
The Moon on a Rainy Night, vol. 2 | Review

The Moon on a Rainy Night, vol. 2
Story and art by Kuzushiro
Kodansha, 11/7/23
Age rating: 16+
The Moon on a Rainy Night continues to delight (see review of Volume 1) with its realistic approach towards disabilities and the misconceptions that a majority of afflicted people face. Kanon and Saki continue to navigate their bond in volume two, and with the addition of Kanon’s younger sister, Saki learn that this relationship is going to include some challenges.
In volume two, Saki and Kanon’s friendship is going strong. The girls are opening themselves to each other and to those outside of their friendship. They are being invited to join school clubs, which Kanon is hesitant to do due to her past traumatic experiences related to her hearing disability. When Kanon looks to find a place to have lunch alone, she is discovered by one of her teachers, Miura-sensei. Miura-sensei, who at first is unaware of Kanon being hard of hearing, learns through a conversation with her how to better assist Kanon’s education. The dialogue between the student and teacher was an appropriate scenario that was handled respectfully and with care. It showed Miura-sensei willing to learn outside of his knowledge, and in turn, he encouraged Kanon to join the literature club. Not only does this allow Kanon to be in a club that suits her interests, but it also gives her a place to be herself without issue. In addition, it does help that Miura-sensei leads the club.
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Another storyline that is handled with tough realism is the introduction of Rinne, Kanon’s younger sister. Rinne is very protective of her older sister because of how others have taken advantage of Kanon’s disability and have said horrible things to her thinking she wouldn’t notice. Having witnessed this, Rinne is justifiably suspicious of Saki and lets her know (albeit in a very menacing way that was a bit much), to see if she can scare Saki away. However, just like in the first volume, it is Kanon’s turn to defend Saki. It’s another conversation with perfect dialogue and enough engagement to keep the flow of the story going.
It’s easy to see why The Moon on a Rainy Night is making an impact, as it was most recently named as one of New York Public Library’s Best Books for Teens of 2023. As the girls’ relationship is continuing to flourish, here’s hoping that volume three (to be released February 2024) continues its momentum.
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 Bluesky at @libraryladynyc, and on her review blog, The Library Lady of NYC Reviews.
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