The Wallflower, Vol. 2-3

Title: The Wallflower (Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge) 2 and 3
Author: Tomoko Hayakawa

Illustrator: Tomoko Hayakawa
Publisher: Del Rey Ballentine Books

Copyright: 2004 (2); 2005 (3)

Price: $10.95

ISBN: vol. 2 0-345-47949-1 / vol. 3 0-345-47999-8
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Horror geek Sunako is still her dark and dreary self, despite the attempts of her gorgeous roommates, especially Kyohei, to transform her. Yes, she trimmed her bangs and maybe she’s trying a little on her appearance, but she just wants to be in her dark world. Unfortunately, her world is changing as she has a female friend (a beautiful creature with a crush on one of her housemates) and is finding that she’s friendly to her room mates. In these volumes, there is the school festival, a trip to the hot springs, Sunako’s first kiss (although she was possessed), and fighting, fighting, fighting. Will her roommates ever be able to change her?

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Recommended Audience: Teens

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Things to be aware of: sexual innuendoes, blood, horror, murder, sexism
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Further Thoughts: I’ll admit I had high hopes for this series, but as I ended volume 3, I just couldn’t help but feel this is dragging on. Instead of one continuous story line, this just seems to be story after story with no regard to physics or normalcy. While sometimes I want fluff, I don’t like my fluff like quite this. Sunako’s attitudes have hardly changed over the books and I feel we aren’t reaching any decent plot goals yet (i.e. maybe she won’t wear a hat to school or maybe she’s keeping her hair brushed). It is obvious who is in love with her and he’s hinting majorly what she needs to do to win his love (“be yourself!”), but she doesn’t care. I’m also finding the constant nose bleeds to be annoying, the guys interrupting her personal time annoying, and her general whining about how she just wants to be in the dark, well, annoying. Not to mention, the constant back and forth about how she should cook and clean and look beautiful while it is still cool for her to kick butt. If you want to promote stereotypes, go for it, but this promotes stereotypes and wishes to shoot them down (be beautiful but be yourself too). I think I’ll pass on the rest of this series.

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Bonus:

Source: Library copy.

The Wallflower, Vol. 1

Title: The Wallflower vol. 1
Author: Tomoko Hayakawa

Illustrator: Tomoko Hayakawa
Publisher: Del Rey Ballentine Books

Copyright: 2004

Price: $10.95

ISBN: 0-345-47912-2
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: In a gorgeous, English-style mansion in Japan, four tall, gorgeous fifteen year old boys rent rooms. Why? They can get free rent, under the condition that they change the land lady’s niece into a beautiful creature, just like the house. Sounds easy right? Well, these four heroes soon discover that Sunako Nakahara is unkempt, dark, and loves horror movies as much as she loves her three mysterious anatomy dolls. There is no way she’ll let these four “creatures of light” as she calls them come near her and let her change her ways. In this quirky story, reminiscent of “My Fair Lady,” comedy and drama ensue as a battle of beauty, beast, and brains begins.

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Recommended Audience: Teens.

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Things to be aware of: Constant nose bleeds, horror references, violence, sexual innuendos
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Further Thoughts: This first volume sets the stage for an intriguing plot line as four well-meaning, hot guys try to turn the scary chick into a gorgeous girl. Each boy has his “quirk”: Ranmaru is an all-around playboy falling for both married and older women, Yukinojo is well-meaning, bumbling, and androgonous; Takenaga is a deep thinking, poet type; Kyohei is the ultimate, hotty bad boy (and as you’ll figure out eventually, the one who actually has a thing for Sunako). Sunako’s angle is that she was turned down by a boy she had a crush on in middle school for “being ugly,” a fact that she took to heart and decided to become, despite her obvious beauty. It is obvious she hates her housemates, and knows what they are up to. On the other hand, when push comes to shove, she is there, stronger than Kyohei to save the day. In one particular side story, she rescues Kyohei and you can’t help but think, “Awesome!” as she reveals a military get-up and, basically, kicks butt. An intriguing story with fantastic, wispy art.

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Bonus:

Source: Library copy.