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The Bottom Line

High school student Ageha is shy and frumpy, while her twin sister Hana is pretty and popular. With help from an unconventional guidance counselor, Ageha's inner beauty starts to shine through. But Ageha's transformation unnerves Hana, who starts to act more like a rival than a relative to her sister.

To Peach Girl readers, Papillon will seem very familiar. The good yet insecure girl vs.

the pretty, manipulative girl plot is back, with only slight twists to differentiate it from its predecessor. But Ueda also gives readers practical advice from real-life counselors to give this trashy teen tale some substance.



Pros

• Juicy, gossipy goodness that will satisfy fans of Ueda's other series, Peach Girl
• Provides practical tips for self-improvement that aren't preachy or "oh duh"
• Expertly executed artwork that tells the story in simple and appealing style
• Captures the insecurities, jealousies and matter-of-fact cruelty of high school girls

Cons

• Ageha's transformation seems almost too rapid, too easy achieved to be really satisfying
• Story structure and female rivalry theme is very, very similar to Peach Girl
• School counselor Hayato seems overly (and inappropriately) friendly with his students
• Papillon's male characters have the same dark/light hair, nice guy / fun guy dichotomy as Peach Girl

Description

• Original Title:Papion: Hana to Cho (Papillon: Flower and Butterfly) (Japan)
• Author & Artist: Miwa Ueda

• Publishers:
  • Del Rey Manga (US)
  • Kodansha (Japan)
• ISBN: 978-0-345-50519-4
• Cover Price: $10.95 US / $12.50 CANADA
• Age Rating:T – Teens Age 13+ for teen romance, mild sexual innuendo
  More about content ratings.
• Manga Genres:
  • Shojo (Girls') Manga
  • Drama
  • Teen / High School Romance
• US Publication Date: October 2008
  Japan Publication Date: January 2007
• Book Description: 192 pages, black and white illustrations
• More Manga by Miwa Ueda:
  • Peach Girl
  • Peach Girl: Change of Heart
  • Peach Girl: Sae's Story

Guide Review - Papillon Volume 1

When DC Comics folded their Minx imprint of graphic novels for girls, there was much consternation about its demise. How could it fail when shojo manga is so popular? There are many theories, but here's mine: Minx stories were too much like an ABC Afterschool Special and not enough like Gossip Girl.

We all know that high school sucks. The lethal mix of puberty, rigid social hierarchies and young adults who are insecure about their looks and social status makes for some of the most miserable moments of the "happiest times of our lives."

When reality sucks, teen readers crave escape in the form of fantasy-laced fables where the boys are cuter, the drama is more exciting, mean girls get their come-uppance and any girl can be transformed into the prettiest girl in school. That's exactly what Ueda gives teen readers in Papillon.

The premise is simple: Two sisters, born twins but raised apart look and act as different as can be. Pretty and popular Hana was raised in the city with her parents. Shy and frumpy Ageha grew up in the country with her grandmother. Now reunited in high school, the twins seem to be sisters in name only, as they act more like rivals than relatives.

Under the guidance of an almost inappropriately friendly guidance counselor, Ageha starts to overcome her lack of self-esteem. But as Ageha's inner beauty starts to shine, Hana's uglier side emerges as she tries to undermine her sister's newfound confidence.

Ueda portrays the casual cruelty of high school girls and wraps it up in a gossipy and glittery package, with characters and a plot that's similar to Peach Girl. It's not innovative, but it's more than fantasy fluff. Ueda weaves in practical (yet not too preachy) advice that teens can use, courtesy of two real-life counselors. Sure, Papillon is trashy fun for teens, but it's also a lot more nutritious than it looks.