My Girlfriend’s Child, vols. 1 and 2 | Review
My Girlfriend’s Child, vols. 1 and 2
Story and art by Mamoru Aoi
Seven Seas
Vol. 1 published 4/25/23
Vol. 2 published 7/11/23
Vol. 3 set to be released November 2023
Rating: Older Teen (15+)
After learning that a manga about teenage pregnancy was being released, I was hoping that it wasn’t going to be the sort of outlandish story that readers have become used to (and believe me, there have been doozies). Especially with the political climate we’re currently in, I’m happy that a story like My Girlfriend’s Child exists.
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And for Japan to release a story like this, which is very rare, is creating quite an impact.
My Girlfriend’s Child centers on a teenage couple, Sachi and Takara. They are your typical high school couple. When Sachi discovers that she is exhibiting pregnancy symptoms, she is worried not only about how Takara will handle the news, but how their families will receive it. The first volume tackles the emotion and realization when such a change occurs. Sachi begins to consider her options, and with beautiful artwork and expression, as the realization of her pregnancy hits her and Takara, important conversations are had. In volume two, things get very intense when the parents become aware of Sachi’s pregnancy.
As Sachi and Takara tell their mothers, we see viewpoints that couldn’t be more different, and in some cases, infuriating.
While one mother supports their child in whatever decision is made, the other demands that they break up. I won’t give away which mother says what, but it is a very intense scene and very real, as I’m sure many families have gone through something like this. There are teen couples who have decided to weigh their options, such as raise the child, put it up for adoption, or abort the pregnancy. There are other horrible situations where the teen mother is abandoned to handle the pregnancy on her own. It does happen. My Girlfriend’s Child doesn’t vilify any of the options and handles this story with such wonderful care. It’s a pro-choice story so far and provides options and resources for those who are going through something like this. It’s a very realistic story that I hope starts honest and empathetic conversations.
Two warnings I should mention that are in volume one are a brief, non-graphic sex scene between our two teens, and a dead cat being used as a metaphor in regards to Sachi’s dilemma. However, I feel that My Girlfriend’s Child is too important to ignore and will help readers in similar situations feel as though they are not alone and they are being seen.
Filed under: Graphic Novels, Manga, Reviews, Young Adult
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.
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