CLAMP School Detectives: Volume 3

by CLAMP, 200 pages

The boys of the CLAMP School Elementary Division Board end up helping out each other more often than they do damsels in distress in this final volume in the series. This one focuses a lot on Nokoru's paperwork avoidance and how he and Suoh met and came to be friends. The authors decided Akira wouldn't mind being neglected a little here since he has his own short series elsewhere.

Cute and fluffy, with a hint more seriousness than the previous two volumes. But not in the first chapter--it's still pretty silly.

CLAMP School Detectives: Volume 2

by CLAMP, 202 pages

Nokoru has a photographic memory when it comes to females and has a better chance of remembering the fragrance of a fan letter than he does remembering where he put an important document he's supposed to sign (the likes of which often end up in the trashcan unread). Suoh is the responsible one, perpetually frustrated with and picking up after his senior. And Akira's the kind, diplomatic innocent with cooking skills that make professional chefs eat their hats. Together, they administer all the academic and social functions of the elementary division at their private school. But when a "ghost" has the girls in the art club running away screaming, board work is forgotten and the CLAMP School Detectives are on the job.

The snarky, tweeny fluff continues.

CLAMP School Detectives: Volume 1

by CLAMP, 203 pages

Nokoru Imonoyama, Suoh Takamura, and Akira Ijyuin are the Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer of the CLAMP School Elementary Division Board. They're the elite of the elite at their private school, a planned community in the Tokyo area which covers education from kindergarten to graduate school. They're so smart, and Nokoru's so adverse to work, that they spend most of their time outside the classroom.

When Nokoru spots an elderly woman crying in Tokyo Tower (the boys were flying by in a rented blimp, scouting out locations for a school party), he decides to ignore his chairman responsibilities and help her instead. The success of this endeavor gives him the idea to form the CLAMP School Detectives, whose mission is to help damsels in distress everywhere (and give him an excuse to avoid paperwork while still challenging his intellect).

This is silly and completely fluffy. It's also a little wordy for younger kids, but tweens might enjoy the detail and cultural notes included in each volume (the lead trio are in 6th, 5th, and 4th grade, respectively). Visually, it's a little dated (early nineties, which means shoulder pads, big hair, and big eyes--hee hee!), but still well-done. If you're a CLAMP fan, it's fun to see some of their earlier artwork. Since I've gotten completely sucked into Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, I've decided I want to read as much of their work as I can so I'll have a better appreciation for the "CLAMP universe" and get more out of all the crossovers they're so fond of.