Interesting, smart dystopian story that fumbles it's landing towards the end. Children are sent to childless couples who want a child, to test whether they might be good parents. It's very interesting to see the interactions between one such child and his assigned family, especially because those people don't really want to be parents.

For a long time you're wondering how this all came to be, how these children are picked and trained, and when you get the answer towards the end, it's quite disappointing, I found.

3.5 stars

In this excellent manga we are taken to the future where children decide who can become parents.

Couples have to pass strict tests in order to become eligible to have a child of their own. Hikari is an examiner but secretly yearns for a family of his own and one day he is sent to test a couple who have their own challenges. Hikari is not prepared for the way the couple will affect him.

It is a great manga because of the light dystopian feel to the story. It still manages to have a good ending and is nicely illustrated and written.

This manga started with an amazing premise already, and I wasn't sure if it was going to be able to deliver, but did it ever!

This was thoughtful, funny, heartwarming, and had some moments that really struck home. the art was a bonus on top of all that.

I am giving this star rating based on the 15% I read - I really enjoyed what I read. But I couldn't finish reading because my phone needed to be sent out for service, and the book had been archived by the time I had access to it. I would love to finish reading it and give a full review, if that is possible.

"Stardust Family" is a beautifully woven tale that captures the essence of family bonds and the magic of the cosmos. Aki Poroyama’s writing style is both lyrical and engaging, immersing the reader in a world where the stars are not just celestial bodies, but a metaphor for individual dreams and aspirations.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each bringing their unique perspective to the story. I particularly enjoyed how Poroyama delves into themes of love, loss, and the importance of connection. The emotional depth of the characters makes their journeys all the more impactful.

The world-building is also impressive, with vivid descriptions that transport you to both the earthly and celestial realms. The blend of fantasy elements with real-life struggles creates a compelling narrative that keeps you turning the pages.

However, at times, the pacing felt a bit uneven, especially in the middle sections where certain plot lines seemed to linger longer than necessary. Still, the overall experience was rewarding and thought-provoking.

"Stardust Family" is a delightful read that celebrates the beauty of family and the infinite possibilities life offers. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt story with a touch of magic.

Thank you Yen Press for a copy of Stardust Family!

"In a world set in the future, children hold the authority to determine who may become parents. Having children is illegal—unless a couple first passes a strict examination, conducted by a child, that certifies them as capable providers. It is a veritable utopia with no child abuse…or at least, so it may seem. Hikari is one such examiner in this system, spending his days evaluating prospective parents. But one day, he comes across a couple that isn’t quite like the others… "

Wow this was such a nice surprise! The premise and execution were extremely well done, and the art/emotions were just the cherry on top. I love it, and the story really hit me -- my mouth was open and I was flipping the pages as fast as I can towards the end! Can't wait to read more stories from this manga artist :)

Rating: ★★★★½
Review:
This one hit me harder than I expected. Stardust Family starts with a strange, distant, almost clinical premise—children testing couples for their "parenting license"—but it quickly unfolds into something raw and deeply emotional. Hikari’s story and the quiet fondness he started to form for Daiki and Chisa pulled me in, and by the final characters, I was even tearing up a little.

The art isn’t flashy, but it carries the emotion beautifully. If you like manga that mixes soft sci-fi with intimate, character-driven drama, this is one worth picking up. It’s short, sharp, and it stays with you.

In this world, no one is allowed to have children without having a caregiver certificate. Adults are evaluated by an inspector to see if they have the quality to become good parents.

This story focuses on Hikaru's experience while fulfilling his role as an inspector for this couple. Through their interactions, you get to see the dark side of this new system.

I don't want to say more because it would spoil the story.

I enjoyed this book and I plan to buy a copy of the manga.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-Arc and this is my honest opinion.

This manga is exceptionally well done. The concept is unique and interesting, the artwork is beautiful, and the storytelling is fantastic. 5/5 ⭐️

If you’ve never read a manga before but are seeing this review let this be your first.

The stardust family is my first graphic novel I ever read.

Imagine a world where couples needrd certificate to be able to have children. A group of children called investigators were assigned to assess said couples (aka subjects) at different stages. Only after getting approval, were they allowed to have children.

Sounds interesting and kind of funny, right? You could say how could some children understand or assess when they were subjected to personal emotions. That's where the twist is. I mean you would be shocked to find some major reality of the investigators.


It was heartbreaking. I can't say why because then it would spoil the book for you. But my heart broke into several pieces and wanted to bawl my eyes for Hikari (that's the investigator fyi).

p.s: I loved it.

Really impactful manga, that with hope can be seen by many people that don't typically check the genre out (like, well, like me, for one). We're here in a future world, where humans are still striving to be better – and to be better parents, giving less grief to the next generation and stamping out child abuse etc, they're vetting all the legible couples before they get a licence to breed. Hence there's a host of Stepford Children-type characters, testing the limits to which potential parents will be measured, calm, accepting folk when it matters. Sounds horrific, but it seems to be working. We see the end of one such assessment, and then the bulk of the next, through the view of the child expert concerned – but first there is a lot about the past of this potential parenting couple for him to delve into…

All told there is a lot to this, and it's all well worth discovering on the page, not in some review like this. I think one bit got a touch confusing, where a common name was concerned, and one aspect of it all is really too guessable, all considered, but this really is a rich sci-fi drama. It gains for being about the people in it, not the science, and while there's the obvious tension here about the power of the youngster and the fact he can deny the licence for any bit of beef, it's able to do so much more with the concept. It's a thoughtful as well as dramatic piece, and instantly becomes a most notable work indeed. Four and a half stars.

This book is truly so wonderful and one of a kind, I am at a loss for how to describe the emotions I am feeling after reading this. My eyes are still wet, and my heart? It went through so many different emotions: Curiosity, happiness, pain, surprise, more pain and finally a bittersweet happiness.

The plot itself was something new and unique, I could see the emotional attachment I would have to it coming from miles away and I am so blown by it's amazingness, I am still processing my emotions.

The story starts with Hikari, a child inspector tasked with evaluating whether couples are fit to become parents. This means he has seen both the best and worst sides of parents...or humanity in general.

He is thus has an intellect that's far beyond his years, after having examined thousands of parents. But when he's assigned to a pair that want him to deliberately fail them in the inspection, sets off a chain of events that digs deeper into both the system, the couple he is inspectiong and his own past.

Hikari is such a complex character, the more you get to know him, the more you fall in love with this sweet little boy, carrying the weight of the society., on his small shoulders.

You get a good feeling about this couple from the start, with how they treat Hikari and their easy going, fun loving and caring personalities, it's easy for Hikari to form a strong bond and in that safe space, his long-buried traumas begin to surface.

And when the reason behind his trauma, his first caregiver really does appear ... it's time for your eyes to get used to the tears that will continue to flow until the end. The couple here also have their own reasons behind wanting to fail....and they are really such pure and amazing humans, that makes Hikari really want to live with them, which is where everything starts to fall apart.

Their's a big plot twist that's so heart wrenching it makes chopping onions seem like a child's play. This story will break your heart in the most beautiful way and it will put it back together too.

It's a happy ending. Despite it being bittersweet and a few decades late it is happy and that is enough for my heart to rest in peace.

I will not stop recommending this masterpiece to everyone and I will be on the lookout for more stories by this author. It’s the kind of story that stays with you, lingers in your thoughts, and makes you believe in the quiet power of human connection. So please give it a read, it's a story that's not worth missing out on.

What an absolutely STUNNING manga. The art work, incredible. The story, brilliant. The content, thought -provoking. The ending, devastating. 5/5 ⭐ for sure!

Imagine living in a world where you need permission to have children—where a child inspector comes to live with you to decide whether you're fit to be a parent. This story follows one such inspector, a child himself, as we experience everything he goes through until he finds a family he truly wants to stay with. The twist? He isn’t human, and that kind of future was never supposed to be an option for him.

This story is an emotional roller coaster—not just for the characters but for the reader as well. You become deeply invested, hoping for the best while fearing the worst. The ending is truly satisfying, and the art brings everything together beautifully, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative. A touching, thought-provoking read that stays with you.

Thank you so much for letting me read this manga. This manga has a very unique story idea. Children judging wether people can be come parents or not, what an approach.

Stunning and unique concept, touted as a utopia, the world the reader lands in quickly makes you ask if this is actually a dystopia. Ultimately I don’t think the question is clear even by the ending. (This is a standalone, and I think it will and should stay that way.)

This is very much a story that will stick with me and will also be one I ponder for a while. I think the blurb does a good enough job of explaining the set up, but I would otherwise go in without reading too much into this. I do definitely recommend this one even if I don’t know if I should be happy or sad about the ending. Bittersweet is highly accurate.

Thank you Yen Press, Netgalley, and Aki Poroyama for the early copy of this manga!

Stardust Family by Aki Poroyama is a speculative science fiction story set within a reality where the choices to raise a family are decided through the trust put into children with a system set in place to determine how fit a set of parents are to raise children of their own. On the surface, it sounds like a strange topic, and feels like a confusing immersion into a universe so drastically different from modern society.

Delving into the story though feels like repetitious punches to the gut in between heart wrenching backstories for multiple characters and surprising twist reveals in the latter portion of the story. Aki Poroyama is capable of bringing the reader through every emotion under the sun, as well as guiding the reader through each stage of grief in a slow, healing process.

Finishing this story left me caught in a mix of indescribable emotions, and it's one I already know I would love to read again and again, just to immerse myself in the lives and feelings of the main trio of characters. Overall, more than anything, I found the way this story approaches the topics of selection and parenthood to be a tender exploration, one that imagines a world where pain is inevitable, where grief is misunderstood and hard to look head on, but hopeful, and sweet, and where love isn't just who you're born from. It's a story about confronting what makes us human at our most vulnerable, a story about the feeling of being othered from society, and in finding safety, comfort, and community with people who want to understand you.

It is a story that made me happy, despite the grief contained within.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this opportunity to read this arc for a truthful review.

This manga really surprised me! I’ll admit at first I didn’t see the issue with the system until I realized how dystopian it was. I always wished there was a way to prevent abusive people from having children. I know firsthand how it hurts. But I realized, how it hurt the inspectors and their “temporary” families. This was not the way. The writing quality was high.

Every character had a purpose, and every character I loved! I'd say my favorite was the main character himself. I’ve lived in many living situations thoughout my life. His emotions were displayed in a way that brought out the tension in the story.

The pacing was great! I'm unsure if this will remain the only volume but I’ve found that with a lot of those — manga or graphic novels, it can feel
very rushed. This story sets up its world-building flawlessly, mostly through the news.

Lastly about the things I disliked. I wish the ending were a bit different. It was alright to the point it didn’t ruin the story, yet it was a bit confusing and wonky. It felt a bit stereotypical as well. Even at other times, things felt wonky but I think it was a translation issue. I wish there were more of a revolution against the system and stuff. More dystopia you know?

This is fantastic and surprisingly touching. I don’t read a lot of manga, but this was beautifully written and drawn and surprisingly nuanced and sensitive.

A summary of the plot:

It’s set in a realistic near-future Japan. Due to a decreasing birth rate and increasing instatnces of child neglect and abuse, there is need for prospective parents to be licensed to have children. Those who are denied a license are shunned from society. Children are employed as caregiver inspectors to make the determination of whether prospective parents should be licensed. These inspector caregivers live with the prospective parents they’re asssigned to for two weeks as the couple’s child.

The story focuses on a caregiver inspector who is placed with many famililes to make a determination of their suitability for parenthood. And then he’s assigned a couple that’s different from the rest.

I can’t spoil it, but there are a couple of twists I didn’t expect. The ending brought tears to my eyes - it’s good. Highly recommended for those into manga and for those who aren’t, this might be good enough to change your mind.

Stardust Family is seinen and very interesting. It's a standalone and set in the near future, when couples just cannot have children just like that. They need training and permission - there needs to be proof that they can function as parents and are good enough for kids. The setting is super interesting and refreshing. Could it happen in the real world? It could. The test evaluators are kids themselves and in this case Hikari is the one and he is assigned to Hirokawa family. The couple is raw and so real. They both have their own different problems and that baggage is heavy like no other. The manga is very realistic, which makes this creepy and great. I loved the man and the wife, their roles, feelings and past. Hikari then was like a bystander to it - I wanted him to analyze everything better.

The manga is very psychological and gruesome even. It's like a nasty scifi that can become reality in a couple of years, which makes it even better. Hikari's background is interesting too (and suffocating). I wish more manga like this was made and translated into English. This is surely not for young readers, but it's great. Nastily great.