Shonen Note: Boy Soprano 1

Gr 8 Up–From the creator of “Our Dreams at Dusk,” this manga is a coming-of-age story about finding and expressing your own voice. Yutaka Aoi is blessed with a beautiful singing voice, and he enjoys singing, despite his sensitivity to sound. When he is heard singing outside school, Yutaka is recruited to his school’s choir as a soprano, which is rare for someone his age. As he develops friendships and rivalries, especially when involved in choir competitions, Yutaka faces the inevitable, knowing that his beautiful soprano will eventually change as he approaches puberty. The art in this manga matches not only the story, but the musical visualization of Yutaka’s voice as well as the emotion it brings out in those who hear him. The book does not shy away from the sadness Yutaka feels knowing that his voice, which has brought joy to others, will not be the same as he gets older.