I still love love love love love Library Wars, and my loooove for it has yet to flag with this second volume. Now there is even more plot development and clues into the world-building of a Japan where the libraries and government clash continually over the freedom to read without restriction. A love triangle is attempted (!) but unlike the majority of shojo manga, it handles this new romantic hiccup with style and class.

I also still love-love-love Iku so much and I hope she makes out with Dojo before the series is over, heh heh. I couldn't ship Iku/Dojo more if I tried, okay? ♥ ( )

This volume delved more into the ethical issues present in libraries, namely protecting the privacy of everyone, even criminals. I'm glad this series has been able to introduce real-life examples to readers unfamiliar with libraries, even if the setting is a bit extreme (though not beyond belief). And Dojo and Kasahara are still super cute lol ( )

I wasn't so keen on this volume. The heroine just seems realllllllly dumb in this one. I'm hoping that it gets better in the next volume. ( )

The second volume of a manga series set in a Japan where the Federal government has decided to crack down on books they feel are not appropriate. Libraries are allowed to own whatever books they want, so the libraries have become a paramilitary organization dedicated to protecting books.

This is a style known as shujo – which are often written for young girls with lots of crushes going on between team members.

Nevertheless it explores some interesting themes, such as the protection of a patron’s privacy, even if said patron may have been inspired to commit crimes by the themes of the book he has borrowed. It also illustrates how circumstances can create strange alliances – the library team is dedicated to upholding the law which protects the privacy of all patrons. The director of the federal forces is interested in upholding the law because his son is the one who has committed the crimes.

I don’t know Japanese society well enough to know how similar the laws are to the US privacy laws. Like the previous volume, there was one disturbing instance of a male punching a female which is part of the love/crush relationships. ( )

Fun, and crazy. Banned books cause the need for heavily armed library patrols. Well done illustrations. I like the love interest thing going on and the struggles. Combat Librarians ! LOL
More romance in this one ( )