"Why was I dragged into this bizarre mess?" Kyon, a dry-witted sad sack of a high school student narrates this off-kilter but fun novel, published in Japan in 2003. The teenager's existence is thrown into turmoil when a new student, Haruhi, appears in his homeroom and makes a startling introduction: "I have no interest in ordinary humans. If there are any aliens, time travelers, sliders, or espers here, come join me." Though she initially rebuffs him (and the rest of the student body), Haruhi eventually decides that forming a club with Kyon-the SOS Brigade, dedicated to "searching for the mysteries of the world"-is the best way to break through the dullness that surrounds her. The story begins sluggishly, but takes off as the true identities of the other club members-an alien, a time traveler, an esper (psychic)-are revealed. Each is gravely concerned that Haruhi, unknowingly, has the power to destroy the world on a whim. Readers may be occasionally weirded out-Haruhi repeatedly force-strips a club member-but those who get into Kyon's woe-is-me narration will be entertained. Ages 15-up. (Apr.)
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This is the first English edition of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, which was released in Japan in 2003 and has its roots in Japanese pop culture and comics. An anime series of episodes appeared as a 2006 Japanese animated television series. The story is set in a high school in a Japanese city, where a strange girl, named Haruhi professes an eagerness to contact aliens. She forms the SOS Brigade and forces four other students to enter her club. The viewpoint character, Kyon, helplessly falls in with her schemes. He is sarcastic and philosophical and at first does not give credence to another Brigade member, Nagato, when she tells him that she is an alien observing Haruhi and providing data to an Overmind who has interest in life forms and autoevolution. Next, Kyon learns that another club member, Asahina, is a time traveler from a future time plane who believes Haruhi is responsible for a timequake. Finally, Koizum, another club member admits to being an esper and explains that the whole world may be a dream. All of them assure Kyon that Haruhi Suzumiya is no ordinary human. As the story unfolds, the reader learns that everyone tries to keep Haruhi happy, because, even though she does not know it, she has the power to destroy the universe. Science fiction and anime fans will enjoy several black and white illustrations as well as a four page color insert. A web site for readers encourages them to join the SOS Brigade by visiting www.jointhesosbrigade.com. Reviewer: Phyllis J. Perry
Children's Literature - Phyllis J. Perry
Fifteen-year-old Kyon is ready for high school, having given up on childhood fantasies of meeting "time travelers, aliens, and espers" and resolved himself to mundane reality—until during homeroom on the first day of school, when Haruhi Suzumiya introduces herself to the class. Kyon must have a screw loose, because he insists on talking to her, and soon finds himself her sidekick, starting the S.O.S. Brigade—an after school club "searching for the mysteries of the world." When Haruhi coerces three others to join the club, Kyon suddenly finds himself surrounded by an alien, a time traveler and, of course, an esper, each of whom are there to monitor Haruhi because the fate of the world depends on her state of mind. And it seems that Haruhi's state of mind depends on Kyon. Is he up for the wild ride of trying to save the world by keeping Haruhi happy? This first in a series of wildly popular Japanese books, now translated to English, reads much like an anime movie sounds. (It has, in fact, been "translated" to anime and manga, based on the book's popularity.) Although the dialogue is at times confusing and Haruhi engages in sexual "harassment" and blackmail, including pawing ravishing club member Asahina Mikuru and dressing her up in sexually provocative costumes, the definitely on- and at times over-the-edge craziness, reminiscent of period Japanese monster movies, will appeal to readers who delight in mayhem and mischief at the brink of reality—in high school. Reviewer: Kim Carter
Kyon enters high school without a care in the world—a typical teenage boy with fantasies but a firm grasp on reality. On the first day, he meets someone who will challenge that sense—Haruhi Suzumiya. She is beautiful and mysterious and for some reason singles out Kyon to be in her inner circle. Together they form an after-school club called the SOS Brigade, with the mission of searching out aliens, time-travelers, and espers (persons with paranormal abilities). To Kyon's surprise, they find some living among them. He is also surprised to learn that Haruhi is being watched by a secret agency of beings who believe she unknowingly has the power to destroy the world. As they recruit Kyon to help them stabilize Haruhi's powers, he experiences things that he thinks only happen in comic books, but in the end, he saves the world with one real and simple act of love. This translation of the popular Japanese "light novel" is pure entertainment with a little bit of dream analysis and physics thrown in. Although it starts slowly, the SF action picks up around the midpoint and propels the reader into a psychoanalytic romp through Haruhi's subconscious. Unfortunately although the story itself and Kyon's sense of humor make for entertaining reading, a recurring act of bullying by Haruhi, in which she physically forces another girl to dress in revealing costumes, will make it difficult to recommend this book to its intended audience of teenage girls. Some illustrations and sample pages from the subsequent manga series are included. Reviewer: Laura Lehner
This book was a page turner; I couldn't put it down. You'll hold Haruhi in your heart forever. This book is outstanding, more addicting, and better written than the Twilight series. People who like anime, SF, and crazy-out-of-this-world books will like this book. Reviewer: Sammi Clark, Teen Reviewer
Gr 7 Up–Haruhi Suzumiya, who dislikes boredom and has cravings to meet aliens, time travelers, and espers, decides to liven up things in her high school. She starts a new club, the S.O.S. Brigade, and takes over a classroom, some computer equipment, and, because she forces them to join, a big part of the new members’ lives. Kyon is especially drawn in by Haruhi’s demanding nature and her cute face. It is hard to imagine why, as she bosses everyone around, is moody and abrupt, and is generally unlikable. Soon, Kyon discovers that the other club members are some sort of aliens with powers that intervene in human affairs for the Data Overmind when certain humans have thoughts and feelings that affect the configurations of space and time. For some reason, Haruhi is one of those humans, and the interfaces try to use Kyon to intercept and influence her reactions and deflect problematic results. This novel goes nowhere conclusive, serving only as an introduction to a series of 10 sequels popular in Japan. Characters are sketchy and at times the story drags. The writing style has a mangalike sensation, with several manga drawings included. Interestingly, there is an excerpt from a new graphic novel based on the same story appended at the end, announcing the upcoming publication of it in that format, for which the tone and style of the narrative seem much better suited.–Diane P. Tuccillo, Poudre River Public Library District, Fort Collins, CO
The welcome trend of translating popular Japanese series into English continues with this first of ten in Tanigawa's popular series. Completely normal high schooler Kyon narrates as his boredom is smashed by a strange and beautiful girl. Haruhi Suzumiya isn't interested in anyone other than "aliens, time travelers, sliders, or espers." As "ordinary humans" don't interest her, Haruhi forms a school club, the S.O.S. Brigade, with a mission to find the extraordinary, conscripting Kyon and three other club members. But Kyon discovers that, unbeknownst to Haruhi, the S.O.S. Brigade is peopled with just the aliens, time travelers and espers it seeks. Kyon's narration is beautifully physical, effectively evoking a manga aesthetic of robot fights and giant monsters. The playfulness and visual joy of the genre, however, are accompanied by slapstick, dubious-consent sexuality. Manga and anime fans will find it familiar enough, but readers unfamiliar with the genre will be less comfortable with scenes-all played for laughs-of girls unwillingly dressed in sexy outfits and groped. (Science fiction. 14-16)
