Chi : une vie de chat, tome 12

チーズスイートホーム [Chi's Sweet Home] #12

by Kanata Konami

Chi vient de retrouver sa maman. Malheureusement, c'est également l'heure pour la famille Yamada de partir vivre à l'étranger. Qui, de sa famille d'adoption ou de sa famille biologique, Chi va-t-elle choisir ?
Décidément, la vie de chat n'est pas de tout repos !

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Cats, Animals, Comics, Fiction, Humor

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2015

About the author

Konami Kanata (jp. こなみかなた), is a Japanese cartoonist best known for her cat characters Chi's Sweet Home. Her works revolves around the daily life of house cats.

She went to Futaba-Kōtō Academy in Suwa, Nagano Perfecture. Her first published manga as a profesional manga-ka was the short story Puchi Neko Jamu Jamu in Nakayoshi Manga Magazine in 1982. The magazine is a part of Kodansha Publishing, in which she published her works ever since her first debut.

[From English and German's Wikipedia]

Reviews

[Carol Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hace mucho tiempo empecé a coleccionar este manga y leí los tres primeros tomos, pero se publicaban cada seis meses y perdía el hilo, así que decidí esperar y leerlo del tirón cuando estuviera completo. Lo tengo comprado en su totalidad desde hace tiempo, pero es ahora cuando he visto el hueco. La verdad es que de aquellos tres primeros tomos recordaba algunas cosas, pero no la mayoría, y ha sido un placer volver a leerlos y poder leer por fin la historia de Chi completa.

No se me ocurre nada malo que decir acerca de este manga, me ha encantado. Chi es una gatita bebé que es recogida de la calle por una familia que tiene un niño pequeño, y la relación entre ambos me ha gustado mucho y me ha parecido muy entrañable. Me ha recordado mucho a mis primeras andanzas con gatos cuando era pequeña. La forma en que Chi se va adaptando y va despertando al mundo es muy real, porque el manga está muy representando desde su punto de vista y la lógica gatuna está captada a la perfección. Como digo, hay momentos entrañables, cómicos, tristes, emotivos… Los dos últimos tomos en especial me han emocionado mucho.

El dibujo es una delicia porque, además de tener un estilo de lo más cuqui, está cuidadísimo y está coloreado por completo. Se nota que está hecho con mucho mimo y que la autora lo hizo desde el corazón (está en parte basado en la historia real de su hijo y su gatita). Creo que es un manga imprescindible para los amantes de los gatos, es imposible no identificarse con muchas de las situaciones expuestas. Lo único que me ponía un poco nerviosa es que Chi fuera tan aventurera y se fuera de paseo fuera de casa; sufrí por si se perdía XD

Maravilloso en todos los sentidos, he quedado enamorada.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for the series as a whole. I think what I loved best is that, despite talking amongst themselves, the cats act like cats. I recognize a lot of behaviors that I've seen in the cats that I know and love. There is, eventually, a bit of a story, about Chi's first home. Of course, it ends happily, because how could it not? This is not a series built for an unhappy ending. I think my niece will love it, and for me, it was the perfect thing to read during a stressful time at work.

[lottareadsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nyt ne loppu :'( tykkäsin ihan liikaa<3

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un buen final para esta historia. Aunque echaré de menos a esta gatita tan movida y sus travesuras y mal humor.

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent conclusion to the Chi’s Sweet Home series. My whole family has loved reading this very cute seinen manga featuring a young family with an inquisitive cat.

Chi has finally realized that the grey striped cat is her mom. This happens right around the same time her human family realizes that missing cat posters are looking for Chi. The family is torn; should they bring Chi back to her original home? Or do they keep her with them? They are relocating to France and need to decide before they make the move. Yohei, their toddler, is dead set against losing his best friend. In the end the only one who can make the decision is Chi herself.

This was a surprisingly tense and emotional Chi’s Sweet Home. Chi has to make a tough choice: live with her siblings and mom or live with the human family she loves. Chi is just as cute as ever, but there definitely isn’t a lot of humor in here.

Normally I say that this manga is for all ages; but there are a couple scenes in here that might be a little intense for very young readers. There is a scene where Chi’s kitty mom protects Chi and is injured which had my eight year old very concerned. Then at the end Chi is racing against time to get where she wants to be; this scene again had my son very upset because he was very concerned Chi wouldn’t make it home in time. These scenes are both intense and very sweet. To be honest everyone in the family was a bit emotional over the outcome; we have just grown to love this family and little cat so much.

As with all the other volumes this one is well illustrated and has beautiful pastel colors and incredibly cute kitties. We really enjoyed the illustration. This volume does wrap up the Chi’s Sweet Home series very nicely. Although to be honest we were all a bit disappointed and sad to see it end.

The only thing that wasn’t wrapped up was some of the side character plots. All of us wanted to know; what about Cocchi? Will he be alone forever?

Overall a spectacular wrap up to the Chi’s Sweet Home series; really really well done. This is an excellent seinen manga that cat lovers of all ages will enjoy. I highly recommended it. Now can we please see a spin-off series where Cocchi gets some resolution too? Pretty Please?

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last volume and it was quite good! Chi has to make a choice, stay with her real family or with her new (well, not that new anymore) family and go to France with them. I was so worried which choice she would make but in the end I am happy. I would have liked more of an epilogue though, see how those first days/weeks went.

[Elene Figuer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todo un descubrimiento. Simpática y entrañable, aunque supongo que solo para amantes de los gatitos como yo.

[Lynn Dubinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

That series was too cute!

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chi has an important decision to make, one that will affect her as well as her human families and her birth family. One might think that most difficult decision a kitten might make is where to sleep or when to eat. But no! Chi’s whole future depends on what she decides to do. With delightful illustrations and insightful writing, this series has been nothing but pleasurable from beginning to end.

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cutest. Series. Ever.



Kittens, kittens, and more kittens. Cuteness overload.

Some scenes that had me tearing up a bit.

If you like kittens, just read the whole thing.

[Bobby Hougen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Chi's Sweet Home series review coming soon...

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfecto cierre para lo que ha sido un manga bonito, entretenido y con personajes muy carismáticos. Comenzando por la pequeña, inocentona y traviesa protagonista Chi, sus padre adoptivos de buen corazón, y, como no, los secundarios que Inter actúan con ella en la calle y alrededores de su hábitat casero: como Kochi, el gato callejero, La peculiar gata de ‘La abuela y su gato gordo’, y, especialmente, Kuro Neko, el gato negro que fue el primer contacto de Chi con el mundo exterior y un imprescindible mentor, cariñoso y sabio al mismo tiempo.
Todos ellos han aparecido repetidamente, con importantes intervenciones y casi primordiales todas ellas, en éste último tramo de las vivencias en manga de Chi; cosa que ha hecho que me reconciliara con los orígenes de ésta encantadora novela Nipona Gráfica, pues en su parte final ha recuperado toda su esencia.
Su conclusión, aunque previsible, deja una buena sensación de acierto por parte de nuestra protagonista frente a su dilema y elección final; sobretodo por que muchos en su caso no lo han tenido, desgraciadamente (y poco más puedo decir, lo comprenderéis cuando lo leáis)...bueno, tan sólo me queda añadir dos cosas:
1/ Pobrete Kuro Nero (véase epílogo)...es un sentimental, xd!..y qué sabio y bueno / resolutivo resulta al final; es un imprescindible en el manga, sin duda alguna:D
2/ ¿para cuándo un spin off del gato Negro? (..nunca me cansaré de decirlo)

[Tsumiki Hajira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lambat discover manga ni... A must-read for cat lovers!
Bila baca manga ni, mulalah ada rasa nak jerit kat pembenci kucing - what a terrible creature, torturing such a poor, innocent puff furry little thing.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ame esta serie con todo mi corazón 😍!

[Fanja Evers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pfff ce foutu manga a presque réussi à me faire monter les larmes sur la fin !

[Helga Victim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Найчудовіше завершення наймилішої серії

[Laurel Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waah! Chi has been returned to her original home with her momma and siblings. Yohei is heartbroken and his family is getting ready to move to France. Chi must decide where her true home is.

It has been truly delightful getting to know Chi and Yohei and their friends and families. The drawings capture the essence of kittenhood perfectly. As a cat "mom" all of Chi's antics and dilemmas are thoroughly familiar to me. These 12 volumes are a complete story arc, but I sure hope there will be more adventures ahead.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad for this super sweet graphic novel series to end. Little kitten Chi has finally found his mom at the same time that Yohei's family is preparing to move to France. What's the best thing for the cat? What's the best thing for the family? It's bittersweet.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!!!

[˗ˏˋ mckenna ˎˊ˗ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww I loved revisiting this series again as an adult! Such a bittersweet, adorable story! 🐈‍⬛🤍

[Alyssa Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I cry? Yes.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edición española, tomo final, aunque para completar la serie todavía nos faltan los nºs 1 y 9 al 11.

[Nieves Herrán López · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este manga es precioso y muy divertido de leer, me he reído y he llorado, ha sido genial leerlo.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished out the series by reading this last one in the complete series volume 4 because my work didn’t have a copy of just volume 12.

I liked that it wrapped up in a fairly neat way, but it REALLY bothered me that Yohei’s parents kept the fact that they found a lost kitten to themselves just to not upset their (tbh, at that point, kinda bratty) son and that when Yohei also found out Chi belonged to someone he didn’t want to give her back. They came across as really entitled and Yohei seemed very spoiled.

I’m glad he finally decided they should take Chi aka Sarah back to her family and that she got to spend them with her real mom & siblings (but man I could’ve done with the sad moment when we thought her mom might be hurt or killed by getting hit by the car!).

I also liked that Chi’s mom gave her the choice on whether she wanted to stay or go back “home” to Yohei and his parents. Personally with how they acted I hoped Chi would choose her cat mom and siblings 😅 - Yohei was like 3… he would’ve gotten over it soon enough.

Once again, I wasn’t impressed with the humans who just decide “Chi found us so we should probably just take her with us now” - I am hopeful as part of the story they told her other human family but something tells me they just up and kidnapped her to France. 😅 Truly, if there was going to be a scene of them saying they’d take her that probably would’ve been in the story. (I would’ve preferred had they actually asked and the woman who had her mom and other siblings and she realized Chi/Sarah had bonded with them… then ALL the loose ends would’ve been tired up better.)

I didn’t much care for the humans aka Yohei and his parents from a few volumes back because they didn’t always do a great job taking care of her so even though I guess it’s a happy ending, I wasn’t happy. 😂

But personally I wish she’d stayed with her cat mom and siblings - we spent so many issues watching her play and bond with them and the other cats in the area (like poor little Cocchi who probably thinks she’d still be around!), it would’ve been a more satisfying ending to have her stay.

[Arianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story that depicts the love and affection between kids, humans and animals and also how animals can differ in their personality depending on what destiny they encounter.
The story is very light and easy to read, the drawings are just incredibly cute and expressive. I could not imagine in any better way how Chi could be portrayed if not with this big curious eyes.
I loved the care for the drawings and, despite being quite long, the story doesn't get boring at all, even if we are speaking just of cats.
I also enjoyed of course a lot the typical japanese "family life" that shines through each volume.
The italian edition which I read (Panini Comics) is also very well done and fully worthy the price per volume.
Adorable!

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This came in a mystery Click & Collect bag from our library during lockdown. We had no idea that it was the final book in a series and actually worked fine as a stand-alone book. I had to look through it myself first as Miss 7 found it quite emotional at times and I needed to be able to reassure her that it would end happily. We both really enjoyed it. She loved that the cats have two languages (what they are saying and what the humans hear). Our foster kitten was also intrigued by all the meowing!

Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say I cried at the ending, I mean I cried. Tears and all.

I keep thinking it's not fair but you know, that's just life. I'm so happy it ended this way and also Kocchi got adopted by Chi's mother... Chi got her family. The mother got to see her baby Sara again and Kocchi got adopted. I wanted all of them to be together but I think this is the second best ending! Also, Kuroi in the last montage just scratching up trees... mood. I love this series so much!!! I'm gonna miss this!!!

[Veritas666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das ist Band 12 und der letzte Band von der "Kleine Katze Chi" Reihe von Konami Kanata

Ich weiß nicht ob ich lachen oder weinen soll. Dieser Band war sehr emotional. Einerseits fand ich Chis entscheidung sehr gut, andererseits traurig da er auch dadurch viel verliert. Das Leben ist eben voller Entscheidungen.

Obwohl die Manga Reihe meiner Meinung eher etwas für jüngeres Publikum ist, habe ich mich sehr unterhalten gefühlt.

[Marjorie C. Ferryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'histoire commence avec Chi qui a perdu sa maman, l'histoire ne pouvait se finir qu'avec Chi qui la retrouve. Nous en apprenons plus sur sa maman chat, ses frères et soeurs, son vrai petit nom. (Et non, elle ne s'appelle pas Chi !) Mais sans spoiler, je préfère vous laisser lire ce douzième et dernier tome qui est super ! Mon seul regret et qu'il s'agit du dernier tome et que l'heure des au revoirs à Chi et tous ses amis chats et chatons arrive...

[Anna C · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's this typical shoujo ending in this seinen story featuring little kitten, but still made me burst in tears despite its cliché. So 5 stars for you, sensei.
Honestly I still don't want this to end at vol 12,I want a sequel of this, maybe another 12 vols featyring Chii's daily life in her new country.