FLOWER OF LIFE, Volume 1
Fumi Yoshinaga
Digital Manga Publishing
Manga
ISBN-10: 1569708746
ISBN-13: 9781569708743
200 pages

This series has many of the same elements as Fumi Yoshinaga's other works --- quirky plot twists, deep emotion, offbeat humor and beautiful artwork. But this series is not one of her boy love titles, so don't expect that from the relationship between Haru and his new pal, Shota.

Haru has had to enroll in school a month late because he was getting a bone transplant for his leukemia. He's fine now and enjoying making new friends, especially Shota, a sweet, very chubby boy. It's refreshing to see characters with varying body types in this manga and makes the school setting more realistic. Haru is a bit of an airhead, but he is endearing and the friendship between him and Shota is believable and warm. There are plenty of humorous side characters, including Shota's friend and grumpy otaku Kai, two teachers involved in an extramarital affair, and Haru's loving but odd family.

While the plot seems like it jumps around a good deal, readers of Yoshinaga's former works, especially ANTIQUE BAKERY, will know to hang on through the next two volumes while she weaves the many plot threads together.

   --- Reviewed by Snow Wildsmith

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