Beastars Vol 3 by Paru Itagaki

Legoshi and the drama department are invited to join in with creating floats and other designs for the Festival of the Meteor, the day animals commemorate the meteor that brought about the extinction of the dinosaurs. since they have plenty of experience making backdrops for the plays.  Legoshi runs into the rabbit, Haru, again, and can't explain the magnetism he has towards her.  Is it predatory? does he like her? Later, the students go out into the city below their school, and they inadvertently find themselves at the steps of the Black Market - a place that sells herbivore meat to carnivores in an attempt to help them keep their urges in check.  Legoshi is separated from his friends, and he is forced to confront his nature as a carnivore, and really look at the attraction he has to Haru.

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There are some serious issues being discussed and dealt with in this series, especially this volume, and the use of animals helps the author really delve into the heart of these issues without calling out any specific group.  Legoshi talks about his depression to several friends, and they give him less than stellar advice that he knows is not helpful.  Legoshi coming to terms with his nature as a carnivore makes him examine feelings that could very well be racism or toxic masculinity in a world with no animals.  I also appreciated seeing the world outside of the school, as to this point, it seemed as though they were attending school in the middle of nothing.  I do feel like the murder that starts out the series has been relatively forgotten, perhaps because it happens frequently? Hopefully, we will get to find out which carnivore(s) is eating their classmates.

Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 11-12

Reviews of previous volumes in this series: vol 1, vol 2
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​Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: High School, Manga, School Age, Mystery, Mental Health