I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 2

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder. The second volume of the hit manga series about the complications of friendship, first loves and what it truly means to be an ally. 
 
Hime and Akira have been best friends since childhood, and Hime has always protected Akira. But since Akira began openly identifying as a girl, Hime's constant need to speak out on her behalf is becoming a problem. 
 
When Akira becomes a manager of the school’s football team – and crushing on an older boy – Hime feels the rift with her friend growing wider. She’s desperate to save her relationship with Akira, but whatever Hime tries just seems to make things worse. 
 
Akira’s making so much progress, so why does Hime feel like she’s only falling behind . . . ? 
 
A joyous celebration of acceptance in all its forms, this clean manga series is filled with funny, thoughtful friends tackling identity, relationships and friendships in secondary school. Perfect for readers aged 12+

Umi Takase (Author, Illustrator) 
Umi Takase was born and is still living in the Toyama Prefecture of Japan. In 2016, she won an honorable mention at the 78th Shogakukan Newcomer Comic Awards where she debuted with her standalone short story 'Ethnic Mirror' in the special issue of Flowers.

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder. 
 
Hime and Akira have been best friends since childhood, and Hime has always protected Akira. But since Akira began openly identifying as a girl, Hime's constant need to speak out on her behalf is becoming a problem. 
 
When Akira becomes a manager of the school’s football team – and crushing on an older boy – Hime feels the rift with her friend growing wider. She’s desperate to save her relationship with Akira, but whatever Hime tries just seems to make things worse. Akira’s making so much progress, so why does Hime feel like she’s only falling behind . . . ? 
 
This manga adaptation of the hit Japanese webcomic series is a joyous celebration of acceptance – both by others and oneself. Tackling universal teen themes of identity, relationships and friendship in a gentle, clean story filled with thoughtful (though imperfect) characters, this series is brilliantly inclusive and has clear crossover appeal.

I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 1

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder. The first volume of the hit manga series about the complications of friendship, first loves and what it truly means to be an ally. 
 
Hime has had a secret crush on Akira for as long as she can remember. Childhood best friends, Hime was the first to know that Akira identified as a girl, and she's made it her mission to protect Akira from the world. 
 
So, when Akira decides to begin secondary school as her true self, Hime is thrilled. But as Akira attracts all kinds of attention at school, Hime’s protective instincts go into overdrive. Not wanting Akira to be singled out, Hime decides that her only option is to put herself in Akira’s shoes and dress like a boy . . . Too bad her plan backfires on them both! 
 
A joyous celebration of acceptance in all its forms, this clean manga series is filled with funny, thoughtful friends tackling identity, relationships and friendships in secondary school. Perfect for readers aged 12+

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder. 
 
Hime has had a secret crush on Akira for as long as she can remember. Childhood best friends, Hime was the first to know that Akira identified as a girl, and she's made it her mission to protect Akira from the world. 
 
So, when Akira decides to begin secondary school as her true self, Hime is thrilled. But as Akira attracts all kinds of attention at school, Hime’s protective instincts go into overdrive. Not wanting Akira to be singled out, Hime decides that her only option is to put herself in Akira’s shoes and dress like a boy . . . too bad her plan backfires on them both 
 
This manga adaptation of the hit Japanese webcomic series is a joyous celebration of acceptance – both by others and oneself. Tackling universal teen themes of identity, relationships and friendship in a gentle, clean story filled with thoughtful (though imperfect) characters, this series is brilliantly inclusive and has clear crossover appeal.

I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 4

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder. The final volume of the hit manga series about the complications of friendship, first loves and what it truly means to be an ally. 
 
Childhood best friends Hime and Akira are finally ready to make up. After a big fight about a boy, and about what ‘being a girl’ means to them both, Hime and Akira have done the work to accept themselves and each other. 
But Hime has a secret. She has a huge crush on Akira! Hime know it's time to tell the truth ... But how will Akira react, and what will it mean for their friendship? Is Hime really ready to share her true feelings? The emotional rollercoaster of a series comes to a heartwarming and hopeful conclusion! 
A joyous celebration of acceptance in all its forms, this clean manga series is filled with funny, thoughtful friends tackling identity, relationships and friendships in secondary school. Perfect for readers aged 12+

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder. 
 
Childhood best friends Hime and Akira are finally ready to make up. After a big fight about a boy, and about what ‘being a girl’ means to them both, Hime and Akira have done the work to accept themselves and each other. 
 
But Hime has a secret. She has a huge crush on Akira! Hime know it's time to tell the truth ... But how will Akira react, and what will it mean for their friendship? Is Hime really ready to share her true feelings? The emotional rollercoaster of a series comes to a heartwarming and hopeful conclusion! 
 
This manga adaptation of the hit Japanese webcomic series is a joyous celebration of acceptance – both by others and oneself. Tackling universal teen themes of identity, relationships and friendship in a gentle, clean story filled with thoughtful (though imperfect) characters, this series is brilliantly inclusive and has clear crossover appeal.

Umi Takase

Erin Procter

Being in love with your best friend is hard, but being a good friend is even harder.Hime and Akira have been best friends since childhood. But they haven’t spoken in weeks – not since their argument over Akira’s crush, who’s too distracted by Hime to notice Akira! 
 
The girls want to make up, but this rift runs deeper than a simple crush. Akira is upset that no one thinks twice about Hime being a girl, however she looks; while Hime is upset that people see her as nothing but a girl.Before they can repair their relationship, they’ll need to work through some big questions. Can they learn to accept each other and themselves, or will this be the end?This manga adaptation of the hit Japanese webcomic series is a joyous celebration of acceptance – both by others and oneself. Tackling universal teen themes of identity, relationships and friendship in a gentle, clean story filled with thoughtful (though imperfect) characters, this series is brilliantly inclusive and has clear crossover appeal.

Umi Takase

Books by Umi Takase

Series by Umi Takase

I Wanna Be Your Girl

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