Maid Sama! by Hiro Fujiwara

Manga: Maid Sama!
Mangaka: Hiro Fujiwara
Age Group: Teens
Volume(s) Reviewing: 2
Series is: Completed with 18 volumes
My Rating: 2.5/5

Misaki's days as the school president are always so busy. A couple of her fellow classmates got into a fight with one of the students from a prestigious school. She must figure out how deal with this problem. Also, she has to worry about the upcoming school sports festival. It doesn't help that Usui follows her everywhere and has confessed that he likes her!

After reading the first volume awhile back, I wasn't keen on picking up the second volume from my shelf. In attempt to diminish my book collection though, I thought I should pick it up to see if the series was salvageable.  

The more I read, the less keen I was with Usui's character. I know he's supposed to be the "cool guy" that is good at everything, but sometimes he takes it too far. For example in the first volume, he pretended to be a stalker to teach Misaki the lesson that "she's still a girl". Saying that even if she is tough, it doesn't mean she would be able to overpower a guy bigger than her. There were moments like these where he seemed close to assaulting Misaki. That didn't settle right with me. 

I didn't like the plot where they suddenly rivalled with a prestigious school. The president of the Miyabi Gaoka Academy plays the villain. Which in my opinion, maybe because I am so picky about my books, is uncalled for. He's basically a stuck-up rich kid that is used to having things his way. It was my least favourite plot in this volume.

The only thing I like about Maid Sama! is the "Idiot Trio". They give some good comic relief throughout the manga series. 

Overall, I'm not sure why there is a hype about this series. The art is nice though. 

Review copy provided by HarperCollins Canada.

Maid Sama! by Hiro Fujiwara

Title: Maid Sama!

Mangaka: Hiro Fujiwara

Age Group: Teens

Series is: Ongoing with 11 volumes

Volume(s) Reviewing: 1

My Rating: 2.5/5

Misaki is the strict president of the student council who keeps everything orderly. Since her school only recently became co-ed, she makes sure that the boys are well-behaved. She holds up her reputation during the day, but when in fact she secretly works as a maid in a cafe! To keep her pride and reputation intact, she tries her best to hide this other side of her. But when popular Usui finds out about this secret, will everything be ruined??

Originally, I wasn't going to pick up this series. I had a feeling I wouldn't be fond of it. But since it is a popular one and my little sister is addicted to it, I decided to give it a try... And I knew my hunch was correct.

One of my manga pet peeves is when the panels are cramped with a lot of drawing and there are way too many things going on at once. This was what it was like with Maid Sama! It wasn't as bad as Go Go Heaven!!, but I still hated how many text bubbles there were on a page sometimes. As a manga reader, you would like everything to flow and be easy on the eyes. When there is so many things happening, it deters you away from the actual storyline.

I don't mind female empowerment, but Misaki is too much for me. Honestly, I think having a job as a maid is not a big deal. Since she is a big feminist, I could understand but at the same time she needs to take a chill pill. I guess some people like that sort of character but she is by far a good protagonist in my eyes. Usui is supposed to be that opposite attraction who is laid-back and cool with everything for Misaki. I feel, however, that their personalities do not work, even if they are constrasting each other. I don't know if it is possible for characters in a manga to have a lack of chemistry because it sure felt like it did, regardless of how many romance moments thrown in.

The art is not so bad. I personally judged the art prior and had a feeling I wouldn't be a fan. (Being a manga reader for so long, you can depict what kind of story the mangaka has to offer through their art. Sometimes it is misleading, but most of the time your gut feeling would be spot on).

I could understand why fans enjoy the series. There are those unrealistic moments that you can't help but wish happen to you in real life. It has that love-hate relationship thing going on with the hot guy in the grade situation and all.

However, I just couldn't get into this manga and it took me 3 weeks or more to finish because I kept putting it down. I think shojo fans can take a look because it has some cliques that most would love.

Review copy provided by HarperCollins Canada.