Bibliographic Information:
Title: Blue Period
Author: Tsubasa Yamaguchi
ISBN: 978-1646511129
Publisher: Kondansha Comics
Copyright Date: October 13, 2020
Reading Level / Interest Level: Grades 7 - 12 (Novelist)
Genre / Format: Coming of Age, Slice of Life, Realistic Fiction / Manga, Book
Themes: Identity, Motivation, Goals, Family, School, College
Awards or Honors: YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2021
Plot Summary: Yatora Yaguchi is cruising through high school; he excels in classes without trying and is a well-liked popular student, but he doesn’t have motivation or direction. The days just pass him by as the emptiness inside him slowly grows. His entire outlook on life completely changes when he comes across a moving painting by a student in the art club. Suddenly Yaguchi explodes with motivation and rushes to paint something himself, hoping to capture the rush of emotions he feels. This experience leaves Yaguchi permanently changed and he decides to dedicate himself (mind, body, and soul) to art. Now with a sense of direction, Yaguchi sets his eyes on his next goal: acceptance into Tokyo University of the Arts!
Author Background: Tsubasa Yamaguchi is a Japanese manga artist. She graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts (the main character's target school). Blue Period is her second full series, her first being a manga adaptation of a short animated film, She and Her Cat (Hallmark, 2016).
Critical Evaluation for Books and Non-Print Items: I love one of the messages in this story: nothing beats hard work. Yaguchi is completely disciplined and dedicated to meet his goals; he might have been drifting, but that’s just because he wasn’t being challenged in the right way. The moment he finds something he loves, he throws himself at it completely. Yauchi is decisive and headstrong and seeing him grow as an artist continues to be a fun, motivating ride! There are small art tutorials scattered throughout the manga; the story will suddenly shift to a lecture on art history! While these bits are interesting and add to the feeling of “learning like a student” they can also disrupt the flow of the story the reader is interested in. I suppose they have to show Yaguchi training somehow, right? These short segments will probably fit in a lot better when they are animated. Overall, Blue Period is a motivating story about a young man’s journey through the academic art world. The reader gets to see Yaguchi grow as an artist as he finds his own style and message. Yaguchi is so disciplined and in love with art that you can’t help but cheer him on.
Creative Use for a Library Program: TUA Painting Gallery
Teens will be provided with one of the Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) prompt (from the manga) along with the materials to fulfill the challenge. The prompt is meant to push teens to adapt and think critically and outside the box. An example of one of these prompts is:
TASK FOR OIL PAINTING: PAINT SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO YOU
Art work will be displayed in the public library art gallery.
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer: Yaguchi is a top student but he's drifting by, not really motivated. The one day, by chance, he sees a painting that makes him stop and lose himself for a moment. After a late night drinking, Yaguchi greets the city as the sun rises, completely moved by the view. He quickly paints this moment and from then on, he sets his eyes on Tokyo University of the Arts. Will Yaguchi, someone who just discovered art, be able to rise to challenge and compete against the best artists in Japan? Good thing Yaguchi loves a challenge!
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: Titles that have LGBTQ+ representation have gotten pushback from readers and they are often the books that are most likely to be challenged. One of the characters of Blue Period, Yuka, is genderfluid. Concerned parents may challenge the title because of this character; I would argue that it is important for the collection to include as many diverse life experiences as possible. There may be teens who are also working on their identity and seeing a strong, genderfluid character in a story can be empowering.
Reason for Inclusion: This slice of life story is incredibly inspirational. It is a great story for both artists and non-artists alike. You will get so caught up in Yaguchi's journey that you will want to paint something yourself. The art making process is presented in a visually stunning way and with an interesting character. Yaguchi is an authentic character who is determined to reach his goal and try his hardest. Beyond the visual arts though, this story is important because it shows teens the value of hard work -- you can always push yourself to get better but only if you have the self-discipline to try every day. An anime adaptation was released in October, 2021; take a look at the scene that sold me on the show below!
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