Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 16, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2017

Volumes: 30+

Spoilers?: Some.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 15. 17.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

It’s Karasuno versus Aoba Johsai in the Spring Tournament Qualifier semifinals, and Aoba Johsai has the upper hand at the end of the second set. Tadashi Yamaguchi is sent out as a pinch server to throw a wrench in the momentum of the game. Can he get past the painful memory of his past failures and close out the set for Karasuno?!

Review:

This game with Aoba Johsai is a long one. They win the first set, and then give it a really good shot in the second one—they really give Aoba Johsai a run for their money. Which leads into the third and final set, and we're left with yet another cliffhanger.

It doesn't seem like I should have much to say with each volume, and yet I do. So much happens, even if they're only in one game with one other school the entire time.

Yamaguchi finally gets some redemption for his last game, and gets put in to serve. He plays for quite a while, actually, and it's obvious that he's different now. He's not as timid, and he's clearly practiced a lot. I like seeing Yamaguchi pushing himself to be on the same level as the others; he's more of an average guy, and he's surrounded by really good players who keep pushing themselves, and he wants to be one of them. It's obvious that the other players notice, too, and that they're happy pushing each other and cheering each other on.

After Yamaguchi, we get to know Kentaro on the other team a bit more. He's fierce and angry, and competing with Ryunosuke. He lets his anger get the better of him for a while, and we get to see his struggle with wanting to play volleyball and yet not working well in a team.

I just love this series. It always takes me a while to start the next volume, because I know it's going to take me longer to read—but once I start, I just don't want to stop. I love it so much.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!