Kageki Shojo!! Vol. 9

"Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises is a real treat: a drama that consistently resists the urge to indulge in histrionics, a shoujo-style manga that draws from tradition while remaining fresh and modern, a tale set in a harsh world without reveling in that harshness." --Caitlin Moore, Anime News Network

"...there's plenty of drama, including story lines about bulimia and childhood sexual abuse. The art has a retro feel, with occasional visual allusions to "Rose of Versailles," and the characters' faces and gestures are very expressive, even when drawn simply. Besides being a cracking good soap opera, this manga offers interesting tidbits about Japanese theater." --Brigid Alverson, School Library Journal

"If you like Takarazuka, or Shoujo drama, sports manga, or frankly, pretty much anything at all, do give Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises a try. It's a great production of a manga." --Erica Friedman, Okazu