Sand Chronicles, Vol. 1

砂時計 [Sunadokei] #1

by Hinako Ashihara

After her parents get divorced, Ann Uekusa and her mother move from Tokyo to rural Shimane. Accustomed to the anonymity of city living, Ann can't get used to the almost overbearing kindness of the people in her mother's hometown. But when personal tragedy strikes, Ann discovers how much she needs that kindness.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Young Adult, Comics, Slice Of Life

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Pseudonym of Ritsuko Matsumoto, Japanese manga artist.

Debut with "Sono Hanashi okotowari shimasu" in 1994 on Bessatsu Shoujo Comics.

Japanese name: 芦原妃名子

Reviews

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sand Chronicles took me surprise. I was expecting a sweet, light, maybe even shallow romance. And it wasn't. Oh, the romance itself is sweet enough. This is not instalove, thank goodness. It's a first romance that grows over time between friends. There's also surprising depth to Ann's personal life, with a mother struggling with (undiagnosed in the book, but really quite obvious) depression and Ann building a second family of friends. There's a lot to identify with here, and the characters are realistically and sympathetically written. Two minor issues for me: there's a little too much girl-smacking-boy-because-he's-offended-her for my taste, and the plot in this volume was a little bit thin. Still, I enjoyed the writing and the characters enough to continue with the series.

[G_occasionally_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't mind me while I go cry in a corner.
Is this a lighthearted romance? Absolutely not. This first volume left me feeling depressed. I want to ugly cry.

The volume tells Ann's story from when she was 12 to 15(ish). It starts with her moving with her mom from Tokyo to the tiny town of Shimane. The chapters chronicle Ann's challenges to adjust to rural, frozen life, her mother's suicide, her teenage insecurities, and her first love and primary source of comfort.



If you are looking for me, I'll be watching videos of cats knocking over Christmas trees for the next three hours to cheer up.

TW: divorce, suicide [the mangaka committed suicide as well, so this really hits hard], depression.

[Merb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is one of my favourites of all time. It is honestly a part of my heart and soul. I randomly just re-read this first volume and it took me right back. I will always cherish this story and everything it makes me feel.

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This manga has such a nostalgic feel to it...

The title, "Sand Chronicles" refers to the sand in an hourglass and how you can't go back in time. An interesting concept.

Most of the time I have a tendency to complain about shoujo manga because most that are "realistic fiction" fall in a handful of categories (sport with romance, high school romance, "which guy should I choose?", etc.). This one is different, or at least from what I can tell from Volume 1. This one is down right depressing at times. And so far, nothing all that superficial ("Oh no! My boyfriend left me! I can't live!").

The main character, Ann, moves with her mother to a small village in the middle of nowhere after her parents divorce. The story revolves around Ann dealing with the change of scenery as well as family problems and her feelings not just for boys (*cough*most Shoujo I've seen*cough cough*) but for all her experiences. She's the kind of character who could leap off the page any moment and become a real girl.

It's amazing that this is the same mangaka who brought us "Forbidden Dance." Ashihara has grown so much as an artist and storyteller. I look forward to reading more of this series.

[Saif Al-Taee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Emotional Roller coaster!

This manga series is upon one of the best that have ever been drawn. The story is so realistic to the point where you wonder if whats going on is going to happen to you. This is a story about a girl who falls in love with a boy, then the boy falls in love and then they think they will fall in love forever but..... *SPOILERS*

All I have to say is that this manga has LOVE, BETRAYAL, ADULT-STUFF, and DRAMATIC DRAMA!!

and I am not surprised that the author has won the 50th Shogakukan Manga Award for this manga and that this manga was labeled as one of the best teenage manga by the American library association (read in wikipedia)

[Zen Cho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slice of life manga about Ann, a 12-year-old girl who moves from Tokyo to her mother's tiny hometown after her parents' divorce. The mangaka says she wants to trace the changes in the characters' lives and personalities as they grow up. I really like this -- the tone is very sweet and gentle, Ann is strong-willed and hot-headed but not sort of implausibly naive the way many manga heroines are, and I like all the main characters.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/pQREVpbRfpY

"You shouldn't break something that's important to you. Don't ever try to erase your most important feelings, okay?"

What an emotional reading journey this was!

I laughed so much, but I also wanted to cry quite a bit, which I wasn't expecting this early on in the series. LOL!

I'm sure that will continue, but it's interesting that this first volume really felt like it was capturing one part of Ann's life. I'm not sure if we see her grow into an adult as the series goes on, but it felt like a special feeling when reading this.

Ann's character was SO much fun to read about, especially with this story opening up with her beating up a boy. LOL! I didn't see that coming and really loved the playfulness that she and Daigo had, but also how he cared for her and was there for her.

And honestly not just him, but her other two friends too! They didn't have as much page time, but there is a strong thread of friendship and I hope that continues to the very end!

Overall, a very touching and fun volume! Eagerly looking forward to reading more!

"Nothing lasts forever. That's why every single moment of life is special."

[Alison (AlisonCanRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a string of manga series lately that focus on the embarrassing, silly, humorous side of love. Unfortunately, most of the attempts at being funny come off as stupid to me. Perhaps it's a problem with translation or perhaps it's just that I don't appreciate the series' sense of humor. Either way, Sand Chronicles is a welcome change from the stupid funny manga I've read recently.

The first volume of Sand Chronicles starts when Ann is 12 years old and moves with her mother from Tokyo to the small town where her mother grew up. Ann is lonely and angry about moving. Her mother is miserable - seriously depressed. Ann's strict, over-bearing grandmother only makes things worse. Not too long after they arrive, Ann's mother kills herself.

Ann is of course devastated at her mother's death. But slowly she finds a group of steadfast friends and a place in this rural community. Her best friend is Daigo. She's also friends with Fuji and Shika, two kids from a wealthy family.

The volume advances two years to the point when Ann is 14 years old. Her friendship with Daigo is on the verge of something more. Both Ann and Daigo are just discovering it. But of course, there are those "mean girls" who want to thwart Ann's chance for happiness.

My only complaint about this volume was that I often had difficulty telling the characters apart, particularly the boys Daigo and Fuji. At this point, I'm not too upset about that, because it often takes me a few volumes to grow comfortable with the characters in a manga series.

I loved the emotion in this book. It felt real. Even the attempts at humor or the various troubles Ann got herself into brought out emotional reactions from me as opposed to rolling my eyes at one farce after another. The first volume is a heartfelt, serious beginning to what I think will be a wonderful tale of friendship and love.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her parents divorce, Ann moves back to her mother's hometown. Rural Shimane is a lot different to busy Tokyo and at first Ann struggles with the lack of anonymity in the small town.

There was so much emotion to this manga and I was surprised at how deeply it made me feel. Ann's mother struggles with depression - her over-bearing mother and the fact she never wanted to return to Simane only makes this worse. Not long after moving, Anna's mother kills herself. After this tragedy, the story advances until Ann is 14 years old. As Ann grows up, she struggles with grief and more common teenage issues of self-image.

The sadness and heartbreak of this story was counter-balanced with the other characters' kindness and warm-heartedness. Ann forms a strong friendship with a neighbourhood boy, Daigo, which verges on becoming something more. Meanwhile, she also starts getting closer to another boy, Fuji. (At the moment, I'm totally team Fuji haha) 

This story really pulls at the heartstrings. I loved the characters and their interactions; they leapt of the page. The only issue I had was it was sometimes hard telling different characters apart. I suppose the black-and-white drawings make this more difficult.

After reading this first volume, I really want to continue with the rest of the story, as the strong themes of friendship, grief and growing up really appeal to me.

[~Cyanide Latte~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a surprise! I don't know what I had initially been expecting when I looked up this title and wanted to start the series, but it absolutely has won my respect from right out the gate with its heavy, hard-hitting themes and the exploration of growth while enduring tragedy. This was a Shoujo Beat title I've heard about in the past, and I'm so happy to have finally picked up a copy of the first volume and gotten started.

At present, I'm not sure how I feel about the growing love triangle (and yes, it certainly seems like there's going to be one,) but I am absolutely enjoying the story otherwise, and I can't wait to continue reading more! Better analysis in the future for this, I promise.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I liked this more when I first started reading it I think. But it was getting better toward the end. I am curious how all this is working toward a flashback from the first couple pages and moves quickly, spanning a couple years. I felt the cover is a bit misleading. At least for this first volume. It reads more of a tragedy than anything! I want to see the characters fleshed out more! I don't get the relationship start between Ann and Daigo. Her attraction to him comes from nowhere that we can see. But Fuji I felt has sparked the bigger interest for me. Art is decent. Lots of focus on eye expressions.

[Pennin · Rating 4 out of 5]

older mangas just hit different don't they.

[Enia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review untuk Vol. 1-10 (End)

"Manusia bila memiliki satu saja harapan, dia engga akan memilih untuk mati."

"Bukannya pemikiran untuk menolong seseorang awalnya sebuah keangkuhan? Semua orang ngga sehebat itu."

"Apa anda pernah merasa ingin kembali saat itu lagi?"
"Bukannya ngga pernah merasa seperti itu... tapi aku juga ngga membenci diriku yang sekarang. Kalau umur bertambah... kenangan juga akan bertambah, kan? Diri kita yang sekarang jadi seperti ini karena kenangan yang ini, yang itu, dan yang sebelumnya, kan? Sayang sekali kalau salah satu harus hilang."
"Menangis, marah dan tertawa. Sesuatu yang kita sayang dan menyayangi kita. Diriku yang sekarang jadi seperti ini karena kenangan yang ini, yang itu dan sebelumnya. Kalau berpikir seperti itu aku jadi sangat mencintai diriku sendiri."

"Aku mau memberitahumu kata-kata yang aku suka ya. "Tepat", "Tidak Berubah", dan "My Pace". Pada saat sesulit apapun bila kita tetap tenang pada akhirnya kita akan menemukan jalan keluarnya. Dan sangkar burung yang terihat sekokoh apapun di luar dugaan pintunya tidak terkunci. ... In or Out? Semuanya terserah padamu."

Review lengkap mungin akan menyusul... kalau saya ingat haha. Pokoknya manga ini bagus dan mendalami kisah hidup remaja perempuan hingga dewasa dan juga terutama tentang depresi. Sangat worth it untuk dibaca.

[Rella · Rating 4 out of 5]

1- (12 años) Seré mala persona.
¿Cómo puede dejar a la niña de 12 años con los abuelos? Ella decidió suici-, y fue egoísta con su hija y sus padres adultos mayores (que aun están enteros).
Seré grosera; pero fue horrible de su parte solo tirarlo todo y como le faltaba aun la responsabilidad de la hija, pues que la eduquen mis papás.

Conoce a Daigo su vecino que quería atrapar un conejo para comérselo. Ann lo ayuda por que quería que fuese su mascota, y al darse cuenta que era la cena, golpea al chico. Este no le comenta a nadie lo ocurrido porque una chica le golpeó ^^

La mamá consigue un trabajo en una posada y Ann le dice 'sí, ambas trabajaremos muy duro, tu en tu trabajo y yo en la escuela'. Pero la señora colapsa otra vez (en la ciudad, en su trabajo pasado le pasó también). ¡Y regañan a la niña porque no le puede decir eso a la madre!
Discúlpenme. Yo se que los niños son inteligentes. Pero exigían de ella como si ella estuviera encargada de la salud de la madre. ¡No es justo! ¡Es una niña de 12 años! Si bien no me queda claro si la madre colapsaba porque se enfocaba demasiado en el trabajo, sobre exigiéndose más de lo que le pedían o tenía fragíl salud; eso igual no es culpa de la niña. Ella no controla lo que la mamá decida hacer o (en el caso de fragilidad del cuerpo de la madre) lo que el cuerpo decida no trabajar.

Ann se siente culpable de lo que le pasó a su mamá y decide buscar trabajo para ayudarla. 12 AÑOS Y YA ESTA CARGANDO ESE PESO. Consigue uno con Daigo en la casa de la familia rica del pueblo limpiándo unos platos (eran un revergo porque saber qué para qué reunión eran). Y conocen a los hijos de esa familia, Fuji y Shika. (Y uno mayor que fue grosero con Ann por chocar con él en el pasillo. perro).

La madre de Ann, desde su juventud quería largarse de aquel pueblito. Como era una niña sesible y frágil, su madre era aún más estricta por eso (imagino que para que sea fuerte, fuera del confort del hogar). Pero su madre le impidió estudiar en Tokyo y cuando tuvo oportunidad de irse por casamiento, lo hizo. Tuvo una hija, pasaron 12 años y tras el divorcio, regresa con sus padres al pueblo.
Resulta que el hombre le fue mal en los negocios, entró en deudas y las abandonó.
Según la reflección del capítulo, matarse era el plan que tenia la madre desde que regresó del pueblo.

Ann, enojada por la situación, en el funeral arma un escándalo y su abuela la consuela. Luego ella hace lo mismo con la abue porque la oyó llorar. Ann no salía de su cuarto por días, aunque la visitaran sus amigos y la abue la regañaba, aun así le preparaba la comida y se la dejaba para que comiese, preocupándose por su nieta. Ann la consuela cuando se culpa de la muerte de su hija, se lamenta por ser tan dura con ella, y la nieta le dice que no es cierto y que la madre fue débil. Abuela se pregunta de dónde tiene una nieta tan fuerte, Ann le contesta que es como ella.

Además el Daigo, su amigo le consigue un nuevo reloj de arena (se le rompió cuando anunciaron que le encontraron a la mamá muerta en el acantilado; el cual se lo dió la mamá cuando visitaron el reloj de arena más grande, que señala un año), pero no pudo dárselo en persona por que no podía verle los ojos. Mando al Fuji a hacerle el recado. Ann lo confronta y él le promete estar juntos siempre.

2 - (14 años) Chamaca miada
Como han crecido más, Ann le da pena con Daigo porque él esta más alto y guapo. Además de gustar de él tras la promesa.
Las familias de ambos son buenos amigos (madres de ambos eran amigas) y le mandan a ella que le entrege el almuerzo que lo olvidó. Y ella quería irse con él a la escuela pero él ya no estaba, han estado sin verse tanto.

Daigo esta en el club de judo, y al llegar una chamaca miada, Ayumu, le busca pelea a nuestra prota. Básicamente porque gusta de Daigo y siente que ella es mejor opción para él. Le logra arrebatar el almuerzo para entregárselo al chico, despistando a Ann por molestarle que es plana y ella pues, ya se le han desarrollado. (También insinua que por eso Daigo gustará más de ella o algo así).
Pero el chico, ve a su amiga en el piso y va a hablar con ella. Ann le responde la mala cara a la chamaca miada, y Daigo le agarra la cara 'hey te estoy hablando'.

Planean ir todos a un campamento en otro lugar donde harán una competencia donde el ganador consigue un playstation. Ann quiere aprovechar ese tiempo para estar con Daigo.
Lastimosamente la chamaca es una metiche, grosera y pendeja todo el tiempo.
Habla con su amiga que se agarrará a Daigo para ella, Ann las escucha y luego le dice que lo conseguirá con el traje de baño.
Pues... la niña de 14 aprovecha que tiene el pecho desarrollado para ir tras un chico. Inmadura. Los chicos la ven y paran ojo. Daigo se apena. Y se hace la pobrecita y pone pose para que se le... vean mejor.
Ann sale del agua, insegura de su pecho. Shika se acerca (no nadó por la regla) y platican que desde que su mamá se mató, ya no menstrúa. Y que se siente sin confianza y rota. La amiga le dice que tal vez es estrés pero platique con un adulto, aka la abuela.

Luego es la carrera. La miada aprovecha a empujarla e irse. Ann se desanima y se rinde. Camina por ahí y encuentra un acantilado, ahí se encuentra a Fuji. Platican que no debió forzarlo a llegar. Pero él ni ahí ni en casa quiere estar.
Cuando vienen los truenos y los mandan a dormir en la cabaña, Fuji recuerda sus traumas.
Su mamá trae hombres jóvenes por las noches y hay sospechas y rumores que él no sea del marido.
Se encuentra con Ann, quien sin saber, alivia sus preocupaciones diciéndole sus malos recuerdos con los truenos: 4to grado, con su crush, tronó el cielo y él la empujó y se fue. ella decidió golpearlo y la regañaron.
Después que alivie la lluvia, Fuji la lleva afuera a ver las luciérnagas. Ann hace una comparación de la corta vida de los insectos y la belleza de su luz, con su propia madre. Decide que no hay tiempo para ponerse triste, que todos los momentos son especiales.
Entonces en la noche refleciona sobre ello, con el reloj de arena (recuerdo de madre y que Daigo le regalo, que tiene conexión a 2 personas importantes en su vida).
Para su mala fortuna, una miada la estaba viendo enojada.

Como aún truena, los mandan a la cabaña otra vez. Ann traía un Uno para jugar pero no lo encuentra en su mochila. La chamaca le dice que esta en otro bolsillo, que le había registrado para encontrar su "tesoro", y para que lo "recupere" deberá ir a hacer la busqueda del tesoro afuera (la actividad cancelada por la lluvia). Es más, se burla de ella que debe apurarse si no quiere que las pistas se arruinen con la lluvia.
No se como, pero lo agradezco, Ann le hace una llave y la tira, lléndose.

Cuando llega a la pista 4, Ann se cae por el acantilado donde se había encontrado con Fuji antes.

Daigo se preocupa y le dice al profesor. Que Ann desapareció y es peligroso, que llamen a la poli.
Él acusa a la chamaca por que alguien vio que habló con Ann antes que desapareciera.
Lo que pasa, es que LA PENDEJA ESTA. TENIA EL DICHOSO RELOJ DE ARENA. ENTONCES MANDÓ A ANN A LA LOCA POR NADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

Daigo se da cuenta, y le pregunta por qué lo tiene. La miada se excusa que fue una broma y se lo iba a devolver, cuando se rindiera y regresara.
No es hasta esta excusa que Daigo deja de estar tranquilo y enojado le reclama que eso no fue lo que le preguntó (+ golpeó la pared, pero shhhh).

Afortunadamente, Ann cayó a salvo a una altura cercana. Daigo, Fuji y no se quien, supongo profes van a buscarla en la tormenta. Fuji es quien la ve primero, se congela al Ann decirle que no se acerque. Daigo va sin dudar. Ve la sangre y pide que llamen a la ambulancia.

¡Resulta que señora regla apareció!

Y Ann no esta tan golpeada. Los chicos se apenan y guardan el secreto.

Daigo hace un chiste para romper la tensión y Ann le patea.

La miada llorando se disculpa y le devuelve el reloj de arena. (No se porqué permitieron esto. Normal fuese si los chicos vana a buscar a la amiga perdida, el reloj se lo pudieron dar a la AMIGA DE ANN, Shika. Aunque para la escritura conecte que la miada es la culpable, vos como amiga de Ann, antes de saber que Ann esta bien- no nisiquiera eso- sabes que ellas nunca se han llevado bien, ningún amigo permitiría que algo precioso de Ann regresara a las garras de alguien que es irrespetuosa con Ann Y SE LO ROBÓ, registrando sus cosas.)
Pero agradezco que no hubiera un jiji jaja se mi amiga, te perdono de parte de Ann.

En el tren regreso a casa, Daigo y Ann platican que ella lo estaba evitando. Se confiesan que se estaban percatando del otro y dicen sus sentimientos. Su primer beso.
Fuji los ve dormidos juntos y se va.

[Kaylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

SECOND REVIEW (my first review is after the end of this one):
5 Stars!

anyway, i had to...

I legit love this series, although, sadly, I've never finished it. This is my second time reading this book this year. I was browsing through the library section and found this book again (since I needed some mangas to help me catch up on my reading challenge).

Uggh, why did I not finish this series??? Back in March when I first read it, my rating was 4.5 stars. Now it is 5! Maybe because I understood more of what happened since the first time I read it, I might have not catched certain details in the book or something, I DUNNO. All that I know is that this book is so depressing, yet happy and cliche and everything I love in a manga.

Aspects I loved:
-Daigo and Ann's relationship
-Fuji's obvious jealousy towards Ann and Daigo (don't we all love a good and cliche love triangle?)
-The depressing and deep part of this book (I love mangas that are deep and heartwarming like -Orange that focus on something that can happen to anyone in the real world, yet there's also some cute shoujoness combined together with a cute and fluffy romance on the side)
-I tend to like things that are sad... Ann's mother commits suicide (spoiler) and this impacts Ann's life so hard (that she even loses her period for a year and half...).
The cuteness and hilariousness of it all.
-The bunny scene in the beginning (ya know what I'm talking about, it was so adorable. It really kindled Ann and Daigo's friendship)
-The ending scene with Ann on the cliff... Of course Daigo and Fuji were the ones there and thought she was dying... (you also know what I mean -:-:)
-When Daigo and Ann first kissed... (and when Fuji happened to suddenly see it... hehehehehe)

Ahhh, everything about this manga makes me happy!! I would definitely reread it in the future. I'm excited to reread the following books as well as finishing the series.


FIRST REVIEW:
4.5 stars

SO GOOD!!!

This book took me by surprise. It was the romance manga I was waiting for!!! I didn’t expect it to be so amazing and the romance was so cute and AHHH I JUST LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!

The thing that first had me a little surprised was that the characters (Ann and Daigo and Fuji) were really young, only 12. I was like, how is there going to be a romance then? Don’t worry, they grow up, but only to age 14 in the first book. Ehh... I think that the TRUE lOve should start at 16 in these type of romance cliche books (don’t worry i love cliche romance cheesy etc. in mangas!).

I DON’T KNOW WHO TO SHIP ANN WITH! Daigo or Fuji? Who will she end up with, i dunno! Although Fuji doesn’t really express his emotions, I can tell that he definitely likes Ann!

I felt really bad for Ann’s mother. Her depression was really deep. It was so sad when Ann found out she was dead. Mental illness is a big problem that we need to deal with!

i can’t wait to read the next book!!! please tell me there are thousands and thousands of volumes and this will never end.

[Valérie Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Après le triste décès de la mangaka Ashihara Hinako, je me suis plongée dans sa série Le Sablier, sa plus connue en français, publiée en 10 tomes chez Kana (et toujours disponible à l'achat). C'était une façon pour moi de rester un peu plus longtemps en sa compagnie, de lui porter hommage.

Le Sablier a été publié il y a un peu plus de 20 ans, c'est une série qui débute en coup de poing, par plusieurs événements tragiques dans le premier tome. La petite An, alors âgée de 12 ans, restera marquée. Et les tomes 2 à 8 explorent les 14 années qui suivent, à travers sa romance avec Daigo, mais surtout l'immense douleur qu'elle porte et qui nuit à toutes ses relations humaines.

Étonnamment, c'est une romance qui parle beaucoup de santé mentale, sans que personne ne le dise à voix haute. Maintenant, ça reste un sujet peu évoqué au Japon, et ce l'était encore plus il y a 20 ans, on le voit dans les jugements des personnages ("sa mère a fréquenté un psychiatre, il paraît"). C'est donc un récit à vif, rempli d'émotions.

La mangaka écrit, en finale du tome 8: "Certains agissements et certains traits de caractère d'An sont ceux qu'on attribue en général à la rivale du personnage principal plutôt qu'au personnage principal lui-même. Alors je crois que certains lecteurs ne l'aiment vraiment pas." Ashihara Hinako réussit pourtant, à travers les parcours de ses personnages, à les montrer s'écouter, évoluer et guérir. C'est une très belle histoire d'humanité que Le Sablier, et je comprends que cela ait abouti à deux adaptations au Japon (une série et un film).

Les tomes 9 et 10 sont des histoires extra, tout aussi intéressantes à lire, et qui nous permettent de comprendre un peu le passé et l'avenir.

[bow down to our ace king victor vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5!

so i may have shed some tears😕😕. which was a problem bc i was reading this thru music class which frankly isn’t,,,a good time to be crying lol!! (thus i had to stop after the announcement of the moms death and table it for a more appropriate time and place jajsjs). this volume really struck a chord in me, mainly bc i found so many of the themes presented relatable. i love ann and daigo’s friendship in the beginning (minus the hitting which ig was supposed to be an attempt at light humor ? idk), and i want to see more of the group hanging out w/ each other TT. overall, this was such a good/solid first volume!! i rlly like our main cast ^^ speaking of the romance drama, i would have liked more focus on the friendship throughout the years first BUT i am fond of both LI’s so :,,,) RIP. (but that just goes to show how lovable these characs are).

thoughts and other stuff:
-when ann was on the mountain and thought of her mother’s death taking place in a similar environment :((. i rlly liked some of the parallels shown. also the period happening right then and there relieved the tension and was good comic relief XD
-in future volumes, i hope to see what other impacts her mother’s death had on her. so far, everything is presented subtly which i do appreciate but hopefully other dramas won’t overpower this balance (?)

[Sophia F · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid manga reader, I found this story quite impressive, even though it can be considered as a realistic fiction story. The cute touch in the beginning when Ann (the MC) meets Daigo, (her boyfriend, also another MC) really brought the beginning together. The way the romance slowly builds up, and complications, (in other words Ayumi Narasaki) get in the way really keeps the story interesting, and also allows readers to really connect with the characters.
Although the storyline is great, the only thing that really bothered me was that Ann's mother Miwako's lips. Part of the time she appeared she was fine, and she actually was really pretty, but then majority of all the other times we saw her, her mouth was a thick, flat line. I really don't know why, but this bothered me so much! I love how there are the romance/jealousy issues, but also many family issues going on throughout the story.
If there is an anime of this series, I am definitely watching it!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why this hit me so hard in the feels! Anna's mother's marriage to her father crumbled and Anna and her mother return to her hometown and are living with the grandparents who are not necessarily happy with the arrangement. They know Anna's mom is weak and Anna knows this as well.

As Anna gets to know her extended family and makes a wish at the shrine about falling in love with Daigo, befriending kids that she didn't think she would, she's also realizing her internal strengths that are much more opposite her mother but much more similar to her grandmother and they bond SPOILER .

There's an emotional beauty to the characters and story as well as the setting that makes me comforted and wish only for the best for Anna.

[Starbubbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

i would probably describe this series as melancholy. no, it's not dark, but it most certainly has depressed overtones that can't be ignored, even in the lighter moments. though this book allows you to enjoy the "happy" moments and chuckle a little bit.

the artwork kind of reminds me of kare first love. you know, soft, mushy lines, not heavy in details, seems to be bright. though in kare first love, they all look a little fat to me, and in sand chronicles, you can tell that everyone is skinny.

the literary quality is spectacular. well, i guess later it'll shine as true. anywho- how the characters grieve, grow to like each other, and interact with other people set a basis for growth for the rest of the series. it's done really well.

[marialena_ios · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really heartwarming first volume of a drama series that introduces Ann, a 12 year old girl who after her parents' divorce, she moves from Tokyo, to her mother's countryside village. This change is not only difficult for Ann but also for her mother Miwako as she always wanted to get away from this place and live happily in Tokyo. In this volume we see how mother and daughter adapt to this change of environment and their daily lives.

[owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

so romantic

[Mile Aguayo]

es el primer manga que leo asi completo,completo y bueno, me ha encantado! espero seguir con los siguientes :)

[a · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this was so good 😭😭😭😭😭

[Alafair · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute

[Larosenoire299 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Câu chuyện về tình yêu, tuổi trẻ, sự lựa chọn của mỗi người tại mỗi thời điểm khác nhau.
May mà cuối cùng nam nữ chính vẫn về với nhau.
Người có tình rồi sẽ thành quyến thuộc.

[cami]

Sooo good already why havent i heard abt this before.

[Alex2739]

WILL THIS HAVE A SAD ENDING???? I’m not prepared for this Τ^Τ

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for the whole series

This story follows Ann and Daigo as they navigate through life and their relationship. Will the hardships be too much for them to overcome or will they be able to face the future together?

I really really liked this story. While the romance is the focus of this manga, the heart of it is the characters' growth. I loved Daigo and watching as Ann battled depression struck a deep chord in me. My only reason for rating it down was that I wish the ending would have been a little more fleshed out, and the fact that a character literally married their cousin. The author literally could have picked anyone else and still chose to use a cousin. Ew, no thanks.

Overall, I loved this series and immediately went online to try and buy it to add to my shelves for future re-reads!