The competition is underway as best friends compete for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to become pop stars in volume 2 of this funny, feel-good manga series, perfect for fans of K-On!, The Tryout , and The Baby-sitters Club. Hikaru and her best friend, Ran, have made it past auditions... and now the real tests begin: dance tests, vocal tests, nerve-racking rankings, and devastating eliminations, all to see who has the star potential to make it through to the next round. The competition is growing fierce, and with so much talent in the room, Hikaru will need to dig deep to let her voice shine. Praise for Hikaru in the Light! : A Best Graphic Novel for Children, American Library Association A Finalist for Best New Manga, American Manga Awards Selected for 2025 Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List – Grades 6-8 "[B]right, fresh manga perfect for younger readers... The gentle story, noticeably lacking in violence, focuses on friendship and self-determination, which is sure to appeal to younger readers looking for stories with heart, especially elementary-schoolers who dream of pop stardom." -- Booklist , starred review "This exciting and uplifting manga is perfect for readers who love stories about music, friendship, and becoming brave enough to come out of one's shell." -- School Library Journal "Hikaru's endearing attempts to believe in herself and dive into the unknown -- both during the audition process as well as her tumultuous transition into high school -- delight in this feel-good graphic novel." -- Publishers Weekly "The thrill of competition takes the spotlight in this intense series installment." -- Kirkus Reviews Mai Matsuda is a manga artist from Chiba, Japan. Her works include Houkago Kitaku Biyori and Kinshi-chou Night Survive .