Miki Falls: Autumn (Miki Falls Series #3)

KLIATT

In the third volume of this seasonally themed quartet, the starry-eyed Miki and Hiro decide they must run away from Fukuyama in order to keep their relationship a secret. After a brash confrontation with the jealous Reika, once meek and now newly emboldened Miki stands her ground; this propels Reika to threaten to expose their secret to the Elder Deliverers. With little more than the clothes on their backs, they decide to run away to the wilderness, and stay with Yamada-san, an old friend of Hiro’s. Like Reika and Hiro, Yamada was once a Deliverer, and warns that the Elders want to make an example of Hiro’s defiance. Soon after they arrive at Yamada-san’s, the Deliverers are hot on their trail, sending Miki and Hiro out deeper into the forest--just as autumn is coming to a close. Crilley has created a magical, windswept romance perfect for young teens, though complex enough to absorb older teens. The manga-styled art with soft gray tones and a strong emphasis on facial expressions is a perfect complement to the text, gracefully capturing the mood. Miki’s character, an ultimately likeable and believable female character, has greatly evolved since her introduction in Spring from a headstrong schoolgirl who saw no need for love to a girl who falls, quite literally, head over heels for Hiro. Readers will cheer for Miki and Hiro and will be captivated to see this plucky young couple overcome the odds stacked against them. Reviewer: Jennifer Sweeney
March 2008 (Vol. 42, No.2)

Children's Literature

First, let me start off by saying I recommend readers read this series in order and not as standalone books. I enjoyed the story, but felt like I was missing out on important information that I would have known had I read the earlier books in the series. The story begins with Miki coming home from school and meeting an elderly man who asks if she ever wants to see in the future. Intrigued, she talks with him. He shows her how to ask a question and then gently place a leaf in a basin filled with water. The answer depends on whether the leaf floats to the right or left. Miki asks if Hiro and she will be able to keep the superiors from finding them. Unfortunately, the leaf does not float to either side of the basin but instead sinks. From there, the reader is taken directly to the story where the last one ended. Hiro and Miki spend their time together and each knows they are breaking the rules. Being young, falling in love, and being afraid they will be found adds much suspense. The reader can feel their emotions. This book is written in graphic format, a favorite of mine. They are perfect for reluctant readers who never seem to finish a book on their own. Young adults who want to read anything they can get their hands on will also enjoy the graphics and fast paced text. The graphics make an enormous impact on the story. I highly recommend this book for young adults. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs

Gr 7 Up -In the first two books, readers learn that Miki is a high school senior trying to find her place in the world, but Hiro, though a teenager, is also a "Deliverer," a member of a secret organization that captures love from dying relationships and gives it to new couples. Deliverers are forbidden to fall in love with humans. Supernatural abilities aside, "Miki Falls" remains a series about two star-crossed lovers. After Hiroa's fellow Defender, Reika, confronts them, Miki proposes that they run away, and Hiro suggests the home of Toshiko Yamada, an octogenarian who left the fold of the Deliverers decades earlier. There, they believe they will be safe for a time. Drawn in black-and-white pencil, the characters look ready to step off the page into a television series. While they are recognizable as Japanese, Crilley clearly has an American influence, and his fashions look to be straight out of a neighborhood Target store. Miki, blissfully, has none of the typical histrionics exhibited by other female manga characters, and Hiro has the same confusion over loyalty and love that many boys would have. The passion is mild and the story line vaguely familiar (as are most stories with star-crossed lovers), making this series a good pick for middle school students. Libraries looking to purchase Autumn should make sure to also purchase Spring , Summer (both 2007), and Winter (2008, all HarperCollins).-Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA