Fool Night, Vol. 1

Gr 9 Up–The prospects for this world look grim. Clouds blot out the sun and winter has permanently fallen on the earth. Plant life has all but died out, and oxygen is depleting. This has led humanity to develop a type of plant growth that harvests nutrients from within a human, stealing sustenance from their very essence. Kamiya desperately wants to undergo this procedure, mostly for the money it will bring him, but he never expects what else will come when he surrenders his humanity to morph into a plant. This story is dark and brings about some existential questions about duty to society, quality of life, and what makes someone human. The haunting illustrations and philosophical subject matter create a ghostly and intriguing atmosphere that will hook readers and invoke sympathy at the same time. Yasuda has created a world that readers will want to explore and discover more as Kamiya figures out his new circumstances and abilities, but the suspense is also ever-present and looming over Kamiya’s every decision.