SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

February 21, 2023 by Renee Scott

Insomniacs After School, vol. 1 | Review

February 21, 2023 by Renee Scott   Leave a Comment

Insomniacs After School, vol. 1
Story & art by Makoto Ojiro
Viz Media, to be published 3/21/23
Rating: Teen

When a tragedy prevents the use of the school’s observatory building, students (and our titular insomniacs) Nakami and Magari decide it is the perfect place to get much needed rest. It becomes their perfect sanctuary and the two grow closer due to their similar circumstances. 

Insomniacs After School is a cute, slice-of-life story about two students who suffer from a sleep disorder. When they discover an observatory at their school that has been unused due to the suicide of a student, they find it to be a safe place where they can get their much needed sleep. As the two continue to bond, we learn that the lack of sleep is just one of their problems. Nakami lives with his alcoholic father which causes him to feel lonely. In addition his lack of sleep causes him to lash out at times which in turn makes him unpopular among his peers. Nakami and Magari’s friendship grows as they transform the observatory into a haven for the both of them. However, when their haven is discovered by a teacher who understands their struggle, the three decide to re-establish the school’s Astronomy Club in order for the students to keep their sanctuary. 

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

While we don’t know Magari’s background as of yet, there are subtle hints that she has dreams and secrets of her own. There is a scene where Magari is stargazing and mentions that she wants to go to the moon. Her gaze is beautifully drawn and conveys a sense of longing. While Magari is outgoing and Nakami is withdrawn, both are seeking connections that are absent in their lives. When the teens are exploring the city at night when others are sound asleep, their friendship grows and the reader sees how Nakami and Magari view their environment without others around. We sense Nakami’s loneliness as does Magari due to their insomnia. Now they have a new astronomy club that helps them hide their disorders, which is a secret known only by their teacher. I look forward to seeing how Nakami and Magari’s friendship progresses throughout the story.


*Note: an anime adaptation of Insomniacs After School will be released in April 2023, along with a live-action film set to premiere in June 2023.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Manga, Reviews, Young Adult

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Renee Scott

Renee Scott is a young adult librarian based in NYC, as well as a dedicated otaku and gamer. She is a lifelong fan of comics, anime, and manga. She can be found on Twitter at @libraryladynyc, and on her review blog, The Library Lady of NYC Reviews.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

My Sister, the Cat, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

November 2022

Romantic Killer, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

October 2022

No Longer Heroine, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

October 2022

Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish | Review

by Renee Scott

January 2013

Links: The Phoenix Debuts

by Renee Scott

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

2023 Books from Pura Belpré Winners

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Newbery / Caldecott 2024: Spring Prediction Edition

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Pardalita | Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Why Teens Should Read Hard History, a guest post by Lesley Younge

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

LibraryPass’s Comics Plus | Reference Database Review

Laurie Halse Anderson Announces "Wonder Women in History," a YA Graphic Novel Anthology

The 2019 Eisner Award Nominations, Reviewed

YA Books Reflect the Activism of Real-Life Teens

A Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Book Challenge | Most Popular Posts on SLJ

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023