Cardcaptor sakura vol 4 by clamp

Sakura’s family goes on a weekend vacation to a lake house, and Sakura befriends a nice old man at a much larger lake house next door. He serves her tea and gives her one of his granddaughter’s dresses. It turns out that he’s related to Sakura, but he doesn’t reveal himself to her. Then, it’s time for the annual talent show, and Sakura’s class is going to put on The Sleeping Beauty play. The teachers decide to cast roles by playing the ladder game - Sakura is cast as the prince, and Li-san is cast as Aurora! But the play isn’t without incident as another Clow Card shows up to challenge Sakura. We also learn how her teacher, Mizuki-sensei, is involved with the Clow Cards as she reveals herself to Kero-Chan.

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This volume has a beautifully bittersweet moment with Sakura and the old man since the audience is going to know a lot more than Sakura. I had some reservations and "stranger-danger" feelings while reading it, but the realization is so satisfying. The casting and execution of the play with Sakura's cast is amusing. We also see a major transition in this volume - Li starts to have feelings for Sakura instead of Yukito, but of course Sakura is still oblivious. This book has the nastiest of the cliffhangers thus far, so readers will definitely want to get right back into it with volume five.

Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 4-8

Reviews of previous volumes in this series: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3

Publisher: Kodansha
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
ISBN: 9781632368768 (Hardcover)

​Tags: Rating: 9/10, Suitability: Elementary School, Suitability: Middle School, Manga, Magical Girl, Action Adventure, Friendship, LGBTQ+, Kodansha