Shugo Chara!, Vol. 2: Friends in Need

しゅごキャラ！/ Shugokyara! #2

by Peach-Pit

しゅごキャラ持ちたちのグループ、聖夜学園小のガーディアンの一員になった日奈森（ひなもり）あむ。初仕事は、心にトラブルを抱えた持ち主から生まれる、×（バツ）たまを封印する「×たま狩り」。その最中、突然あむが変身！　しゅごキャラの力を120％引き出す「キャラなり」しちゃった。自分の変化に戸惑いながらも、ネガティブな心の持ち主を救うため、しゅごキャラたちとともに戦うぞ！！　そんなとき、また謎のしゅごたま「エンブリオ」を狙うイースター社のヤツらがあらわれて！？

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Comics, Young Adult

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 2007

About the author

Peach-Pit (ピーチ・ピット Pīchi Pitto) is a female manga artist duo in Japan, made up of Banri Sendo (千道 万里 Sendō Banri) and Shibuko Ebara (えばら 渋子 Ebara Shibuko). Their group name derives from the diner hangout Peach-Pit from the TV show Beverly Hills, 90210. Although both have similar styles, with some artwork it is possible to identify which artist drew it. Both are known for their bishōjo styled works. As noted in their books, they are both Geminis and have "Almost flushed our phones down the toilet...twice."

The two of them grew up together and went to the same elementary school and have been best friends ever since. Both started as doujinshi manga artists, but not as Peach-Pit. Then they were scouted by Dengeki Comic Gao!. In 2008, one of their manga, Shugo Chara!, was awarded the Kodansha Manga Award for best children's manga. Shugo Chara was also turned later into an Anime television series.

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read 2022: This was so much fun~ The second volume and things are getting more and more exciting! We learn about X-eggs, about dreams (and keep on dreaming guys you don't want to lose your hopes and especially not your precious egg), we see new peeps with Easter, there are some scenes with Ikuto x Amu (she is what? 12? And he is 17? Maybe even 18? I know he says he will wait for her and won't do stuff, some of the stuff here is pretty eh in my eyes), and there are scary/nervous moments when someone steals her eggs. I also love that Ikuto has the key and Amu has the lock. I cannot wait for that moment when these items get together.

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The excitement is going up, we have new characters (the evil teacher makes an appearance), and new transformations! I definitely loved that Amu can transform, unlike her friends who can only do a small bit of transformation. I loved Amu’s reaction to the fact she could transform, of course that is her reaction. :P

We also have the obligatory beach chapter/episode. I have to say I didn’t like the grandpa. I found him mean. Yes, the kids came home late, but do you need to punish them like this? *sighs*

Ikuto x Amu? Still shipping, shipping so much!

There are also some parts with our prince, but eh, again, I don’t ship them. I found him especially rude when he told Amu that. Come on, you don’t say that to a girl.
We find out several things near the end (though it wasn’t a surprise for me) and the volume ends on an exciting cliffhanger!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com

[christina ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

not bad, it feels slower paced than i would like, even with me speed reading through everything

i still don't like the choices made with their ages and the romantic plots, but i've decided to push through despite that. i'll probably refrain from mentioning it again in the future volumes so i don't become too repetitive.

[Holly Letson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Guardians are off to the beach to compete in the sand art competition. But, it is not without consequences, when they return late to Kukai's grandfather's place. He does issue them punishment. There sand castle turns out amazing, showcasing things about each Guardian's style, however they do not win the contest.

Later, Yaya gets the main part in a recital her ballet class is giving. But, only because the main ballerina hurts herself, causing herself to create an X-egg from her failed dreams. Amu cleanses the X-egg, returning the ballerina to herself. And, Yaya's performance goes great, considering she made 9 mistakes.

Sadly, Nikaidou-Sensei, who is not really a teacher, steals Amu's Guardian eggs and runs off with them, all in his plan to help Easter. This leads to many adventures in this volume and the next.

Ikuto reveals to Amu that his Dumpty Key is meant to unlock her Humpty Lock, but that the hole is blocked right now, so that it cannot do so.

[Lesedelfin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nach einem zuckersüßen und quierligen Auftakt in Band eins, war ich sehr von Shugo Chara! angetan. Die beiden Mangaka hinter PEACH-PIT haben eine Geschichte durch Zeichnungen zum Leben erweckt, die mir großen Spaß gemacht hat und mit der sich viele Mädchen ab zwölf Jahren identifizieren können: Wer bin ich eigentlich und wie kann ich jemand anderes, besseres werden?
Amu träumt davon aufgeschlossener zu werden, dabei ist sie an ihrer Schule recht beliebt. Eines Morgens findet sie drei Eier in ihrem Bett und schnell stellt sich heraus, dass hinter diesen Eiern jeweils ein Ich von Amu versteckt ist, was darauf wartet schlüpfen zu können.

Im ersten Band gab es einen Einblick was Shugo Charas sind und was sie bewirken können - und dann sind sie noch so niedlich gezeichnet! Einfach zum verlieben :D
Amu hingegen hat ein paar Schwierigkeiten das alles zu verstehen und stößt ihren kleinen Schutzgeistern ein paar Mal vor den Kopf, die ihr predigen sich selbst mal etwas mehr zuzutrauen. Ran (Sport Chara), Miki (Kunst Chara) und Su (Haushalt Chara) sind für verschiedene Fähigkeiten zuständig, die man sich in einem Kampf kaum vorstellen kann, obwohl sich die Geschichte zu etwas hinentwickelt, was auf Kampf und Verteidigung hinauszulaufen scheint.

Leider hat die Story aber auch etwas vorhersehbares, was nicht wirklich geheimnisvoll verpackt wird. Das Klischee der zwei Jungs, die eine zentrale Rolle einnehmen und auf unterschiedlichen Seiten stehen, beide aber ihren ganz eigenen Reiz für die Hauptperson haben, kommt auch nur langsam ins Rollen.
Und dennoch kommt die Spannung nicht zu kurz, denn es gibt nicht nur süße Shugo Charas, sondern auch X-Charas, die sich in traurige Herzen einnisten und für Chaos und Verwüstungen sorgen. Amu's neue Aufgabe ist es, diese X-Eier zu finden und unschädlich zu machen, was mit ein paar Abenteuern verknüpft ist und die Entdeckungslust der Mangareihe anheizen.

Kurzes Fazit: Im zweiten Band lernt man mehr über die X-Eier und es schleichen sich Verknüpfungen zwischen manchen Protagonisten ein. Die Zeichnungen sind der Hammer, die Story noch ein wenig oberflächlich, aber mit spannendem Unterton.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best quote:

"But you're an adult. You still have dreams?"
In response to said adult sharing their dream.

Here we have some chibi minions purposed with helping you become more authentically yourself. Your "dream", being so abstract, it's just a side quest. A cute story to make you reflect on what your guardian characters might look and be like. What are the characteristics that you admire and wish you had more of? If who you wanted to be could hatch out of an egg, what would they be like?

In short: Fun with opportunities to introspect.

[Soobie is expired · Rating 2 out of 5]

L'ho trovato un po' confuso rispetto al primo numero. E, avendolo letto dopo qualche giorno, già mi ero dimenticata che aspetto avessero tutti i personaggi. Il che non ha fatto altro che aumentare la confusione.

La storia devia un po' dalla trama principale, tanto che tutti quanti sono al mare a partecipare a una gara di castelli di sabbia.

Solo da metà in poi ci si riprende un po' e si introduce il nemico.

[Persy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"At the beginning of the story the main character is always missing something. It's only a happy ending on the last page right? If the princess had everything from the beginning, there wouldn't be a story."

BE STILL MY BEATING HEART. How is this manga so woke? Seriously. Identity issues, the frightening aspect of change, and the reality of growing up... everything is examined and personified SO WELL. This is probably the best coming of age manga I've ever read.

[Gateway_to_Wonderland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toisessa osassa ensimmäiseen osaa verrattuna kerronnan tahti hieman rauhoittuu ja varsinainen juoni alkaa kehittyä. Samalla päästään syvemmälle hahmoihin ja itse tapahtumiin. Ehkä tästä siis onkin johonkin 🤔

Katselin myös Goodreadseissä arvosteluja ja suurin osa oli kehuja. Ehkä tälle täytyy antaa aikaa ja päästä paremmin perille tarinasta?

Katsotaan kuinka käy! 😅

Suosittelen näitä kirjoja kaikille, joita fantasia, seikkailut, manga ja koulumaailma kiinnostavat 😊

[A Mysterious Gabe Appears · Rating 4 out of 5]

I literally am buzzing with anticipation to finish reading this series. I have majority of the English volumes! It is so much different from the events of the anime but it doesn’t feel like I’m reading an entirely different series. I’m sure some of those differences have much to do with the passage of time (the last time I watched this series I was very little).

Overall, any fence-sitter who enjoys magical girl manga should love this series.

[Once upon a Dream · Rating 3 out of 5]

Più carino rispetto al primo volume, però la scena tra Amu e Ikuto (?) era abbastanza cringe.. Ricordiamoci che Amu ha 10 anni e lui sicuramente 15/16 e c'è una scena che è veramente imbarazzante e fuori luogo soprattutto visto che la protagonista è una bambina.. 😅
Secondo me dovevano darle almeno 14 anni.

[Live · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second Volume continues as strongly as the first Volume. The characters and art continue to be adorable and the characters continue to steadily grow and change (as is a major theme of the story). On that note I have to say the entire series has a great pacing, the characters' growth feels natural instead of forced and is often accompanied by a motif that is kind of beautiful.

[Melissa]

i remembered reading this right after tokyo mew mew and kamichama karin, and while obviously for a younger audience, this manga holds up SO WELL and is still both pretty and plot-wise the most interesting

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like how the story is developing. Similar in some ways to Tokyo Mew Mew but totally reimagined.

[Sabrina Wannet · Rating 5 out of 5]

yay zoo heerlijk om te lezen

[Katie Y. · Rating 5 out of 5]

my childhood

[Galion Public Library Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by K.M. : "It grabs you at the first page, and makes you pick up the next book at the ending page. I very much like the series. I think that it has a little bit of everything in it."

[Nurul Fadillah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Y

[Marjorieligaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

well i really love this story also the way she talk and the way to express her feelings to the others

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Tabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a little bit of filler in this one but it starts to pick up speed in the end!

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 4 out of 5]

High 4 stars

[Ce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love shugo chara! One of my fave manga series, the art, the characters - it’s all perfect 🥺🤩💓💓

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

[Jasyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

je l’ai lu d’une traite, shugo chara mon anime d’enfance ! trop contente d’avoir pu lire le tome 2 :) toujours aussi bien

[Roxane · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'adore, sauf quand Ikuto le gros creep fait des sous-entendus sexuels à l'héroïne qui est à l'école primaire. 😰

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very fascinating series! It went from being philosophical to very action-filled! I couldn't keep my eyes off of the book!

[Caitlyn Godfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgic read from 2011, and I still love it.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving these volumes so far. :')

[EWM BookClub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book series has a fun take on the magical girl trope. The characters are diverse and interesting and you very quickly become invested in the story.

[Bayli Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book series so much.! It is full of magic and wonder, and the characters are lovable. In this volume, we meet Miki, who is another one of Amu's eggs. She is shy but very artistic and is Amu's artistic side. During Art class, the teacher asked Amu's class to draw the person in front of them, but when Amu tired to draw her classmate, it looked horrible. When Amu started to tell herself she couldn't draw, she heard a small voice that said: " Why don't you change?" "Into a girl that can't draw into one that can?" Then Miki used her powers to help improve Amu's drawing skills, and the picture she made looked terrific.