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Title:  Chibi Vampire Vol 11

Author:  Yuna Kagesaki

Publisher: Tokyopop

ISBN:  9781427808257

May Contain Spoilers

This volume focused on Anju and her quickly approaching awakening, and left Karin and Kenta mostly in the background.  As Anju’s aversion to sunlight grows and her sense of taste is diminished, she’s left with the sobering thought that she’ll soon become a full-fledged vampire.  This leaves her sad and miserable, as she realizes that a part of her life is coming to a close.  She’ll have to stop attending school and leave her friends behind her.  She’ll even have to erase their memories, leaving only Anju with the feelings of loneliness. Worst of all, she’ll have to leave her life with Karin behind her.

The reflective, melancholy atmosphere was pervasive, as Anju and Karin both try to accept Anju’s awakening and how it will change their relationship.  Anju fights against it, trying to cling to her current life and dreading the future.   Boogie is the voice of reason here, and that’s pretty sad considering that he’s a doll that’s been possessed by the soul of a serial killer.  Calera has gone off in search of answers to Karin’s defects, and Henry has never been a pillar of strength.  That leaves Ren and Boogie for Anju to confide in, because she doesn’t want Karin to know that she’s going to be awakening soon.  Not exactly the most sympathetic of shoulders to cry on.

Karin struggles with the realization that Anju will soon be an adult and won’t be able to walk in the sunlight any more.  She’s just as depressed as Anju, but Maki gives her a pep talk, and Karin is able to put on a brave face for her little sister.  Too bad that’s not what Anju wanted to hear from her!  I hope that this misunderstanding doesn’t ruin their close relationship – they already have so many differences to overcome as it is.  While I feel bad for Anju having to leave her sister behind,  I feel worse for Karin.  Now she’s totally alone in her family, the only one who can still be out during the day.  If she didn’t have Kenta, she’d be totally alone.  When this realization hits her, it hits her hard.  Every thing has changed, both for Karin and Anju, and it leaves them both tearful. 

Grade: A-

Rated for Older Teen