[Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.]

A tale of Japan’s foster and orphan care and two children, Tenjaku and Yoru, who find themselves surviving within it.

It’s hard to review this manga because, while I didn’t really like it, it had a lot of important information that did give me an appreciation of the foster and orphan situation in Japan. Its educational bona fides are without reproach.

Unfortunately, its plotting and characters are overwrought and underdeveloped, respectively. The plot seems like it has to get so much of this information across that the home comes off like the most hard luck place in Japan.

There’s a moment where a disaster befalls the home that is used to illustrate how badly hurt some of these children have been, but it also comes off as total nonsense because no way would the events play out like they did.

It’s manga, it’s going to be wild sometimes, but this simultaneously wants to educate about the real world while also having a foot stuck firmly in melodrama town. A long-lost parent showing up at the end does what the writer wants, drama-wise, but it doesn’t feel organic.

Which is shocking because I read the first volume of <i>Perfect World</i>, the mangaka’s previous title, ages ago and it has a far better balance and I liked both aspects. This is, unquestionably, a step down.

Part of it is the pile-on. There’s so many awful stories here and they’re all coming at the reader so fast that it’s numbing. Tenjaku’s scars are enough, we can infer that something bad happened, but the story decides to go there anyway and it feels like overkill that’s borderline cartoonish.

Yoru is incredibly underwritten - her mother and her mental health issues are given more depth. She clings to Tenjaku while he’s trying to figure out the future and she mostly goes on about her desire to stay together.

I refuse to believe that people are so defined by their trauma that it’s all they can talk about, but this manga appears to believe different. Sure, it looms large and weighs heavy, but the balance here is skewed to misery in a way I don’t believe.

It’s just too much everything and all done with the subtlety of a mugging. There is a lot here that is neatly done - the clear PTSD and subconscious reactions of the kids to it are really portrayed quite well. But it keeps going and then loses me on the points it wants to make.

Manga with sad stories are fine. Manga with heavy subjects are fine. This hasn’t figured out how to educate without the browbeating and, well, it left me underwhelmed with the end product.

Yet I also recognize the skill that went into the research and it doesn’t have nothing to say. A lot of people think this is a good story and it has emotional heft. They are not wrong; I just think it’s weighted all wrong.

3 stars - an important subject, but one that deserves a better story than this. It’s complicated - I wrote this whole review twice and I’m still dissatisfied with my wording here, but I know that this just was not for me.

I loved this volume of manga.
These series could be as good as Perfect World by the same mangaka. Its so emotional and gives a real look on what lives of neglected children look like.
Looking forward to the next volume !

I ended up really liking this first volume. I'm not entirely surprised, as I liked their previous series released in English "A Perfect World," which shined light on living disabled in Japan. So, when I saw the same author was doing a story about the foster care system, I was intrigued. This was both informative, and a solid start to a story about wounded children trying to make it in the world. That emotional core made a very strong showing. I loved the strong bond between our two main characters. It's probably going to be a bumpy road for them if Perfect World was anything to go by, but I trust the subject matter is going to be handled fine.

"Sheltering Eaves" by Rie Agura is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant manga. The artwork is simply breathtaking, with each panel filled with intricate details and expressive characters that enhance the overall storytelling. Agura’s ability to convey emotion through her art elevates the reading experience, pulling readers into the complex and sometimes painful world of the characters.

One of the standout aspects of this manga is its bold exploration of heavy, often overlooked topics, particularly focusing on the experiences of children in foster care and group homes. The story doesn’t shy away from the realities of child neglect and abuse, making it a deeply impactful read. While the portrayal of these themes is handled with sensitivity, without any graphic or gratuitous content, it’s important for readers to be aware that the subject matter can be emotionally challenging or triggering for some.

What sets Sheltering Eaves apart is its delicate balance between addressing these darker aspects of life while still offering moments of hope and healing. The narrative captures the struggles and resilience of children navigating trauma and uncertainty, making it a powerful and thought-provoking work.

Overall, it’s a beautifully crafted story that not only captivates visually but also tackles important social issues with grace and care. I’m eagerly awaiting a second volume, as the first has left me deeply invested in the characters and their journey.

I picked up this book because I enjoyed Rie Aruga's Perfect World, which is another phenomenal manga. Rie Aruga writes stories with delicate topics, and she portrays the struggles and tribulations of humans in a way that moves you.

Sheltering Eaves is no different, and we're introduced to two orphans: Yoru and Tenjaku. They were both hurt by their biological parents, and now live separately from them in a care home. There's no real overarching story aside from following their daily lives as they approach 18 and prepare to leave the foster care system. The story is more character-centric than plot, but I enjoyed learning about our main characters, their day-to-day experiences, and struggles. We're given a glimpse into life as a foster child, and how people perceive them and make assumptions about their morals and character. How they find a "home" but everyone involved knows its temporary, and the difficulties of adjusting to a new family dynamic as grown children. Thankfully, their own community is supportive of one another.

I love these kind of slow paced stories, and this is a series I'd be interested in continuing!

Sheltering Eaves, follows our two main characters, Yoru and Tenjaku, who live in a childrens house together. Now nearing 18, Yoru and Tenjaku are wondering what life will bring them once they leave the foster care system.

I really enjoyed this first volume! It is a different take on the living together trope you see in manga, and it is opening me up to a whole different world I never really knew much about. This is only volume 1, but you can tell Yoru has been hiding her feeling from Tenjaku. I look forward to seeing where this story and their relationship will go!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for providing me with a copy of this volume in exchange for an honest review!

Being a fan of Rie Aruga's previous works, I was fairly confident that I would enjoy this manga and it did not disappoint. The story is very touching and heartwarming, although parts of it were difficult to read due to subject matter shared within the volume. The main characters share such a beautiful connection/relationship and I cannot wait to see it blossom.

Rating: 5 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 5/5
-Story: 5/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: -
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

This was a bit of a heavy manga. The kids that were failed by their parents is just a heavy subject and this seems like a good manga that lets you have a sneak peek into their world. I am hoping the two main characters get a happy ending and it will be on my list to further read.

Sheltering Eaves
-rate about 3.5 stars
-Release November 12
Yoru was abused by her mother and sent to a group home. This is where she meets Tenjaku , who experienced abuse from his father. These two get closer throughout the years and the time has come where they have to start thinking about what they are going to do when they come of age and have to leave the group home. As Tenjaku works to save up, Yoru never thought about when they have to leave and the possibility of Tenjaku not by her side.

This series touches on the topic of abuse children can experience and how it impacts them not only physically, but emotionally too. The author doesn’t just focus on Yoru, although she is the main focus; we see how some of the other children act. Although it is a hard topic to talk about, we see how the children still hold on to hope that their parent(s) return for them and for some deep down forgive their parent(s) for what they have done in the past even though some part of them are still scared.
It stands out from other series, as many may mention abuse but not have it as the main plot or what the kids are thinking when the time comes for them to leave the home. It didn’t emotionally impact me like Kotaru Lives Alone, but it made me think of the time when we were looking into adopting our niece. I felt in volume one that Tenjaku had a bigger impact than our female lead, so hopefully as the series continues this changes a bit.

3.5 stars

” when i’m with him i forget about being alone.”


i was thoroughly captivated by this engaging manga series’ start, devouring it in one sitting. the story of Yoru and Tenjaku, who find solace in each other after being rescued from a life of child abuse and neglect, is truly heartwarming. the narrative seamlessly jumps from Yoru's initial introduction to the foster home to their life together during their 16th summer before they turn 18 and leave the foster care system. I'm left wondering what the future holds for these two inseparable characters, and I'm eager to see how their story unfolds. the possibilities are endless, and I hope they won't be separated as they navigate this new chapter in their lives.

many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review

I started reading this manga without realizing that I was the author of Perfect World. As I was reading this story, this small part of the story that Rie Aruga has to tell us, I felt that there was something familiar. And I'm not saying this because of the plot, since they are two different stories, but rather I 'felt' that there was something there... and yes. When you look closely at the author, it's the same one from Perfect World.

Needless to say, the author always deals with topics that are quite delicate and that in each story (at least these two) tries to leave us something on which we can reflect, think and try to put ourselves in the other's shoes.

This story shows us what it is like to live in an orphanage (very little) and what the bonds that are generated there are like. How do children get there and what happens to their families. It is a strong topic and I know it has much more to show.

Thank you Kodansha Comics for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley & Kodnasha Comics for the ARC of this manga.

First, the artwork is beautiful. I also appreciate that this manga is covering some heavier topics with children in foster homes and group homes. It also address child neglect and abuse and while nothing is graphic, just be aware in case it’s triggering.

I’m really looking forward to vol. 2 and I will be reading the author’s first manga series now.

**CW: Child abuse, neglect, and trauma.

First published in March 2023, Sheltering Eaves follows Yoru and Tenjaku, who meet at a children’s home and grow up together. After Yoru is bullied, Tenjaku defends her and vows to look after her, which, okay, ~melts~. Naturally, she becomes attached to him, as well as the home, since it’s the stability she never had. As they get older, however, Yoru is scared of what will happen when they graduate and Tenjaku, who’s been itching to get out, leaves her.

Going in and reading Yoru’s first line, I could tell that this is different from the usual manga I pick up. We’re dealing with some heavy topics in a sad setting with sad characters, so there’s little room for the wacky humor I’m used to in shoujo and josei romances. I thought I would miss that component, but it actually makes sense for the story being told. And to make up for any missing humor, there’s plenty of heart.

It’s pretty early on and, already, I wanna wrap the characters in warm blankets and protect them forever and ever. They’re quite mature for their age, but at the end of the day, they’re still children carrying tremendous pain. With that, they have a lot of conflicted feelings toward their parents — wanting to hate them while simultaneously craving their love. It’s just, agh. It’s a complicated emotion, and one I’m glad is being explored.

The understanding between the characters is beautiful, and I can see it blossoming into something special. I liked seeing not just the OTP, but all the kids coming together and being a family. I hope to see more of that, especially with Yoru. Her attachment to Tenjaku is sweet, but it’d be nice for her to broaden her horizons. (To eventually feel some of that love toward herself too. 🫂) I can’t wait to find out how things play out in future volumes.

Thank you Rie Aruga, Netgalley, and Kodansha for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first volume of Sheltering Eaves sets up a strong foundation for a slow-burn, coming of age, josei romance. The story follows the tender beginnings of two children, Yoru and Tengaku, who live in a care home for abused children since they were 10-years-old. Despite their circumstances, the two grow up to be close friends. In a world where their living situation puts them at a disadvantage compared to other kids their age, their friendship is something they held onto as they await the inevitable -- turning 18 and having to leave the care home.

As someone who lives in the US, I was fascinated to see how Japanese care homes compared to care homes in the West. A lot of us may be used to hearing the abuse and neglect that stem from care homes in the West, so it was nice to see that isn't the case in this story. By doing so, I think it opens up a variety of directions that Rie Asuga can take the plot and the romance.

I did wish I got a little more out of Yoru's backstory. I wanted more memories like the origin of her Rubik's cube to show the fragments of positive moments she had with her mother. However, with how the first volume ends, I'm sure that more flashbacks to her life prior to living in the care home will be revealed.

I can't wait to pick up volume 2 to see what happens next!

Another great start to a new series from this author. They did a great job of integrating their research into the story itself, which is helpful to readers especially Western readers who won't be familiar with the Japanese fostering system. The art is stellar as always and the characters are interesting, with this first volume showing how the main characters first met and establishing a connecting between them. Looking forward to the rest of this series

I just finished Perfect World by Rie Aruga, so I knew I needed to pick this up.

I love that Rie Aruga knows how to address hard topics, and uses research to build the story. We are following kids in the Japanese foster system/group homes, and Rie Aruga helps breathe life into these characters and makes us root for them.

Because this is the first book in a new series, I don't know exactly where we are going, but I can't wait to go along for the ride!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am completely hooked. I am a sucker for darker and mature tones of manga. This has a lot of potential and I am very invested in this series already. I will be buying the volumes when a few of them printed.

I would recommend this to readers who wants a serious vibe. There seem to be a lot of trauma that will probably unfold as we get more volumes However, I really like found family in books and I think this will be one of those (hopefully). There obviously going to be romance between Yoru and Tenjaku but it seems like the other kids might have some type of family bond.

Definitely check for trigger warnings because this does have child abuse (So far, that's all I know).

I liked the book.
I enjoyed the story and the characters who were strong and determined to do what they wanted.
I really liked that we were able to see their lives as children, how it all began and what they went through, and then we saw them as teenagers and see how their past impacts them.
In addition, we were shown other realities that happen to children in the adoption system, which enriched the story.
And the illustrations are wonderful.
I really want to read the next volume and see where the story goes.

The one thing that I admire about this, is that it appears to be very accurate to what it is like to be a foster child in Japan. I assume it's somewhat similar to the American foster system, but a bit better. Yoru and Tenjaku are both kids who had to be taken from abusive households and placed into the foster system, and they've been together ever since. Now, they're fast approaching 18 and trying to figure out the future when they can no longer stay in the foster system. I did enjoy the character study that was done with Yoru and her backstory, as well as Tenjaku's. Sadly, it wasn't fully holding my interest. Maybe it's because the plotline jumps a lot in a short amount of time or because nothing really seems to be happening. The art style was great.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Netgalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This manga portrayed parents and children relationship and how if the tie is ruined, it'll practically damage the children mentally even physically. Just in one volume, i found that the children wants nothing but a welcoming home. To the point that they still want their parents to come for them despite the fact they abandoned or harassed them. The idea of sheltering house for the abandoned children is incredibly eye-opening for the issue.

Now to the main characters, i love Yoru and Tenjaku already. They were on pretty much the same condition and now met each other. The inevitable affection they had for each other is endearing, it's almost like they finally have someone that truly cared in their life. But when the reality strikes, there's a time they would somehow separate for their own future, and this added so much bittersweet taste to the story. I'm a simp for an emotional and heart-wrenching story and this one totally got me. I'm looking forward to the next volume!