Kimi Ni Todoke Volume 12 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Sawako Kuronuma has jet black hair, a gloomy attitude, and a sinister smile, so her classmates call her “Sadako” after the haunting horror movie character named Sadako.  Sawako may come across as someone frightening to her classmates, but this high school student is really a sweet person.  Shota Kazehaya, the most popular boy in school, starts talking to Sawako and her life changes.

As Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 12 opens, Sawako frets over what to do now that she and Kazehaya are officially a couple.  When do they spend time together and what do they do?  Now, it’s time for Kazehaya to meet Sawako’s parents.  How will her father react when he learns that his baby girl has a boyfriend?  Plus, see how Sawako’s best girl pals, Ayane Yano and Chizuru Yoshida, met and became best pals.

THE LOWDOWN:  As I always say, Kimi Ni Todoke is the typical shojo high school romantic drama.  However, while it is certainly full of teen angst and rivalries and also teens dealing with self-confidence and self-loathing, this series is essentially a romantic comedy and drama, but I think that there is more comedy than drama.  I also believe that this volume would be a good point for new readers to start the series because (1), it is an easy read and (2) there is an origin story.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Readers looking for high school shojo romance will like Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me to You.

B+