 | Insomniacs After School, vol. 1 (Insomniacs After School (Manga)) Author: Ojiro, Makoto | |
| Price: $10.65 | ||
Summary:
Unable to sleep at night, Ganta Nakami is cranky in class and unpopular with his classmates. He discovers that the school observatory, once used by the now-defunct astronomy club, may be the perfect place for a nap—but he’s not alone. Fellow insomniac Isaki Magari is willing to share the observatory with Nakami, and a friendship between the two begins as they bond over the most unlikely of things. In manga graphic novel format.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (03/15/23)
School Library Journal (04/01/23)
Booklist (03/15/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 03/15/2023 This slice-of-life manga about two teenagers with insomnia is a slow and tender story about building trust. Magaki and Nakami bond over finding a place to rest in their school’s abandoned observatory. Alongside their steady, soft romance, there’s a wholesome gentleness that is conveyed by the art and the story. The characters struggle with personal insecurities and the ill effects of lack of sleep but also support each other in those struggles. At the end of the first volume, Magaki and Nakami are set to bring back the astronomy club, but the slow-burn nature of this manga means that there is probably much more to come. Mentions of Magaki’s history with health issues and some light foreshadowing from things she says while talking to Nakami give the text a melancholy feeling. Perfect for those who loved Yoshitoki Oima’s A Silent Voice series, Naoshi Arakawa’s Your Lie in April, and Jun Mayuzuki’s After the Rain. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 04/01/2023 Gr 9 Up—Nakami and Magari suffer from similar things: they're cranky constantly, judged by their peers as standoffish, and insomniacs. While helping prepare for the school's festival, Nakami discovers the door to the supposedly haunted old astronomy tower is unlocked. He goes in searching for cardboard but finds a relaxing hideout in which to take a nap. But, he also discovers Magari doing the same! The two confide in each other and decide to make a secret club devoted to celebrating the nighttime they can't sleep through and stolen daytime naps in the astronomy tower. Despite this being about two teens with a pretty severe and untreated illness, it is overall sweet and satisfying to see them get a modicum of the peace they've been longing to have. This might turn into a romance later, but it's refreshingly pretty platonic in this first volume. Ojiro uses plenty of soft lines and calming settings in this book's illustrations, conveying the elusive peace our protagonists continuously seek. VERDICT This story is a comforting read and incorporates a disorder that is becoming all too common amongst teens. Recommended for all libraries serving teens.—Sara Smith - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
