Snow Angel Manga Review: Heartwarming Tale of Friendship and Choices

Snow Angel Is a Sweet, Wintry Tale

Snow Angel is a sweet manga that shows childhood friends meeting up again as adults. Muku and Yuto used to play together as kids, but after Mukus father died in a tragic accident, her family moves in with her grandparents. Over time, the two friends lose contact.

Now Muku is 21, still living at her grandparents with her mother and younger sister, and trying to find a new job. She lost her previous job through no fault of her own, and she needs to keep helping out the family. Shes also taking care of her grandfather, who has dementia.

Her one joy seems to be reading books. She feels as if shes drowning at home. She also feels obligated to keep taking care of her family.

During a train ride one day, she helps out a man whos panicking about making a work deadline. Shortly afterward, she sees him again, and it turns out its Yuto, all grown up! Yuto didnt recognize Muku at first because it turns out that back when they played together, Yuto thought Muku was a boy.

Yuto thinks Muku ought to be making her own decisions about her life, instead of bowing to her familys every whim. This puts Muku into a moral quandary, as she has mixed feelings, both wanting to break free but also caring about her family. At the same time, she feels her family environment is toxic. She runs off with Yuto.

The manga takes place in a snowy world, giving a very wintry feel as it shows snowy fields, people playing in the snow, and snow falling from the sky. The story itself also has sort of a soft, quiet atmosphere that goes with the wintry world. The artwork is cute and fitting, with a shojo style. The first volume starts off sweetly, implies it could go in different ways, and offers some food for thought with the struggles Muku experiences with her family.

Story & Art: Haruka Chizu
Publisher: VIZ Media
Translator: Andria McKnight

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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling  Manga Art for Beginners  with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel,  Manga Art for Everyone , and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga , both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.