Haruko Ichikawa (1)

Beautifully illustrated and painfully reflective of how we grow up. The main character, Phos, is the youngest of twenty-odd gems, and it shows. She's selfish, self-centered, and irresponsible. She's also caring, ambitious, and stubborn. The manga takes you through her journey trying to become a fighter, as well as finding a purpose for her fellow gem, Cinnabar. As she ages, loses friends, and loses pieces of herself, it's analogous to a child maturing - shedding the shards of the less favorable parts of ourselves to become more skilled and wise adults. However, it's a bittersweet process because she also loses some of the bits that make her so endearing and lovable.

I'm eager to find out where her journey takes her.… (mais)