Monkey High! Review: She Transferred Schools After a Scandal and Found Herself in a Class Full of Monkeys
by Shouko Akira
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Quick Take
- The shojo romance where the male lead's appeal is specifically that he is small, energetic, and impossible to take seriously as a threat — which makes him the only person Haruna's defenses don't work against
- The political family backstory gives Haruna's reserve more substance than typical "girl who doesn't fit in" setups
- 8 volumes complete; warm, fast, and consistently charming
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who enjoy unexpected romantic pairings where the appeal is personality rather than looks
- Anyone who wants shojo romance where the male lead's energy is the comedic draw
- Fans of quick, complete romance manga that don't overstay their welcome
- Readers who want light romance with a genuine emotional through-line
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Mild romantic content; political scandal as background context
Safe and warm.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★★☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★★ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
Haruna Aizawa has learned to maintain careful distance from people. Her father is a politician whose recent scandal has made her visible in unwanted ways. At her new school, she intends to observe and not engage.
Masaru Yamashita makes this impossible. He is short, energetic, unreservedly friendly, and has apparently decided that Haruna is interesting. He is immune to her coolness and her distance — not because he doesn't notice it, but because he finds it more amusing than intimidating. He has been elected class president through sheer force of cheerful persistence.
The nickname "baby monkey" is not used unkindly — Masaru owns it. His specific energy is the series' draw, and Haruna's very gradual thawing is its emotional arc.
Characters
Haruna Aizawa — Her reserve is genuinely earned rather than inexplicable. Her father's political life has made intimacy complicated in specific ways — what people actually want from her is always shaped by what her family is. Masaru is the first person who seems interested in her specifically.
Masaru Yamashita — His quality is the disarming nature of someone who is completely himself at all times. He is not conventionally attractive by shojo lead standards; the series doesn't pretend otherwise. His appeal is that he is safe and real in ways that Haruna's experience has made rare.
Art Style
Akira's art is clean and expressive — Masaru's specific energy is conveyed through body language and panel composition. The contrast between his dynamic presence and Haruna's contained posture is the visual language the series runs on.
Cultural Context
Monkey High operates in the Betsucomi tradition of character-driven shojo romance with warm comedic sensibility. The political family background is unusual in the subgenre — most shojo family complications involve death or divorce rather than professional scandal, which gives Haruna's situation a more specifically contemporary texture.
What I Love About It
The scene where Haruna realizes that Masaru's persistence is not about breaking through her defenses but about genuinely not finding her distance interesting enough to stop approaching — he isn't trying to unlock her, he just likes her and keeps showing up. The difference matters.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Monkey High as one of the more refreshing shojo romances of the mid-2000s era — the male lead's unconventional appearance and personality are consistently cited as distinguishing it. Haruna's political-family backstory is noted as more interesting than typical transfer-student reasons.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The moment when Haruna genuinely laughs — really laughs, not social performance — for the first time in the series, and what she realizes about what has changed, is the series' emotional turn.
Similar Manga
- My Love Story!! — Unconventional male lead in shojo romance
- Kare Kano — Transfer student romance with more depth
- Fruits Basket — Reserved protagonist learning to open up
- Beauty Pop — Light shojo with an energetic/reserved dynamic
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — Haruna's transfer, her first encounter with Masaru, and the establishment of the dynamic.
Official English Translation Status
VIZ Media published all 8 volumes. Complete and available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Masaru is one of shojo's more genuinely unconventional male leads
- Haruna's reserve has real context rather than being a personality trait without origin
- 8 volumes moves efficiently without feeling rushed
- Warm and consistently pleasant
Cons
- The political backstory is underexplored
- The series is light rather than deep
- Some later complications are more formulaic than the premise
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | VIZ Media; complete |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Monkey High! Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.