What do you think?
Rate this book
Steady Beat #1
Steady Beat, Vol. 1
"Love Jessica"...
That's what Leah finds on the back of a love letter to her sister. But who is this Jessica? When more letters continue to arrive, along with flowers and other gifts, Leah goes undercover to find out her sister's secret. But what she doesn't expect is to discover a love of her own—and in a very surprising place!
Winner of the Manga Academy's Create Your Own Manga competition, Rivkah has crafted a beautiful and haunting comedy-drama that reminds us that there is no such thing as a simple love.
That's what Leah finds on the back of a love letter to her sister. But who is this Jessica? When more letters continue to arrive, along with flowers and other gifts, Leah goes undercover to find out her sister's secret. But what she doesn't expect is to discover a love of her own—and in a very surprising place!
Winner of the Manga Academy's Create Your Own Manga competition, Rivkah has crafted a beautiful and haunting comedy-drama that reminds us that there is no such thing as a simple love.
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2005
5 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 24, 2013
Cute enough story, but I was expecting yuri and it's really the side character who is gay. Not the book's fault!
October 16, 2022
When it takes two days to read a manga, it's never a good sign!
I don't know what to think of this. I don't know what kind of story the author wants to tell.
There's a girl who play soccer and has a sister who's perfect. But said sister may be in a relationship with a woman and their mom wouldn't like it.
Then the girl receives a sort of threatening message and... and... I don't really know what happens after that. New weirds characters appear that don't have any relations with the story so far.
And then, puff, a lot of useless bonus pages and a preview of another Tokyopop manga.
I don't know what to think of this. I don't know what kind of story the author wants to tell.
There's a girl who play soccer and has a sister who's perfect. But said sister may be in a relationship with a woman and their mom wouldn't like it.
Then the girl receives a sort of threatening message and... and... I don't really know what happens after that. New weirds characters appear that don't have any relations with the story so far.
And then, puff, a lot of useless bonus pages and a preview of another Tokyopop manga.
April 17, 2021
I personally found this manga very confusing and hard to follow. I personally found it very difficult to be able to distinquish the different characters. If you are an experienced manga reader, it may be easier but for me who has only completed one manga in the past, it was quite difficult and confusing
November 1, 2020
It was really short but this was also the first comic I've read since high school so maybe that's normal. I feel like the character development for the mom and sister could have been better. I also had a hard time telling the sisters apart with the art style. Considering how short this one was I'm amazed this is only a two volume series. I guess I'll have to get the second one to see what happens though, but like...this one was just fine.
July 1, 2024
Wish I was anything but apathetic right now
December 30, 2016
I should start off by saying that this is the first ever graphic novel I've read!
The story is about a girl named Leah Winters who finds a letter that her sister dropped. It is signed "Love, Jessica" and Leah begins to wonder if her sister is gay. She receives a phone call with the person on the other end saying that they could explain it. She goes to the meeting place and her adventure begins. BUT before any huge plot could come in place the story freakin' ends! I absolutely was not expecting that. There was about 30 more pages, but it was a sample of a completely different story...apparently thats how a lot of comics are. Anyways, I should be getting volume 2 in the mail pretty soon. I will read/review that.
The graphics: Well, this comic is in black/white and, like I said, I have never read a comic before so I don't know what's a great comic and what's not when it comes to the art. I didn't pay a huge amount of attention to the pictures but they looked okay.
The story is about a girl named Leah Winters who finds a letter that her sister dropped. It is signed "Love, Jessica" and Leah begins to wonder if her sister is gay. She receives a phone call with the person on the other end saying that they could explain it. She goes to the meeting place and her adventure begins. BUT before any huge plot could come in place the story freakin' ends! I absolutely was not expecting that. There was about 30 more pages, but it was a sample of a completely different story...apparently thats how a lot of comics are. Anyways, I should be getting volume 2 in the mail pretty soon. I will read/review that.
The graphics: Well, this comic is in black/white and, like I said, I have never read a comic before so I don't know what's a great comic and what's not when it comes to the art. I didn't pay a huge amount of attention to the pictures but they looked okay.
January 10, 2012
This series was the winner of the Manga Academy's Create Your Own Manga competition back in 2005 and it's a YALSA recommended title. Eh. The themes are excellent, I like the idea of Leah trying to understand her sister's love life while she figures out her own but the whole side-plots of soccer, mystery caller, and Elijah's family seems unnecessary. It was all rather trite, I don't really understand why the whole mysterious caller thing is necessary to the plot line. I also didn't like the artwork. Let's be honest, I could not do better and I am not a professional art critic, but I thought that the artwork was a bit amateur and cliche.
I guess my response could be summed up as being: The themes should make it an awesome high YA manga, but the plot and artwork dumb it down.
I feel kind of bad for saying it, but there it is.
I guess my response could be summed up as being: The themes should make it an awesome high YA manga, but the plot and artwork dumb it down.
I feel kind of bad for saying it, but there it is.
November 17, 2011
Steady beat was better and also worse than I was expecting...
For a Manga it was pretty cool the artistic style it was close to what would be the norm. I wasly really impressed by the character's over the top reactions to everything. Also it starts good with a little hint as to the plot line, but fizzels out with the introduction of the boy in the truck and his gay parents. I think it was rather obvious how they were partners, so I'm confused as to how the girl could have missed those really obvious clues.
Over all, if I continue to read this series, its only going to find out whats with her sister, and what their ma's reacting just might be.
For a Manga it was pretty cool the artistic style it was close to what would be the norm. I wasly really impressed by the character's over the top reactions to everything. Also it starts good with a little hint as to the plot line, but fizzels out with the introduction of the boy in the truck and his gay parents. I think it was rather obvious how they were partners, so I'm confused as to how the girl could have missed those really obvious clues.
Over all, if I continue to read this series, its only going to find out whats with her sister, and what their ma's reacting just might be.
November 20, 2008
Rivkah, Steady Beat, vol. 1 (Tokyopop, 2005)
Not at all what I was expecting, I must say. Leah, one of her school's star soccer players, finds a love letter belonging to her sister Sarai signed “Love, Jessica.” And worse, her mother's a Southern senator, and a Republican to boot. Rather than simply asking the question, Leah decides to investigate-- and it doesn't help that there seems to be a blackmailer involved. Not a bad beginning at all. Can't wait till vol. 2 comes in for me. ***
Not at all what I was expecting, I must say. Leah, one of her school's star soccer players, finds a love letter belonging to her sister Sarai signed “Love, Jessica.” And worse, her mother's a Southern senator, and a Republican to boot. Rather than simply asking the question, Leah decides to investigate-- and it doesn't help that there seems to be a blackmailer involved. Not a bad beginning at all. Can't wait till vol. 2 comes in for me. ***
July 23, 2011
I enjoyed this a lot. Got a little confused with the introduction of the boy in the truck the first time through. Now I'm thoroughly annoyed that book 3 never made it out! Yes I never got book 2... but, really? This series seemed interesting and with not less than a little bit of intrigue seemed to await us on the horizon. Tokyopop, not one of your more stellar moments.
February 7, 2016
This book was amazingly refreshing and just plain old awesome. The art was beautiful and the story line was well done. As a side note, I really loved the guy character....like seriously I am almost ashamed.
February 2, 2011
I think I give these lower ratings because what inspired them seem so much stronger in panel layout.
March 26, 2013
I've read alot of graphic novels but this one is really cool! I hope everyone who reads this book likes it as much as I do.
August 12, 2014
This volume starts out wiht Leah finding a love letter to her sister from Jessica! Leah starts trying to find out who Jessica is and what she means to her sister.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews