Guru Guru Pon-Chan 1 [Paperback]

Satomi Ikezawa (Author)

Book Description

Series: Guru Guru Pon-Chan | Publication Date: July 26, 2005

RUFF RUFF LIFE

Ponta is a Labrador retriever puppy, the Koizumi family’s pet. She’s full of energy and usually up to some kind of mischief. But when Grandpa Koizumi, an amateur inventor, creates the Guru Guru Bone, Ponta’s curiosity causes trouble. She nibbles the bone–and turns into a human girl!

Surprised but undaunted, Ponta ventures out of the house and meets Mirai Iwaki, the most popular boy at school. When Mirai saves her from a speeding car, Ponta changes back into her puppy self. Yet much has changed for Ponta during her short adventure as a human. Her heart races and her face flushes when she thinks of Mirai now. She’s in love! Using the power of the Guru Guru Bone, Ponta switches back and forth from dog to girl–but can she win Mirai’s affections?

Winner of the Kodansha Manga of the Year Award!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The theme of this goofy shape-changing story recalls Othello by the same author: a caring boy can rescue a mentally challenged transforming girl. Pon-chan is a playful Labrador retriever puppy, and her inadvertently destructive behavior disrupts her family. Then Grandpa invents a bone that's supposed to allow pets to talk, but when Pon-chan swallows it, she turns into a little girl. At first, the humor revolves around the expected contrast between dog and human behavior: it's a bit shocking to see a naked child pooping on the lawn or jumping unashamedly on a stranger. The silly stuff is just a setup for a more meaningful story line, though, as Pon-chan falls in love with the neighbor boy. Several months later, she's an adult dog, which makes her a teenager who must be sneaked into school when she transforms. She learns to speak, but she's still a dog mentally, sticking her head out the school bus window or fetching a Frisbee in her teeth. The cartoony art is full of caricatures, with frequently exaggerated expressions to sell the emotion. Although much of the book is broad comedy, the emotional underpinnings give the story a sweetly appealing side as well. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up–Lovable dog Ponta has become human after swallowing a new invention, The Chit-Chat Bone. Transformed into an attractive young woman, she nevertheless continues to act like a dog, enthusiastically jumping on her friends and eating greedily from her lunchmates' bowls. Ponta's transformation is not permanent, though, and she constantly switches between her canine and human states. Melodrama kicks in as she agonizes over her human crush, Mirai, sadly realizing that love between dogs and humans can never be. Goofy asides and sound effects fill the frames, and characters' features and emotional reactions are comically exaggerated. This exuberant, untidy style reflects Ponta's giddy and confused mood swings, and readers will find it hard not to root for such an endearing heroine.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (July 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345480953
• ISBN-13: 978-0345480958
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 7.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #498,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute Puppy Love, March 13, 2006

By 

C. L. Cooke "Animator in Training" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Guru Guru Pon-Chan 1 (Paperback)

My name is Christy and I really like to read manga for its storylines and imagery. =)

I'm a fan of manga, especially if it involves stories of romance and adventure. This tale is especially good because of this girl's difficulty to relate to humans. It is hilarious and charming. And a read not to miss for the romance-less or romance-lovers. ^^

I'm also now collecting the series because I love it so much! =^^=

AND the price is good! =P

IT TRULY IS PUPPY LOVE! ^-^

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable and Deep Series, August 9, 2011

By 

Baileychan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guru Guru Pon-Chan 1 (Paperback)

This was a very adorable series, which is the reason I read it, that and I was dog crazy at the time. BUt dont be decieved by the cuteness of the story: it actually is very mature and deep, and isnt a kids manga. But you do very much end up falling in love with Ponta and Mirai. At times, the series does seem to go a little fast, but it has the right level of drama and romance that a book series needs

5.0 out of 5 stars Is it puppy love?, February 10, 2010

By 

Veen (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guru Guru Pon-Chan 1 (Paperback)

Guru Guru Pon-chan stars the story of a yellow Labrador named Ponta, who with the power of a mistake-of-invention device called the Guru Guru Bone can turn into a human when she kisses it. Quickly down the road, she falls in love with the handsome Mirai who lives next door. Determined to prove a love between a human and a dog is possible she sets out on an adventure which includes things like high school, to win the boy's heart.

Now, I never liked romances or anything shojo at that. But Guru Guru Pon-chan is a hilarious, heartwarming book about a Romeo&Juliet like story. Now, I know most people would think that this sort of love is wrong (and I agree with that) but everyone is convinced the love is true. Confused with human life, Ponta is no where near "perfect" like a normal main female shojo girl. Always getting into trouble with her dog instincts creates a easygoing, loveable character that never gets you annoyed.
Mirai falls within that as well. He just goes along with Ponta's "love story" but ends up falling for her as well, yet constantly reminded that she is, indeed, still a dog despite her human appearance leading to many of the two's adventures.

Short, with only 9 volumes Guru Guru Pon-chan is a full, beautiful story with brilliant art. It doesn't lack a plot at all and every volume keeps the reader entertained full time.

I'd recommend this series to all manga fans.