unOrdinary Volume 2 | Review

unOrdinary v. 2
by uru-chan
Harper Alley, c2024, $19.99
Grades 8 and up

At the beginning of last summer, I read the first volume of unOrdinary by uru-chan, and I waited a very long time to get my hands on Volume 2. In theory, I could have continued on Webtoon, but I’ve never enjoyed reading digitally. And trying to figure out where I left off? Honestly, it felt like a chore.

I finally received a print copy through our (very delayed) library order this year. (Blame bureaucracy, not the vendor.) unOrdinary Volume 2 was one of the first books I picked up.

The story picks up right where it left off. Seraphina has been suspended from school for reading an illegal book. Her parents are keeping her under tight control, but she uses her abilities to convince them to let her return to Wellston. Meanwhile, John is still pretending to be a “zero,” but Arlo—the king of the school’s social hierarchy—is suspicious. When Arlo finally draws John out, things get violent. A shaky truce forms between them, but tension lingers. John’s father makes a surprise visit, and a mysterious, powerful force is now targeting Seraphina. Even Arlo and John find themselves pushed to their limits trying to protect her.

The storyline doesn’t backtrack, so new readers will need to start with Volume 1 to follow what’s happening.

Volume 2 launches straight into the action—no lulls, no extra world-building. From the first page, readers are dropped into a world where everyone has a special ability, and not everyone uses theirs for good. uru-chan builds an ominous, tense atmosphere filled with doubt and suspicion, which drives the drama forward.

The artwork supports this tone beautifully. Rich, moody colors—sometimes dark, sometimes light—combine with large panels and close-ups of facial expressions to build tension. Visually, the characters are always easy to distinguish, and the strong characterization shines through.

This series has broad appeal. Whether you’re into manga, adventure, mystery, or supernatural abilities, there’s something here for everyone. Over the year, several of my students gave Volume 1 a try and immediately wanted more. Many even sought it out online. It’s a worthy addition to any summer reading list.

Filed under: Manga, Reviews, Web Comics