While dusting my book shelf and muttering that I need more space, I can't help but notice this worn out gem. It's funny to remember that one of the reason why I started this site in the first place is to share with the world how much I love this particular manga. Four years later, that's exactly what I'm doing.

It's interesting to note that this manga is the first one of its kind published in Indonesia. After several dozen requests for more, Elexmedia must have decided that it is worth it to print out more manga.

Candy Candy is a classic that had been translated to a dozen languages, among them Korean, Chinese, Spanish and Italian. There's an incredible old fashioned charm about this book reminiscent of Louise May Alcott's Eight Cousins with the same American setting with a family who have a Scottish background, but I digress.

The story revolved around the orphan Candice White. Left by her parents on the steps of an orphanage as a baby and raised by the kindly nun and principal. Being a little too boisterous for most family looking to adopt a nice, quiet child she eventually left the orphanage to work as a maid in the Regan household. Being a cheerful child she adjusted to her unexpected future. Unfortunately the family also have two incredibly spoiled children by the name of Neil and Eliza, whose hobby is to torment Candy.

Help comes in the unexpected form of three boys who lived nearby. One of them bearing an uncanny resemblance to a young man who had comforted her as a child when her friend Annie left the orphanage. As a token of remembrance he left a brooch which Candy treasured. The three boys by the name of Anthony, Archie and Alistair belonged to the Audrey clan. The Legan family being just a minor branch in this old and prosperous family. Try as much as they can, her three friends cannot always shelter her from Eliza's taunts or Neil's teasing. In addition to her three saviours is a mysterious stranger by the name of Albert, a wanderer whom Candy met by accident while walking around in the woods.

One day after being accused of stealing a guest's handkerchief, they banished her to Mexico. Luckily a mysterious stranger spirited her off by order of the mysterious Uncle William, the patriarch of the Audrey family. She was reinstated back at the Audrey family home, and was later adopted into the family by Uncle William. Things were never completely rosy, though being adopted by Uncle William, Grandmother Elroy the eldest matriarch in the family can make life quite difficult for her. To say more would be to ruin the entire storyline, but it's fair to say that there are many unexpected twists and turns which made this novel a classic.

The drawing style of this particular manga is suited so well to the story line, that it's difficult to believe it was a collaborative work by two authors. There are many imitation of the same story line by other authors, notably Hanabusa Youko, but they never quite measure up to the sparking quality presented in this manga. I'm not ashamed to say that when I first read this, I fell in love completely with the characters and in my mind I can easily step into a world based on this storyline. In hindsight, and through slightly older and more cynical eyes, it's easy to see that some of the plot lines are improbable to say the least, but the charm and freshness is undeniable. If you ever have the chance, I urge you to find it.

It's that good.

Candice White

She's a lovely character due to her cheerfulness as well as tomboy behaviour. If she was a complete Pollyanna, I doubt I would have been able to read it from start to finish. Probably the most interesting thing about Candy, is the relationships that she have with the other male characters. Her romances are quite tragic in most cases, but the way she handles it with poise will always make the reading a pleasure.

Anthony Brown
The object of Candy's first love. I've always thought he's rather bland in comparison with other male characters. He's a sensitive boy who feels deeply. The attraction he felt for Candy in part due to the fact that she?s the complete opposite of him.

Alistair
Anthony's cousin and playmate since they were both ankle biters. Did I mention that I was completely obsessed with this character? He's a complete klutz, and though an aspiring inventor, none of his invention ever works the way they are supposed to. This being part of his charm, as he never seems to give up, no matter how ridiculous the invention is. What I love about him is that in unexpected moments he can show you a mature side which is in total contrast to his every day demeanour.

Archie
Alistair's younger brother, and completely unlike him in every respect. He?s the epitome of a dandy, wearing incredibly flashy clothes while charming every female in sight. Though he always pokes fun at his brother's inventions, he's also the first person who will jump in with a wrench to see where the invention went wrong. Unlike his brother he's quite hot tempered, and would be the first one to raise his fist if he feels it's necessary.

Y.W © 1997-2001 updated 27/01/01 natane@oocities.com