I ordered this book from a UK bookseller for another release copy, to be sent directly to the winner of the manga sweepstakes. It's by the author of the classic Fullmetal Alchemist series, but instead of magical powers in an alternate reality, this one's about a purposeless student trying his hand at an agricultural college.

And it's quite funny and charming, introducing an array of characters while showing us how out of his depth poor Hachiken is - he actually thinks it'll be easy here, as he's such a good student. Didn't count on getting up at 4 to muck out the stables, did he!

The book touches on many different animals even in this first volume, from chickens to horses to pigs. (The page introducing a litter of piglets is one of the most charming things I've seen in a manga - though of course everyone, including our hero, has to be reminded that not to get attached: they're being raised for meat, after all.) There's a very dramatic sequence at a horse race - a draft-horse race, with the horses hauling heavy loads over obstacles (!), and some awesome panels showing the effort they're putting out. (That kind of racing seems to be rare. In the US, state fairs often feature pulling contests, where teams of draft horses haul sledges over a measured distance - it's a timed event but the teams don't all compete side to side, and the surface is flat.)

There are hilarious bits, such as when Hachiken first sees chickens laying eggs - for a while he won't touch an egg, but eventually hunger gets the better of squeamishness. And the omake strips at the end are also pretty funny. Great start to the series - I'll be following this one! And I see there's an anime....

[There's a TV Tropes page on the series, with some entertaining tidbits. And for a different manga take on agricultural school, try Moyasimon.]

I'm having this book sent directly to the winner of the Manga, Graphic Novel, and Comics sweepstakes; will supply the BCID by separate postcard. Enjoy!

What a timing! I received the book and the postcard together (thanks for the lovely stamps, too), thank you so much GoryDetails, I can't wait to start reading it...

Travelling to the winner of the Manga/Comics Sweepstake, enjoy!

Please let us know when you release it again...

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Thank you for sending me this book!

I still can't believe I won the Manga, Graphic Novels and Comics Sweepstakes 2023 🗯️📓!

I've read volume 2 of this series and enjoyed it. But, I haven't read this first volume. So, thank you for sharing it!

And thank you for the BC labels and the Demon Slayer bookmark!

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A great read! It also filled in a few blanks for me, as I had read Vol. 2 first.

Thanks for sharing!