Library Wars: Love & War, Volume 1 [Paperback]

The first thing that got me about this one was the title. I mean, how awesome is the phrase "library wars"? Okay, I'm also a huge book nerd, so it wasn't difficult to get my attention with something that simple. Other readers would probably be drawn in by the adorable shojo-style cover and the shojo promises of romance and female-centric story lines with good-looking guys.

Library Wars has all of that, but includes something else -an odd twist on a dystopian (okay, maybe dystopia-light) world in the vein of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. In the future, the government passed The Media Betterment Act, which allowed for the government to create a special force to find and destroy objectionable material (in the government's opinion). However, there was a counteract passed that allowed for the libraries to protect and disseminate any books they wish, therefore not making them subject to the law, thus making the libraries a safe haven free of censorship. In order to combat the aggressive forces of censorship, the library created an elite defense force whose job it is to enforce the library law and protect books.

Iku Kasahara has wanted the join the force her entire life. Not just because she can protect books, but because of a chance meeting with the library defense forces as a child, where a mysterious (and of course attractive) gentlemen saved a collection of books from being confiscated. Finally old enough, Iku enlists in the library defense force and trains to become the best. Which, of course, is somewhat hampered by her instructor Master Dojo, who seems to have it out for her. In typical shojo-style it's implied that Iku may have a romantic relationship with Dojo or another force member, but she can't help thinking about the mysterious man who inspired her to join the force.

Basically, the easiest way to describe Library Wars is Fahrenheit 451 light (okay, very light) with shojo themes thrown in, but not so much so that the story becomes over saturated with cliche shojo plots that the ideas behind the story are forgotten. The most refreshing part of this manga was its unique approach to the genre and how it walks a thin line between dystopia and shojo. However, there are a few world items that don't exactly mesh together and make it feel like the unique dystopia rules aren't really infused with the world completely, which brings up several questions.

The artwork is average; typical shojo-style, but oddly with the guys not as bishi and the girls, particularly Iku, not as girly. I wouldn't say it's bad by any means, but it's not spectacular. At least the editing and panel logic makes sense, and readers can easily follow the action as it flows from panel to panel. Readers unfamiliar with manga should keep in mind that Library Wars reads right-to-left, Japanese style, in the order to keep the artwork truer to the original and not having to flip it for English-language audiences.

Despite a few flaws, Library Wars is an enjoyable manga that sets up the series for fun, light entertainment and possibly something more. It's great for shojo fans and book nerds.

..."Library Wars" might have been the result. In the future, the central government of Japan has passed the "Media Decency Act." This act allows the government to confiscate books with "inappropriate material" from bookstores and keep them from the public. The only way people can read these books is through local libraries, who are allowed to collect the banned books and lend them to the public. Still, there is a lot of tension between the two groups, and war has broken out over it. When Iku Kusahara was in high school, government officials raided the local bookstore and almost took the book she'd been waiting for for so long. But the Library Defense Force came to the rescue, and one man in particular saved Iku's book for her. Since that day, she has dreamt of becoming a member of the Library Defense Force and becoming like her prince.

Now, she's making that dream come true. Being on the Defense Force is a very dangerous job, and Iku has to lie to her parents, saying that she's only a librarian. Iku's doing very well, however, her physical strength surpassing most of the men's. The only problem is her drill instructer, Atsushi Dojo. He seems to have it in for her, doing things like making her do push ups for stopping after finishing a race. Iku hates him and argues back with him, but she seems to be stuck with him. But after he supervises her first mission, she begins to see that maybe he's not so bad, after all.

While the plot here seems pretty original, it doesn't make the most of its unique features. The conflict between the government forces and the libraries takes a backseat to Iku's personal woes. And the conflict doesn't seem to have any of the subtlety of "Farenheit 491," where the censorship of books occurred as a result of the will of special interest groups, not the oppression of the central government. Still, at this point in the story, Iku is in training and hasn't yet become part of the conflict. Maybe we'll get more information on it in future volumes. There is focus on Iku's training, and we do get to see her deal with the government a little. We also get a little information on how the library works. Iku's training is a little generic, but the other things are more interesting. I hope there's more detail later.

So far, though, this is standard shojo fare. Iku can beat most of the guys, and can even hold her own against Dojo, but he usually bests her in the end. He's a thorn in her side during training, but he helps and encourages her when she really needs it. You know the drill. The characters themselves are likable, but not really distinctive. Iku is cheerful, feisty, and perseverent, while Dojo is quieter, sarcastic, and tries to be stoic. The relationship between them is cute, though, albeit similar to dozens of other love/hate pairings. And I find it hard to believe that Iku could get away with being so disrespectful to a senior officer... But I do like the height difference between the two, with Iku being the taller (is it just a coincidence that Dojo's first name is "Atsushi," like the hero of the oh so wonderful Love Com?).

Iku is supposed to be a tough heroine, and she is, but Dojo still ends up having to rescue her. At one point, she tackles a suspect, only to turn around too quickly so Dojo has to protect her when the suspect retaliates. It's her naivety that gets her in trouble, not her lack of strength, but this kind of thing still bugs me a bit. Especially when the hero shows up conveniently to help, like in a later scene. And it's not exactly a secret who Iku's prince is, unless the creators are pulling a fast one on us.

I like the art here. It's casual shojo style, with simply designed eyes and clean lines. This is the style I prefer, and I thought everything was well drawn, though not particularly exceptional.

I feel like I've been harder on "Library Wars" than I intended to be. It is a pretty well written manga, and it has a more interesting backdrop than most. I think my main problem with it is that while it's good, it could have been better. The backdrop is different, but it's a setting for the usual trappings of shojo. These are pretty well exectued, but I'm getting bored of them. Still, it looks like this manga will set itself apart more in the future and develop its background. As of now, I'd say it's above average, but still not great.

Reason for Reading: With a title like "Library Wars" what book geek could resist!

This is a Shojo series and Iku's relationships often overtake the plot at times but it is a lot of fun. Set in the future, the government has banned and can ban any book it considers unsuitable from being sold or owned personally. The only exemption to this is that Libraries are free from this censorship. Iku has wanted to join the Library Defense Force ever since she was a little girl and we meet her as she has just become a recruit. But she is finding it much harder than she expected because of her drill Sergeant who is very hard on her. This is where the Shojo comes in. Iku and the drill Sergeant, Dojo, have an explosive relationship. He is very strict, pushes Iku very hard, and can be rude but at the times needed he is very supportive and encouraging. Iku is furious with him all the time but from her bashfulness we know she really is attracted to him even if she won't admit it.

Much of the book follows these clashes between Iku and Dojo which, surprisingly to me, are a lot of fun, actually, though not my usual cup of tea. But there is also plenty on the "war" side of things as well; we are given a background on the society and how it works. Vol. 1 covers Iku's entire basic training which is pretty much the same as one would expect from the army with a bit of librarian training thrown in as well. Where the book ends, we can tell that more action should be expected in the next volume.

I really enjoyed the art. I do not like typical Shojo art. Here we have Iku with short hair and very tom-boy looking which suits her feisty manner, the other girls shown are pretty but in an average way and all the men are drawn like men with short hair and masculine bodies. One character even has muscles!

Since this is not my usual type of manga I wasn't quite sure how I'd like it, but I'm pleased to say it was a hit with me and I'm looking forward to reading Vol. 2.