The story originally began as a light novel published in 2013, concluding in 2017. The manga adaptation follows a similar structure. So far, four parts of the manga have been published: Parts 1 and 2 were illustrated by Suzuka, Part 3 by Ryo Namino, and Part 4 by Hikaru Katsuki. As of August 2024, Part 2 is still incomplete, but Part 3 has already started, creating a gap in the story. With the change in illustrators between Part 2 and Part 3, the art style does shift slightly. However, since the main character is a bit older in Part 3, the change in style felt fitting rather than jarring.
Ascendance of a Bookworm, Episode 1. The protagonist finds herself reincarnated as a five-year-old girl.
This is an isekai story. The protagonist was originally a book-loving Japanese college student who dies in a tragic accident when an earthquake causes her bookshelves to collapse on her. She finds herself reincarnated as a frail five-year-old girl named Myne in a medieval world. Desperate to read books again, she quickly discovers that they are rare and unaffordable for commoners like her family, being accessible only to wealthy nobles. Determined, she vows to create books herself and dreams of building a library filled with them. But first, she has to learn how to read in this new world and start making basic materials like paper and ink.
I’ve finished reading Parts 1 and 2, and a few episodes into Part 3. I have to admit, I almost gave up on the manga when I first started. I get that Myne is just a small child, but at the beginning, she’s so whiny and self-centered that it’s hard to tolerate. She tries to create materials using knowledge from her previous life, and while the people around her kindly help, she constantly fails and breaks down crying. Additionally, after two volumes, I wasn’t sure where the story was heading. Initially, it seemed like the whole plot was just about Myne trying to recreate materials she knew in her previous life, and that’s it.
But I was wrong. After three or four volumes, the story becomes more engaging. As it progresses, themes like social hierarchy and religion come into play, adding depth. Magic also becomes a factor, making it quite different from what I initially expected.
At first, the reincarnated Myne is obsessed only with books, but as she lives with her loving family, she gradually grows to value them and matures as a person. Due to the slow pacing early on, I imagine some readers might drop the series before it reaches its more compelling moments, which is a shame. As I mentioned, I’ve only read up to a few episodes into Part 3, and Myne’s environment drastically changes in this part. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.
If you’re someone who loves books, this manga is a must-read. At its heart, Ascendance of a Bookworm is a story about the power of books and the lengths a true book lover will go to pursue their passion. Despite its slow start, it’s a rewarding journey for anyone who shares Myne’s love for the written word.
