Ascendance of a Bookworm

Ascendance of a Bookworm (本好きの下剋上 ～司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません～, Honzuki no Gekokujō: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan o Erandeiraremasen, Ascendance of a Bookworm: I'll Stop at Nothing to Become a Librarian) is a Japanese fantasy light novel series written by Miya Kazuki and illustrated by You Shiina. It was serialized online from September 2013 to March 2017 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. It was later acquired by TO Books, who has published thirty-one volumes since January 2015.

A manga adaptation of the first part with art by Suzuka was serialized online via Niconico Seiga website from October 2015 to July 2018. It was collected in seven tankōbon volumes by TO Books. Both the light novel and manga are published in English by J-Novel Club. An anime television series adaptation produced by Ajia-do Animation Works aired the first part from October to December 2019, and the second part aired from April to June 2020. A two-part OVA episode released in March 2020. A third season aired from April to June 2022.

Synopsis
Urano Motosu's lifelong dream to become a librarian comes true. Luck is not on her side, however, as a plethora of books falls on her during an earthquake. On the verge of death, she begs God to be reborn surrounded by nothing but books.

Her wish is fulfilled, albeit not how she expected: Urano is reincarnated as Myne—a sickly five-year-old child with an ardent desire to read—in another world where the upper class controls knowledge, and only the privileged have access to written works. As a commoner, Myne is distraught that she will never be able to find what she is yearning for.

To obtain books, Myne decides she should make them herself. Currently, she is but a kid thrust into an unknown place—but nothing will not stop Myne from achieving her goal.

Light Novels
Ascendance of a Bookworm was originally published by Miya Kazuki as a free-to-read web novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2013 until it was acquired by TO Books which published the first volume in print in their TO Bunko imprint with illustrations by You Shiina in January 2015. As of August 2022, the series will have accumulated over 30 volumes, divided into five parts. The light novel is published in English by J-Novel Club. In May 2019, J-Novel Club released the first official English translation of Part 1 volume 1.

Manga
A manga adaptation was published by TO Books and follows similar format as the novels. Part 1, subtitled If there aren't any books, I'll just have to make some! (本がないなら作ればいい!, Hon ga nainara tsukureba ī!), was illustrated by Suzuka, serialized in Comic Corona from October 2015 to July 2018, and was compiled into a total of seven volumes. Suzuka continued to illustrate Part 2 subtitled I'll even join the temple to read books! (本のためなら巫女になる！, Hon no tamenara miko ni naru!) which began serialization in Comic Corona on September 24, 2018 and currently has a total of eight volumes. Part 3 subtitled Let's spread books through the duchy! (領地に本を広げよう！, Ryōchi ni hon o hirogeyou!) is illustrated by Ryo Namino and began serialization in Comic Corona despite Part 1 still being ongoing at the time. Part 3 currently has six volumes. Part 4 is illustrated by Hikaru Katsuki and began serialization on December 24, 2020 also in Comic Corona and currently has a total of five volumes. The manga adaptation is also published in English by J-Novel Club.

Reception
The series has sold over 8 million copies across physical and digital sales combined as of October 31, 2022. The series ranked fifth in 2017, first in 2018 and 2019, second in 2020 and 2021, and third in 2022 in Takarajimasha's annual light novel guide book Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!, in the tankōbon category.

The 2nd season of anime was nominated for "Best Fantasy" in 2021's Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

Trivia
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