Library Journal Review
| Full of both goofiness and genuine heart, the quirky but marvelously true-to-life adventures of the irrepressible six-year-old Yotsuba in the new city she and her adoptive father just moved to are hilarious and utterly charming. A great supporting cast and two further volumes (to date) only add to the fun. (LJ 7/05) (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
Publishers Weekly Review
| Yotsuba is the charming new girl in town in this all-ages shojo manga by the author of the popular Azumanga Daioh series. In seven stories, the green-haired four-year-old discovers air conditioners, doorbells, cicadas, swings and more, and does it all with the energy of a small hurricane. Her excitement is contagious and infects her handsome young adoptive father as well as the gaggle of pretty girls next door, all of whom get tangled up in her adventures as they try to keep up with her. But is there something strange about Yotsuba's lack of familiarity with the earthly world? The mystery of her origins is partially revealed in the final story: her father, Mr. Koiwai, found her and took her in, but Azuma seems to hint that there's more to be explained about Yotsuba. Koiwai sums up the reaction everyone seems to have to this little bundle of energy: "She can find happiness in anything," he says. "Nothing in this world can get her down." The plots here are little more than setups to explore everyday objects or concepts through the eyes of the irrepressible Yotsuba, but the genuinely sweet formula works, thanks to Azuma's solid storytelling and deft humor. (June 6) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved |
School Library Journal Review
| Gr 5 Up-This sometimes silly graphic novel is like a Japanese version of Dennis the Menace. Yotsuba, an energetic, green-haired little girl, drives her neighbors crazy with her goofy adventures. Parents might have some concern about the single father who, at times, walks around in nothing except a T-shirt and boxers in front of teenage girls, but it's used as a comedic device with no innuendo implied. Throughout the book, there are clues as to the nature of where this wild girl comes from; at the end, readers are set up perfectly for what will happen in future series entries. The story is more like a series of episodic anecdotes with virtually no character development. While it is fun, the plot is thin, and some readers are likely to find it boring. The art focuses on the humor, and while it not very detailed or interesting, it is warm and goes well with the lighthearted plot.-Scott La Counte, Anaheim Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved. |
