The summer doldrums settle in during the first half of the volume as our hero, Hachiken, continues on as a helping hand on a classmate's dairy farm during a school break. The introduction of a new supposed-to-be-wacky character falls flat, and there is not much new or interesting knowledge offered about farm life.

The second half picks up as the students return to school and see how much can change in just a month apart. One change is that the little pig to which Hachiken has become attached is about to be sent off for slaughter. Hachiken's strong and conflicted feelings cause many of students to reflect on their own feelings about killing animals for food. It is not a balanced debate since this is a book promoting established agricultural practices, but it is good to see it touched on at least.

Hachiken's course of action at the end leaves me wanting to see the outcome in the next volume. ( )