tries to figure out what's going on and help improve the situation. I appreciate that he immediately grasps when it's not his place to step in, and that he not only respects but understands that Sawako's other friendships will sometimes need to take priority over his own desire to spend time with her. He treats Sawako with genuine consideration, trying to understand her and help her without taking charge of any part of her life. These are excellent traits in a love interest, and it's refreshing to see. Sawako herself continues to be painfully naïve about how other people interact, but her delight in figuring things out and being able to spend time with others is still heartwarming. And she is figuring things out and changing accordingly, even if it's a bit of a slow process so far. I'm really enjoying watching her develop. Volume 2 of Kimi ni Todoke includes one page of cultural notes. Review copy provided by VIZ Media. Think you could have written a better review of Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You v2? Write us and we'll probably let you give it a shot! --EiC PC |
13 October 2009
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