I can’t do it… I’m not strong enough….

arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. thank you, Penguin!

Even if you have little to no knowledge of pro skating or skating competitions outside of media or Tony Hawk, 
this pocket-sized memoir will draw you into the reality: the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the tricks and the troubles. Skate for Your Life is a very short memoir from Leo Baker examining the intersection of their gender identity with their passion for skateboarding, an inside look at how despite being a sport built on freedom and self-expression, the restrictions society places on gender can bleed in and douse the fire of passion. 

It's always difficult to rate nonfiction but most especially a memoir, since 'plot' and 'characters' aren't something I can judge as an outsider. Skate for Your Life works perfectly as a short dip into Leo Baker's thoughts about skateboarding and how they've been accepted for something they weren't, rejected for being themselves, and then coming around and carving that space and acceptance out for themselves and people like them. The writing could be a bit simplistic and clunky at times, but given the length of the essay I was able to find it endearing instead of tedious and hard to work through. 

This memoir also really spoke to me as a non-binary reader. It's a really great look into the transmasc experience, and so many of Leo Baker's sentiments resonated with me. For being so short, this book really felt like it reached across the divide, both to hold up a mirror to readers like me and also offer a window for those who may not understand, but seek to. Plus, the illustrations inside are really cute, so that was a neat bonus. 

If you're looking for a quick nonfiction read, consider picking this or other books from the Pocket Change series! 

arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review! 

In this delightful shoujo, a princess of the stars comes down to be a manga assistant for an artist struggling to take care of his family. He finds her beautiful and scarily talented, but one thing he didn't expect to find her as was his fiance! Suddenly engaged by accidentally starting an alien ritual, they have to juggle their work, their growing feelings, and figure out how to undo the engagement... or if they even want to. 

I'll admit, this manga had me kicking my feet a little sometimes. The art was gorgeous all around, but it was also just so cute! I loved the uncommon dynamic and all of the characters were so heartwarming. I think the pacing was a little fast with regards to their romance, but it'll be interesting to see where they go from here given the end of volume 1, and I'll definitely be continuing! 

arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review! 

Penguin & House is a really adorable manga, perfect for fans of series like Chi's Sweet Home or penguins in general, that follows a penguin and his thoughtless owner through their daily life together. 

I enjoyed this manga as a light read, though I did find myself frustrated with Pen's owner so often!! The pacing was consistent, and it was easy to speed right through. There wasn't a ton that stood out about it, though I did love Pen's character design. This is a really fun read, if not entirely memorable, and I would recommend it if you're looking for something lighthearted and cute! 

arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review! 

This lovely sort of slice-of-life mixed with soft fantasy was a quiet, captivating read. When a Cat Faces West follows Chima Kondo, a 35-year-old stuck in a 12-year-old body due to a natural phenomenon called Flow. Sometimes acting on its own, sometimes reflecting the worries of people on earth, Flow is a natural occurrence that changes the world in response to things being out of balance. Sometimes delightful, sometimes distressing, Flow has led to the formation of Flow cleanup squads. Chima joins Flow investigators Hirota and Shacho to check out Flow events and try to solve them. 

I am a huge fan of soft, low-stakes fantasy, and if you are too this is sure to delight you. The stories are reflective and thought-provoking, and if this makes any sense, it's the perfect manga to read next to an open window. At times I didn't enjoy the art style, as despite being in a 12-year-old's body Chima often looked just looked like a very short older woman. I think her character design could have been different to reflect that. But otherwise, I really enjoyed the slow-moving plot and little stories, and this is sure to delight anyone who adored Mushishi. 

arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review! 

I really enjoyed this manga from start to finish. Haruka Sakura is an outsider who's just enrolled in Furin High School, a last-chance-high deal known for delinquents who constantly fight. Haruka is determined to brawl his way to the top, but when he arrives, things turn out to be very different from the rumors! 

All around, Wind Breaker was a delight. I loved the art, the characters, the plot and twists, and I really can't wait to see where Haruka's journey through Furin takes him! This story also had a lot of dynamics I love that I can't talk about without giving too much away, but in short this story is all about not judging by appearances and the dangers of relying too much on your past and letting it determine how you accept your future. So if you're shying away because of the cover or the summary, give Wind Breaker a chance!  

arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Blackguard is a post-apocalyptic story following a soldier named Minami. In a world where a rapidly adapting zombie-like virus has taken over much of the population, Minami is an exceptional warrior that battles with the intent to die, until he's assigned a monitor, Chris, who's made to protect his life with much irritation.

This manga has a good concept but suffered from a very simplistic style. I don't think backgrounds need to be drawn all the time, but I was a bit distracted by how blank the pages were. That being said, I enjoyed the characters, but would have liked to see more depth overall. I think I would read volume 2 if it came to a reviewing site, but probably not on my own. 

somaiya daud if you're out there i have sworn my life to you 

what do you mean it's over i needed this to be 800 pages wtf