Wolf Children

Title: Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki
Author: Mamoru Hosoda, Yuu
Publisher: Yen Press
Publication date: March 25, 2014
Pages: 549
Source/format: Purchased/Hardcover

Rating: ☆☆☆☆1/2

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):

When Hana falls in love with a young interloper she encounters in her college class, the last thing she expects to learn is that he is part wolf. Instead of rejecting her lover upon learning his secret, she accepts him with open arms. Soon, the couple is expecting their first child, and a cozy picture of family life unfolds. But after what seems like a mere moment of bliss to Hana, the father of her children is tragically taken from her. Life as a single mother is hard in any situation, but when your children walk a fine line between man and beast, the rules of parenting all but go out the window. With no one to turn to, how will Hana survive?

My Thoughts

I first saw the animated film before reading this manga and was in awe. The manga version compliments the film and expresses the same human emotions. The illustrations are on par with the animation. Hana meets a guy at university only to find out he is a wolf man. She ends up having two children with him and an accident occurs leaving Hana a widow. Her children, Yuki and Ame, try to adapt to their environment. Both children have different personalities and learn what they want in life. Do they want to roam the wilderness as a wolves or do they want to blend in with humans?

I love the character development of Yuki and Ame. Seeing the children grow and seeing them establish what they want in life is quite interesting. Hana wants what is best for her children and lets Yuki and Ame figure out what is best for themselves. She understands that her lover will always be there spirtually to give her advice to raise their children. She understands she must let her children flee the nest when it is time to. It's hard to raise children as a single mother but it is even harder to raise wolf children.

I wish the relationship between Hana and her mysterious wolf man isn't as rushed. Their relationship is covered in a short period of time and I would love to see more of their relationship prior to them having children. I would also like to see Hana interacting more with her friends and family. Other than that, I adore this manga.

I am surprised the manga is in hardcover since most manga are softcover. The illustrations are beyond gorgeous and delivers a simple story evoking emotions such as sadness, happiness and hope. I never read anything that evokes so many emotions in one story. If you love anime and manga, definitely check Wolf Children out.