Rock and Roll Love (review)

In this new manga from the author of Biker Girl (BCCB 9/06), sixteen-year-old Misako is fearless in her pursuit of adventure as she willingly leaves her family and home in Japan to live in the United States for an entire year. Although Misako does face moments of insecurity and homesickness, most of her year is marked by positive experiences with her host family, in her new school, and at a summer puppet camp. The last remaining challenge is the finding of true love, and Misako has her boy in mind—gorgeous rocker Zac. Although warned away because of his player reputation, Misako won't be deterred, even when Zac rejects her as anything more than a friend. Rocks' inked and shaded pencil drawings utilize expected manga formatting and style, although preteens with an eye for fashion will appreciate her attention to clothing details, an element that is usually more generic. While the book is true to its influences—shojo books are often marked by idealized romances—the fact that Misako's obsession discovers the error of his ways only days before she leaves and enters into a perfect, cross-continent relationship with her is too convenient and pat and the book is in general fairly predictable. Middle-school readers may still enjoy the sweet wish-fulfillment of an adventurous teen and a sparkly star-crossed romance in this accessible format. One of the most intriguing features comes in the form of an odd but amusing end-of-book interview between the author and her manga self, which demystifies the artistic process by briefly enumerating the many steps from first idea to finished product. That's not enough to lift this beyond a fairly standard romance, but it may add a gloss of edginess that will enhance reader satisfaction.