I was hesitant about reading this series; a library doesn’t seem to be likely grounds for a war. However I was pleasantly surprised. The story is an adaptation of a novels series of the same name by Hiro Arikawa. It takes place in a world where a Media Betterment Act has given the government the power to limit the public’s access to media, including books. Under the Library Freedom Act, the library has become the only safe haven for books and has its own Library Defense Unit. The main character, Iku Kasahara, inspired by a childhood event, is determined to become a member of the Library Force to be able to stop the hunting of books as well as to meet the man who once rescued her, whom she refers to as her Prince.
Warning may contain spoilers:
Warning may contain spoilers:
In the first volume we see the formation of the Library Task Force Team Dojo, which in addition to Iku Kasahara,includes fellow student, perfectionist and high achiever Hikaru Tezuka, Assistant Team Captain Mikihisa Komaki and Team Captain Atsushi Dojo. Tension arises between the two students as Tezuka finds it hard to accept that Kasahara has been selected to be part of this elite group. However, the real focus of the story is their Instructor Dojo, who is handsome, strong and well respected in the force. He also happens to be several inches shorter than Kasahara. He is a difficult character to figure out, and at times he is unreasonably mean towards Kasahara, and other times he is encouraging and gentle.
Volume Two sees Iku Kasahara involved in her fist assignment as a member of the Task Force as the library is raided by the Media Betterment Committee (MBC) and there is a possibility that they have inside help. A dangerous moment leads to Dojo coming to Kasahara’s rescue. The tensions within Team Dojo rise when Tezuka unexpectedly asks Kasahara to go out with him, causing her to question her goal of holding out for her Prince (the mystery man who rescued her when she was a child) or whether she has feelings for Dojo.
Volume Three has the friendship between Dojo and Kasahara slowly building but his pattern of acting mean towards Kasahara while secretly trying to protect her continues to confuse her. Meanwhile the tension between the Library and the MBC continue to escalate, leading to a standoff that puts everyone in real danger.Final Thoughts: Two things make this series work: the hot/cold relationship between Iku Kasahara and her instructor Sergeant Atsushi Dojo, and the censorship war that rages in the background that raises interesting real world questions such as whether books can incite violence in youth. I’m surprised to like this series as much as I do and I am waiting eagerly to get my hands on Volume 4, which has already been released.
Library Wars: Love & War is by Hiro Arikawa, illustrated by Kiiro Yumi published by Vizmedia under the Shojo Beat line.