Kitchen Princess

(Volume 2)

Manga by
Natsumi Ando

Story by
Miyuki Kobayashi

Del Rey, May 2007, 202 pp.
ISBN: 0-345-49620-1

Genre: Comics
Subgenre: Manga
Reviewed: 6/4/2007

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Manga Page

Synopsis

Najika Kazami attends the Seika Academy in Tokyo. Her two friends Daichi and Sora, brothers, support her in all she does because they realize what a great cook she is. Akane, a rather snotty, stuck-up student who is also a model and does not like the fact that Najika is friends with Daichi and Sora. Akane does not understand why Najika is in her class, so she suggests that if a professional chef were to admit that Najika has cooking skills, then she will accept her.

Daichi suggests that they have a cooking contest and Akane can use a professional chef to help her. Of course, Najika rocks and wipes the floor with Akane and her profession chef. Daichi and Sora accept Najika to the academy, but Akane never will.

Later, when Najika witnesses Akane at a photo shoot and sees Akane stumble from hunger, Najika makes Akane a healthy meal. You see, Akane has a major problem. She feels that to be pretty and accepted as a model, that she cannot eat . . . anything. Knowing that she must get Akane to eat something, Najika hears that Akane used to love her grandmother's peach pie.

Over and over again, Najika makes peach pies, but none of them are like Akane's grandmothers. She knows that she must make the peach pie just like Akane's grandmother used to make because Akane is now very sick and needs to eat something.

Kitchen Princess: Volume 2 is a manga book drawn by Natsumi Ando and written by Miyuki Kobayashi. This book was translated by Satsuki Yamashito, adapted by Nunzio DeFiloppis & Christina Weir, and Lettered by North Market Street Graphics. This book contains the following Recipes (chapters):

Recipe 6: Najika and Chocolate Macaroons

Recipe 7: Najika and Strawberry Shortcake

Recipe 8: Najika and the Cake of Rice

Recipe 9: Najika and Yogurt Mousse

Recipe 10: Najika and Peach Pie

Side Story: After a Busy Day

Side Story: Kitchen Palace

There is also some special extras in the following sections: A) Honorifics Explained, B) Recipes, C) About the Creator, D) Translation Notes, and E) a Preview of Volume 3, although the preview is in Japanese. The book reads from right to left and back to front, just like a book from Japan. This manga book is intended for readers ages 13 and up.

Review

Kitchen Princess: Volume 2 is another fun book about a young girl's struggle to make it in a highly competitive cooking school in Japan. Najika is a self-conscious student who feels that she just doesn't fit in with all the girls. This is true, but not for the reasons she thinks. Najika is the best darned cook in the school and has yet to realize it. Her friends, Daichi and Sora, know this to be true and are supportive of her in ever decision she makes.

Once again, the stories are fun, but this time also deals with a very serious eating disorder. Some girls feel that they must not eat to be thin and pretty. This is a very unhealthy way to lose weight. If only they realized that eating healthy and exercising is a much better way to go about achieving the results they wants. Still, the book is drawn very well and the story is quick and exciting.

Overall, Kitchen Princess: Volume 2 is an great addition to the previous volume and the recipes in the back of the book look quite delicious. I think I will try out the Cake of Rice. Looks delicious. So, if you are looking for a fun manga book for girls 13 and older, they will love the Kitchen Princess series. Hey, boys might even like it to. I did. Let's see what happens in Kitchen Princess: Volume 3.

I rated this book an 9 out of 10.