oh this hit a lot harder than I thought it would like it raised so many questions I didn't even know I had and then gave me the most devastating answer

This was absolutely heart breaking! I had to take several break while reading this because I was crying so much and I am not a cryer. The story was beautiful and the art was breathtaking. I loved every single character in this manga and all I wanted was for them to be happy. Don't let the length of this turn you off because its worth the extra time and not a single page is wasted. Thid has definitely become a new favorite manga.

Review to come June 1st on my blog/other places.

Welcome to a world in which children decide if someone can become a parent... or not.

I just couldn't resist this manga and while I was a bit worried about the length (450 pages for just one volume) I can tell you that I just flew through this one and couldn't stop reading until I reached the end.

Welcome to a world in which one cannot just get children. You cannot just get pregnant and put a child on this earth. Oh no, one has to first go through tests which includes having a child inspector for a while who will test them on their skills and if they will be good enough as parents. If not, you can get retested, but after a while it is just done and over for you. Sounds harsh and we also see what happens or how people are treated that do have kids without permission. 

The book begins with an inspection at a family and that is how we meet Hikari (or however he is named by the families he visits), after that the book begins in earnest when he visits a couple who has been through various tests already and this is their last test. Now I hear you think are these bad people? Oh no. But as we learn through the story we see why they have been rejected, why the husband is trying his best to ask Hikari to not be accepted for parenthood. Because these two are the best parents anyone could ask for. They are kind, sweet, earnest. But they have been through a lot. Together, but also alone in the case of the woman. I really loved the couple and I was eager to find out more about them. 

I loved that as the story continues we learn more about Hikari. About what he is, who he is, what happened to him before this couple. The woman he has been missing since the start, the woman that was his first "mother". The things that happened during inspections, anywhere from great days to violence and sexual abuse (of which we see glimpses that all the kids go through these high and lows which was just shocking). Seeing him be an inspector, but also long for a family of his own. A mom and a dad who will take care of him. Love him. 

The ending, the last part, oh my gosh, when I knew who THAT was I was already tearing up, but seeing those people? My tears were just fully going. 

I also loved seeing more of the world. The meteor, what it brought, what it did, see how the world changed, the policies on children, the small town Hikari and his test-family are in, and more. 

The art was also fabulous! 

All in all, I would highly recommend this dystopian manga read to everyone. This was a ride. This was fantastic.

This was one of my first manga sci-fi experiences and one that I won't soon forget. It follows a bit of a dystopian future in which adults are not fully given all of the freedom and status unless they are married with children. The government, in its infinite wisdom, has determined that the best way to ensure children are raised in a safe upbringing is to have an inspector ( a child assigned by the government who has gone through extensive training) live with the family for 2 weeks and determine if they are eligible to be licensed. Similar to foster care regulations, but as a requirement before having children naturally. In addition, if couples choose not to have children or are not approved, their class ranking is lowered to almost subhuman.

This is a fascinating look at a future that could theoretically happen, mixed with sci-fi and some horrific elements of abuse that are hinted at. This would be a great choice for fans of Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I really enjoyed this book, although it took a slight adjustment to look at some of the panels from right to left to make sure I was reading the dialogue in the correct order. This was made more difficult with it being in ebook format, but a paperback would be easier to navigate the continuity.

I recommend this book to fans of dystopian literature and movies, and for all libraries.

When I went into this, I had no idea what to expect. The world of "Stardust Family" presents itself as a utopia, while also being incredibly dystopian underneath its shiny veneer. Due to a national law, the only people who are allowed to have children of their own, be they biological or adopted, are those who have passed the state-sanctioned "caregiver test". Once a person or couple receives their caregiver certification, they are free to have children of their own. The logic of this certification is to reduce the amount of child abuse that happens, because "only the good people can have children". Unfortunately, this test has another side effect, where people who fail the test find that their social standing is dramatically reduced. People who fail are considered to be bad people, because "only bad people would fail at a caregiver test". I wish that the story had delved a bit deeper into the societal implications of this law, as there are multiple flaws to it. There has been a lot of talk in online spaces about having a test to prove that someone is "worthy" to be a parent. But instead, the story focuses on Hikari and his life as an examiner. Hikari is a rather mysterious child, apparently an orphan who is a ward of the state and trained from childhood to become a state-employed "Examiner". But, the newest couple that Hikari has to shadow defied all expectations, and slowly helps him learn more about himself and perhaps the world.. I can't go too deeply into this plot point, because it would spoil so much. But I was so surprised by this story! There were several moments that I did NOT see coming, and honestly, just elevated the mystery for me. The ending the story felt a bit abrupt, and I'm kinda sad that's how it ended. But this was honestly a fantastic story, and I think it would translate very well as an anime or live-action series.

Spoiler talk on GoodReads!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is a deeply emotional and heartbreaking sci-fi manga set in the future. In this world, inspectors, who are children, determine whether people are fit to be parents, as having children without a license is illegal. The story follows Hikari, an inspector who has just been assigned to evaluate a strange couple that has failed their assessments the last few times.

The book has a really interesting concept, and I believe it was executed well. I particularly appreciated how it highlighted the flaws in the system. For instance, Daiki, the father, comes from a family with terrible parents, despite them having a license, while a random woman who was separated from her child because she didn’t have a license appeared to be doing a good job. I also liked how it showed Hikari struggling with the memories of his past assignments and his beliefs in this story. This story was well executed and deeply moving, and not for the faint of heart.

This story beautifully explores themes of society, family, and grief. And I recommend this book for people who enjoy sci-fi that explores complex ethical dilemmas and societal structures through the lens of a seemingly utopian future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Yen Press for access to this eARC! all my opinions are my own.

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… 

i absolutely FLEW through this. i loved the worldbuilding and the concept is so interesting. the art is great and the story is amazing. i even had teary eyes at the ending. definitely a new favourite.

publication date: may 27 2025

Super interesting concept about a world where people need permission to become parents, and while the execution was not what I expected, I still liked it a lot. It's about this caregiver inspector – a child basically – who gets send to people and lives with them for two weeks to evaluate if they are fit to become parents. Taking care of children is seen as the definition of happiness in this society and getting a license for parenting is considered a blessing, so the inspectors make life altering decisions in their job. The world building didn't go much deeper than that and left some open questions for me, but it was ok. The manga focused on a single evaluation and explored both the feelings of the inspector and the potential parents. From the cover I thought that this might go in the horror direction, but it was more of an emotional story. And by emotional I mean a whole range of emotions, because it was wholesome and sweet, but also sad and kinda unsettling at times. Some aspects of the story could have been a little more fleshed out, though. It didn't really explore what it means to be a good parent, and every time people were denied that privilege it was always because they physically abused the inspectors. And come on, a good parent has to check more criteria than just not hitting a child. Aspects like health, money or living standards were never discussed. I did like that it was mentioned that some people are perfectly happy without children, but I wish it had played an even bigger role. Overall it's a character focused story and it really succeeded there. All three of the main characters were explored well, and all had complex backstories that unfolded as the story went on and finally painted a coherent family picture. And that's a great accomplishment for a single volume of manga.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Yen Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

this was a really interesting story. the concept of the investigators was very original, but i couldn’t help but feel like it was a little bit shallow in terms of plot. i did like the characters, though, and was hoping to hear more about their lore. without spoiling too much, i did really appreciate the ending of this one in terms of the whole story.

Stardust Family intelligently raises important questions about parenthood and the power of society and government over the right to procreate and raise a child. In this original dystopia, couples have to pass various tests before they are allowed to have a child, including a practical test with a child inspector.
The lives of the child inspectors are very sad. I immediately felt great sorrow and compassion for the condition of these children, who cannot have a real childhood, a family or be loved, and who undergo traumatic experiences in order to serve the system.

As well as the ethical issues, the characters are intriguing and interesting.
The behaviour of this man, who rejects what every member of society actively seeks, raises questions, and the mysteries surrounding this woman keep us on the edge of our seats. Hikaru, who reveals himself as the story progresses, is also very poignant, adding extra emotional depth to the story.
The manga also subtly explores themes such as the gaze of others, the importance of forming one's own opinion and the impact a crime can have on other family members. This manga is very complete and profound.

Spoiler : I wasn't expecting the SF ‘twist’ at all, it was very effective even if I would have liked to see a bit more of it.

I really like the bittersweet ending, which made me shed a tear.

Originally in only two volumes (one in this edition [a positive point, as I would have been frustrated not to get to the end of the story!]) the story is well-paced, neither too much nor too little. I had a great time, with no length or rush, and I would recommend this book without hesitation.

"Stardust Family" is beautiful, heart wrenching, lighthearted, and emotionally deep. The setting, characters, locations, and emotions are all expressed in such a way that it makes the story feel real. This is a story that will draw readers in, evoke emotion, and provoke deep thought about love, family, friendship, and what it really means to be human. This is such a beautiful and emotionally deep story. It was so sad to see the difficulties Hikari faced. The ending of this manga is absolute perfection! I didn't see the book ending like that. I am very impressed with the beautiful art style, lovable characters, and skillful writing style. Read this book! 5 stars

Thank you very much to Yen Press and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of reading and reviewing this book honestly.

CW: brief depictions of abuse

* I will be posting my review to more places closer to or on release day. Thank you again Yen Press!

I don't know if I actually have the words to explain just how much I loved this, but I will do my best.

I haven't reviewed many mangas on this platform, mainly because most of the ones I read were from before I even knew goodreads existed. But I can say without a doubt this is one of the best ones I have ever had the privilege to discover. This was such a beautiful story. Once I started it, I never wanted it to end. Once it did finally end, I was left feeling sad, happy, hopeful, bittersweet, and so many other emotions I (much like Hikari) can't even really put a name to. All the emotions there are to feel, I felt with this one

This was actually a truly gut wrenching read. It was emotional and honest and it touched on so many things that I wasn't anticipating based on the summary. I thought this was going to be a darker story, but what I got instead was so much better.

Hikari is such a complex character, and I could have read 400 more pages about him and it still wouldn't be enough. Every character was mysterious to begin with, and then went on to be fleshed out in the most beautiful and amazing ways. What I wouldn't give to see a screen adaptation of this story. I know it would leave me in tears and sorrow for days.

Thank you to NetGalley and Yen Press for the e-ARC of Stardust Family!
4 / 5 ⭐

CW for book: brief depictions of various kinds of abuse to children, brief body horror

In the not so distant future, measures are being taken to make sure that parents are fit caregivers for children; young "investigators" spend two weeks in the homes of prospective parents to make sure they're equipped for the role. Stardust Family is focused around one of those children investigators, moving between families without having one of his own. Stardust Family was touching and bittersweet, and surprised me multiple times. The book overall was less dark but slightly weirder and more scifi than expected, and I wish we'd gotten a follow up on the ending, but I enjoyed it and read the graphic novel in one sitting.

For fans of Stardust Family, I would also recommend The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg.

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley


What an emotional rollercoaster!
This was a sad, tragic, gut wrenching and yet hopeful story.
It was so sad to see Hikari's past experiences of abuse, while acting as an inspector, and to see his very first experience of being an inspector. To see that he didn't even understand emotions was so sad. While the rest of the world got to experience a childhood utopia, the inspectors went through all the abuse with no means of escape or anyone caring about them.
I absolutely loved Daiki and Chisa right from the start. They had such a hard life, but they were happy together, and they really did love Hikari.
This is definitely one I'll be reading again, because there are so many little nuances that will have a totally different meaning on the second read, now that I know how it ends.

Favourite Quote : "No matter where you are...or whose child you're being...I just...want you to smile."

Thank you NetGalley and Yen Press for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this manga! I expected it to be a lot more darker than I though, but instead had me all emotional and crying at the end! The story of Hikari evaluating potential parents is a harsh and gruelling reality, until he meets two adults that live in a shrine. One wants to have children, the other is more hesitant. Both they heal through Hikari, and Hikari heals through them, finding a greater meaning in life.

I wish we got more of an after story once Hikari had to leave them, but it was still a fantastical and emotional read through and though. Definitely worth the read if you like emotional roller coasters that are wholesome, but also have a bit of the harsh realities of life sprinkles in.

What if society dictated whether you become a parent or not? As we see in our own society, there are frequent cases of neglect and abuse with children.

In the near future, there is also the decline in birth rate. Society makes the choice whether you become a parent and have a certified license to do so. Caregiver inspectors are sent out for two weeks to spend time with families to determine whether they pass or fail as a potential parent. The new couple that has been sent a Caregiver Inspector are not what they seem, but neither is the Caregiver.

#ThxNetGalley #AkiPoroyama #StardustFamily

Una licenza: è questo il requisito per diventare genitori, e si ottiene solo dopo una rigorosa serie di ispezioni da parte di giovanissimi impiegati, che per due settimane devono testare le capacità degli adulti che vogliono avere bambini. Si sono ridotte le violenze sui piccoli, si dice; è una società migliore, una società pulita e serena, grazie alla legge che lo impone.
E lo crede anche il giovane ispettore protagonista, crede davvero di dare un contributo fondamentale; finché qualcuno non gli chiede di fargli fallire apposta l’ispezione…
Un manga delicato e profondo, capace di toccare con abilità moltissimi temi: l’ostracismo sociale, l’ipocrisia, la dipendenza emotiva, il senso di colpa, il vero significato di famiglia.
Sorprendente e intenso.

Thank you to NetGalley and Yen Press for a complimentary early release copy of Stardust Family by Aki Poroyama.

Stardust Family went in a direction that I didn’t expect it to go into. I thought the story itself was going to hold some more darker elements and while it does have some plot points that are dark the story itself feels more light hearted than I expected. I did like the direction that the story went in, I liked how some of the elements/reveals are set up, and I enjoyed my time with these characters.

I liked the family, the character themselves felt well developed and likeable. I liked the whole idea of these kids inspecting these parents to figure out if they are acceptable parents or not. The art, writing, and character development are all well thought out. I enjoyed this story and I thought the ending was satisfying.

I loved the sci-fi, Black Mirror-esque premise of Stardust Family by Aki Poroyama. Set in a future where people must undergo examinations before becoming parents—to prevent child abuse—the story explores a bizarre yet beautifully crafted concept. The art was strong and complemented the tone perfectly. I even shed a tear at the end, though I felt the conclusion was a bit rushed compared to the manga’s otherwise contemplative rhythm. Still, it’s a thought-provoking read that stayed with me.

A powerful, emotional story with a unique premise.

Stardust Family is set in a future where children are sent by the government to evaluate potential families, essentially testing whether adults are capable of being good parents. It’s a thought-provoking and emotional journey that never veers into being grim, even when it explores darker themes.

The strength of this manga lies in its character work, especially the family dynamic between the three main characters, it’s beautifully done and deeply affecting. The emotional payoff, particularly toward the end, hits hard in all the right ways.

I’m keeping this vague to avoid spoilers, but if you're looking for a manga with mature storytelling and emotional depth, this is absolutely a must-read.