Our Colors

December 1, 2021

The Eisner Award-winning Japanese author of dozens of graphic novels and short stories translated into multiple languages, Tagame tells the story of an artist dreamer named Sora Itoda struggling to negotiate high school as a young gay man, who keeps up the pretense that friend Nao is his girlfriend until he meets openly gay Mr. Amamiya, a middle-aged coffee shop owner who becomes Sora's mentor. But Mr. Amamiya has his own painful past to confront.

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 10, 2022
Eisner winner Tagame (My Brother’s Husband) returns with an affecting coming-of-age/coming-out saga, presented in 21 episodic chapters. Sixteen-year-old Sora Itoda, an earnest high schooler in suburban Japan, has artistic aspirations and a penchant for dreamily relating colors to his emotional state (“All the colors of the world seem to brighten when he’s near”). Fearful of rejection or ostracism, Sora keeps his same-sex attractions, particularly to hunky classmate Kenta Yoshioka, hidden from friends and family. Things brighten when he befriends an understanding, openly gay middle-aged café owner, Mister Amamiya, who hires Sora to paint a mural in the café. But when a figure from Amamiya’s past reappears, conflict and painful misunderstandings ensue. Eventually, with the support of his understanding childhood gal-pal, Nao, and with the wise counseling of Amamiya (“Nobody comes out just once”), Sora is able to start living more authentically. While hitting many familiar story beats, Tagame’s intimate narrative mixes pathos with a healthy dose of melodrama, and his supremely confident artwork, replete with genial character designs and dynamic panel compositions, lend it gravitas. It’s a poignant story that should delight devotees of queer comics, with nice crossover appeal for YA readers.

April 15, 2022
Japanese manga powerhouse Tagame follows the phenomenal success of My Brother's Husband with another poignant, empowering, gay-centered narrative, again translated by queer manga expert Ishii. Sora and Nao have been neighbors and close friends since early childhood. Now that they're older, their interactions are quickly evolving, initially marked by Sora's request that at school Nao use the more common practice of last names only. At 16, they're starting to navigate all sorts of new relationships: synesthete Sora has his first crush on a boy, Nao's friend Mizuki has her eye on Sora, Nao is awkwardly stuck somewhere in between. Meanwhile, Sora follows an older stranger into a caf� and finds a mentor--and his first gay friend, whose frankness leaves him both "relieved and scared." Sora's coming-out narrative confronts homophobia, allyship (his mother is comically delightful), and authentic living (Sora's deadening mask is especially haunting), while also exploring the lifesaving power of art and, of course, genuine friendship, though the book's single kiss could be construed as a possible misstep. Tagame's expressive, detailed, black-and-white drawings once more delight and gratify.

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Starred review from December 16, 2022

Gr 9 Up-A gay high school student finds the courage to reveal his sexuality to friends and family through an unexpected friendship with a local cafe owner. Sora knows he's gay, but is terrified of telling anyone. He masks his true feelings from his parents; his best girl friend, Nao; and especially his crush, Yoshioka. Hiding his sexuality becomes a strain, and seeking relief, he flees school to visit the ocean. His impulsive trip leads to a chance meeting with a welcoming local cafe owner, Mr. Amamiya. Sora discovers in Amamiya a confidant who is both gay and willing to listen, and their conversations and confessions lead both to healing and renewed confidence. Sora's coming out is a multistep process, alternating between yearning and lingering fear, and Tagame's tale is meditative and powerful. As Sora finds the courage to tell Nao and his parents about himself, Tagame's pacing for every awkward conversation and weighty silence is resonant and true to life. There are no romantic high jinks or dramatic reveals, and Tagame's artwork eschews exaggeration. Tagame uses Sora's sketches, painted illustrations, and his observations on colors to reveal his state of mind. VERDICT Tagame's tender title is both a compelling work of art and a testament to how transformative finding community is for young LGBTQIA+ people, with a reach outside of dedicated manga fans. Give this title to readers looking for a realistic and character-driven portrait of gay life.-Robin Brenner

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.