Stepping on Roses Vol. 1 (Manga)
Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: April 2010
Price: $19.99
Creator: Rinko Ueda
Format: 200 pgs.; B&W
ISBN: 978-1-42153-182-3
Age Rating: OT/Older Teen
ICv2 Rating: 2 Stars out of 5

Set in Meiji era Japan, this book reads like a classic gothic romance on Ecstasy.  Poor, penniless Sumi has been left to care for a handful of orphans after her shiftless brother takes off when creditors come calling.  Desperate to raise enough money to fend off the money lenders, fifteen-year-old Sumi runs to the market place, determined to sell her virginity for as much as she can get.  Rich, entitled Soichiro agrees to give her all the money she needs, provided she agrees to two conditions: she has to marry him tomorrow and she has to promise not to fall in love.

In her author's note, Rinko Ueda tells us that her editor asked her for a gorgeous book.  Ms. Ueda delivered, giving readers page after page of flowing gowns, galaxy eyes, and hair -- oh, the hair!  What a shame she didn't spend as much time creating a gorgeous story as she did creating gorgeous art.  The silly, overly dramatic plot and flowery prose of this slight romance rely too heavily on cliche and coincidence to move the story convincingly and as a result this Cinderella story becomes tired quickly.  Fans of Ueda may want to reread Tale of the Moon and wait for another of her series to be licensed.

--Eva Volin: Supervising Children's Librarian for the Alameda Free Library in California.