Okay, maybe you're not thinking that exactly, but anything along those lines is actually wrong. While a first glance at the Tomo series might make you think that it is a pretty standard teenage manga, it actually manages to be much more than that. It manages to keep the reader interested in a thrilling yet heartfelt story about the struggles of growing up, finding one's place in the world, and learning what it means to be a Christian. I find the last story point very interesting because most manga are typically not religious at all, let alone Christian; that makes this manga really special and a wonderful find for any Christian manga fans who struggle to find decent content. Created by Tom Bancroft and Rob Corley, with art by Ariel Padilla, the Tomo series follows thirteen-year-old Hanna Akisame, to whom many young readers could relate.
On a dark and rainy night, a semi-truck slid through an intersection in rural Japan; unable to stop because of the slippery roads, the truck collided with a car, instantly killing the driver of the smaller vehicle, and in a single instant Hanna's life changed forever. Hanna's mother, the driver who had been killed, was the young girl's only guardian in Japan, and her death slid Hanna's future into a million different paths. She doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere, doors that where once open are now closed, and in many ways Hanna feels completely and utterly alone. Though Hanna's mother tried to provide her with a comfortable life and did her best to prepare her daughter to face the world on her own some day, nothing could have prepared Hanna for the challenge she now faces. Being raised by a single parent didn't prepare her for the challenge of moving halfway across the world to find a new home, being homeschooled didn't prepare her for meeting new friends and bullies at church and school, and tirelessly training in martial arts didn't teach her how to love the maternal grandfather who took her in. But no matter what struggles she may face, Hanna is willing to try her hardest to succeed. Something is growing deep down inside of her; she's much stronger than anyone could imagine, and she is very, very special in her own way. She may not feel like it now, but Hanna is ready for her new life. She's ready to change the world; she's ready to discover her future.
This book series is very special to me because it was one of the first manga that I ever read as a child. Of course when I first discovered the series at my local library, I had no idea what a manga series was and I barely knew about Japan, the country that mass-produces manga. All I knew was that the Tomo series looked cool, it had a fun story, and I wanted to continue reading it. Little did I know that reading the Tomo series would be the first contributing factor in a lifelong obsession that, as of right now, is directing my next steps toward a career. Though I didn't realize it at the time, the Tomo series would lead to accidental interest in anime movies, and that led to half a dozen anime shows that sucked me in, hook line and sinker. All that led to an interest in Japan and a desire to see more of that country's population eventually counted among the numbers of heaven. Needless to say, it holds a very dear place in my heart.
On a dark and rainy night, a semi-truck slid through an intersection in rural Japan; unable to stop because of the slippery roads, the truck collided with a car, instantly killing the driver of the smaller vehicle, and in a single instant Hanna's life changed forever. Hanna's mother, the driver who had been killed, was the young girl's only guardian in Japan, and her death slid Hanna's future into a million different paths. She doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere, doors that where once open are now closed, and in many ways Hanna feels completely and utterly alone. Though Hanna's mother tried to provide her with a comfortable life and did her best to prepare her daughter to face the world on her own some day, nothing could have prepared Hanna for the challenge she now faces. Being raised by a single parent didn't prepare her for the challenge of moving halfway across the world to find a new home, being homeschooled didn't prepare her for meeting new friends and bullies at church and school, and tirelessly training in martial arts didn't teach her how to love the maternal grandfather who took her in. But no matter what struggles she may face, Hanna is willing to try her hardest to succeed. Something is growing deep down inside of her; she's much stronger than anyone could imagine, and she is very, very special in her own way. She may not feel like it now, but Hanna is ready for her new life. She's ready to change the world; she's ready to discover her future.
This book series is very special to me because it was one of the first manga that I ever read as a child. Of course when I first discovered the series at my local library, I had no idea what a manga series was and I barely knew about Japan, the country that mass-produces manga. All I knew was that the Tomo series looked cool, it had a fun story, and I wanted to continue reading it. Little did I know that reading the Tomo series would be the first contributing factor in a lifelong obsession that, as of right now, is directing my next steps toward a career. Though I didn't realize it at the time, the Tomo series would lead to accidental interest in anime movies, and that led to half a dozen anime shows that sucked me in, hook line and sinker. All that led to an interest in Japan and a desire to see more of that country's population eventually counted among the numbers of heaven. Needless to say, it holds a very dear place in my heart.
But aside from all that, the Tomo series is a wonderful series in its own right. It has a great storyline that keeps readers interested throughout eight volumes. Hanna and her grandfather are complete characters who feel so genuine they could easily be real people you would see on the street. They face difficult struggles that anyone could relate to, but the series doesn't leave them to wallow in their problems. Instead, the series does an excellent job of showing how people can move past their problems when their family helps them. The series has a strong Christian element that is prevalent but not overbearing; it's a refreshing take on faith in fiction.
All in all, I highly recommend the Tomo manga series. I found it enjoyable when I first read it and I still enjoy it when I reread it now. The series means a lot to me, but it is also just a good read that I think anyone can enjoy. Full of wonderfully written faith, family, and fantasy, the Tomo series is something that everyone should try, whether they're manga fans or not.
Photo Credit: Rachel Hollenbeck
Photo Credit: Rachel Hollenbeck
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