Library Wars is quickly becoming my favorite series! The concept is something I can really get behind, as I love books and the thought of the government censoring what I read is very upsetting. In Library Wars, the government not only seeks to censor, it is even willing, with little provocation, to commit murder in order to promote their agenda of keeping “unsuitable” reading material out of the hands of its citizens.
Protagonist Iku continues to mature and become a character the reader can like and sympathize with. She is so gung-ho about protecting the books in the library, and her enthusiasm to perform her job duties with the Library Task Force often gets her in hot water. When two young boys cause a disturbance at a Board of Education rally, she immediately is drawn to them and their love of books. They are so upset that books they like have been removed from their school library, and they only want to ensure that they remain available at the public library. While their methods are ill-advised, their hearts are in the right place, and Iku convinces them that they need to find a better way to get their point across to the adults in the community. Iku? Trying to promote reasoning and debate as a method of persuasion instead of more physical means? See, she really is growing up!
The tension between Iku and Dojo hits a sweet spot for me, too. It’s obvious that they are drawn to each other, but Dojo’s hot and cold reactions to her baffle Iku. I can’t blame her for being so confused! Dojo thinks he’ll never measure up to Iku’s fantasy “prince,” and the more she gushes about that childhood memory, the more irritated and discouraged he becomes. Plus, he’s her superior officer, and that makes things even more complicated for them.
The story development and the art continue to charm, and the characters are fun and well fleshed out. Highly recommended.
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