13th Boy: Volume 7

by SangEun Lee, 179 pages

When Beatrice unexpectedly turns into his human form and stays that way, his and Hee-So's bond is put to the test. What are they to one another, really? Unable to deal with the pressure and awkwardness, he runs away to the only other person who knows his secret.

This volume adds more satisfyingly complicated depth to Beatrice and Hee-So's relationship. Who knew one could feel so much sympathy for a cactus?

13th Boy: Volume 6

by SangEun Lee, 183 pages

Hee-So goes about trying to make the most of her new, happy, boyfriend-enabled life, but Sae-Bom's finally figured out a few things about herself and, taking Toe-Toe's advice, starts to go after what she wants. Meanwhile, Won-Jun is growing emotionally and getting confused by Sae-Bom's finally doing the same. And Beatrice (in cactus form) seeks out his Master, Whie-Young, for a heart-to-heart about the apparently unattainable girl they both like.

A cactus and his creator are love rivals! And a dearly departed stuffed bunny's last words encourage his person to action! Hearts and friendship and, in at least one instance, lives are on the line as everybody learns to grow up and look more closely at themselves and one another.

13th Boy: Volume 5

by SangEun Lee, 183 pages

It's Sae-Bom's birthday and Hee-So begs Whie-Young to bring the girl's stuffed bunny, Toe-Toe, back to life as a special gift. The party is eventful in more ways than one as gifts are given and received, confessions are made, revelations are triggered, and lives are changed.

Oh, things are messier now than ever, but the characters are more aware and honest this time around, so it still counts as progress. Now, if Whie-Young would just come out and explain why he's always so fatalistic--and if Hee-So would stop being so dense when he tries to tell her--things would clear up a little; but everybody has choices to make, so we'll just have to wait and see where the results lead them.

13th Boy: Volume 4

by SangEun Lee, 180 pages

A brush with true danger gives Hee-So a chance to remember more about her childhood relationship with Whie-Young, learning a little something about herself in the process. Likewise, Sae-Bom takes her first steps toward trying to grow up as Won-Jun re-examines his past and present emotions and determines to move forward, too.

Uh-oh, our little love quadrangle, once so neatly uniform in its direction (and one-sided for everyone), is getting a little messier. Goody! Where will all this emotional progress lead? And what of poor cactus-boy? Isn't it really a love pentagon? :P

13th Boy: Volume 3

by SangEun Lee, 179 pages

Hee-So learns a few shocking things about the elusive boy she likes and the boy she can't seem to get rid of. What she does and does not do with that knowledge will determine more than just her own future.

As stubborn as ever, and patient when it suits her, Hee-So makes a difficult promise and goes about keeping it. But she's not the only one with vows to fulfill and a devoted heart to navigate by. I'm glad she now knows most of what we do, but there are still a few surprises in store both for her and the others whose lives have become inextricably linked with her own.

13th Boy: Volume 2

by SangEun Lee, 189 pages

Determined not to let Won-Jun forget about her, Hee-So decides to join her school's Girl Scout club so she can stay close to her former-only-in-his-opinion boyfriend, who is in the Boy Scout club. She enlists the help of Beatrice (her random talking cactus, remember? also, he transforms into a human boy for 24 hours once a month on the full moon--just go with it) and gets into the club just in time for the big co-ed campout. There, in addition to implementing her plan to win back Won-Jun, Hee-So finds she must deal with bullies in her club, Won-Jun's childhood friend the weirdly naive Sae-Bom (who refers to herself in the third person and carries around a stuffed bunny rabbit she claims is magically alive but currently not resident in its body), and the ever meddlesome and annoying Whie-Young. Why does he keep talking like he knows everything about her?

Hee-So may be woefully unobservant, but the reader forgives her because she's so focused on her goal that she simply overlooks anything not directly related to its furtherance. And in her defense, Won-Jun is sending her rather mixed signals and proud Whie-Young refuses to explain himself in plain language her one-track mind can process. She can't help but be distracted. Besides, this is the girl who realized she was in possession of a talking, walking, transforming cactus and shrugged, telling herself there was no point in asking questions that would just make her head hurt. It is what it is, no point in wondering why. Just roll with it. This is pretty much her philosophy on everything, with the exception of Won-Jun's dumping her--there's no way she's letting that one go. For his part, Won-Jun finally seems relieved to have gotten involved with such a crazy girl, as he believes she may be the key to straightening out the messy love triangle that has bound him since childhood. Poor Whie-Young's gonna have a rough road ahead. Hee hee.

13th Boy: Volume 1

by SangEun Lee, 179 pages

Junior high student Hee-So knows it was love at first sight when she met quiet Won-Jun. After appearing on a love-confession reality show, she finally told him how she felt and he agreed to go out with her. But Hee-So's happiness is short-lived, as only a month later he breaks off the relationship, saying he's not good for her. Hee-So is nothing if not determined (she announced her love on national television, after all) and she won't accept his decision as the final word. After missing the mark with her past 11 boyfriends, she's finally found her destiny--and she won't let him off the hook so easily. If only his obnoxious best friend Whie-Young weren't in the way making things complicated....

I think I know where this story is going. If the numbers are any clue, that is. Between Hee-So's random talking cactus Beatrice (okaaaaaay), Whie-Young's (and maybe Won-Jun's?) secret supernatural abilities, and the circuitous ways of destiny-determining messages in bottles, I'm not quite confident enough to predict an outcome just yet. I'm sure there will be plenty of silliness and melodrama between here and there and, for now, I'm happy to tag along for the ride.