Hikaru in the Light! (Hikaru in the Light #1)

A shy middle schooler auditions for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a pop star in this series launch by Japanese manga artist Matsuda. Fourteen-year-old Hikaru Ogino is known as the “songbird of the public bath”: her melodious voice often echoes throughout her family-owned bathhouse in Tokyo, to the delight of patrons and passersby. While watching an ad about auditions for Girls in the Light, a new musical group, Hikaru dreams of what it might be like to sing into a mic instead of a mop. When her best friend, Ran—a former member of popular girl group JPA—encourages Hikaru to audition with her, Hikaru must overcome nerves and lacking self-confidence to surpass the competition. Meanwhile, Ran faces her own challenges as an ex-idol, and wonders if she’s talented enough to earn a second chance. Hikaru’s endearing attempts to believe in herself and dive into the unknown—both during the audition process as well as her tumultuous transition into high school—delight in this feel-good graphic novel. Laugh-out-loud moments throughout, depicted via light-emanating panels of mainly muted blue and purple hues, add a buoyant feel to the high-concept premise and emotional themes. Back matter includes a note on public bathhouses and idol culture. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)