The follow-up to the slice-of-life manga about Japanese single father Yaichi, his daughter, Kana, and his deceased brother's white Canadian husband, Mike.The story seamlessly picks up where the first entry left off, inviting readers back into Yaichi's swirling thoughts as he considers how much more comfortable he's become with Mike's homosexuality and the areas where he's still learning. Importantly, Yaichi finally recognizes that despite what he's told himself, he treated his twin brother, Ryoji, differently after he came out. Here, Tagame (My Brother's Husband, vol. 1, 2017, etc.) demonstrates how quietly refusing to affirm a family member's sexuality can be just as harmful as outright rejection. As in the previous book, paneled black-and-white illustrations balance precisely with the light-handed translated text, allowing room for readers to relax into the world and interpret characters' expressions for themselves. The plot's leisurely pace also gives time to elements of the gay experience rarely covered in other stories, including the complications that can arise when an out gay man interacts with a closeted man in public. Additionally, this volume delves deeper into how Ryoji's death has changed Mike, particularly his new understanding that nothing in life is guaranteed. Though both Mike and Yaichi reflect on the uncertainty of the future, the comfort between the two men and their mutual desire to stay connected proves a heart-filling resolution.Readers will want tissues in hand for the final, bittersweet pages of this remarkable series. (Graphic novel. 13-adult)
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October 15, 2018
In the first book of this two-volume series, Tagame movingly explored Yaichi's gradual acceptance of his late brother Ryoji's widower?burly, Canadian Mike, who is completely confident in his identity?into his family, and, in this follow-up, Yaichi's new perspective on homosexuality expands his worldview even more. Mike is now fully ensconced in Yaichi and his daughter, Kana's, lives, and Yaichi is pleasantly surprised to recognize his newfound lack of discomfort around his brother-in-law, a marked change from when he first met him. But accepting Mike also makes Yaichi reevaluate how he treated Ryoji, which refreshes his grief over his brother's untimely death. Tagame keeps the scope of the story tight on Yaichi, Mike, and Kana, homing in on fine-lined, realistic facial expressions and gestures, all of which add poignant emotional depth. The stakes are fairly low in this sweet, gentle story, which makes the few moments of tension all the more potent. This well-paced, empathy-building story has lots of appeal and would be a good choice for readers making their first forays into manga.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)