Assasination Classroom volume 1, by Yusei Matsui

Assasination Classroom volume 1 we meet the students of class 3-E in Kunugigaoka Junior High School. A dead-end classroom built in the mountains assigned only to the students with poor grades, troublesome behaviors and frankly the unwanted students in average classrooms. None of them has a speck of hope. No skill specialize them either. They repeat the same blunt day over and over with no desired destination to reach. But that colorless atmosphere changes when 3-E’s students are ordered by the Ministry of Defense to assassin their teacher. What is even more horrific is that their teacher is beyond normal, he is a big yellow octopus looking creature with a big smiley face and tentacle like hands. This baffling teacher has already blown up the moon and is now joyfully waiting to blow up Earth into bits. No guns, no pistols nor bombs can destroy him, only a certain type of BB bullets can which are harmless to humans. Those BB bullets aren’t that useful because he moves at Mach 20! Alas the question which hangs through this volume of the book is how can failing students kill a high speed unknown creature when all the war machines and deadly weapons of the world fail?

From the second page of the book the story becomes intriguing. Yusei Matsui, the author, wastes absolutely no time and brushes of the reader’s thoughts away filling up their mind entirely on the synopsis of this book that they hold in their hands. Even the cover of this book is just so cryptic that it becomes hard for an individual to not ponder upon the stretched yellow smile. What I enjoyed the most of the synopsis of this story is that with all the serious tension of the word “kill” being tossed around, the playful and humorous vibe is maintained. I feel like that this kind of mood in the plot of the story really connects the reader. I recommend it to every teen out there. I am very much enjoying this new and fresh storyline with a little touch of fun and am very much looking forward to read the next volume to see how it surprises me.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 11

Glendale Central Library