Mask (2 Volumes)

孩子帮Apr 2024

3.5

Word count: 328K words
Chapters: 183

Summary

It happened suddenly and quietly. Midway through the term, a mother and daughter moved into the neighborhood—a pair set apart. The daughter, Miyako, came from a single-parent home where her mother had a history of illness. Mixed-race, she had the purest face and the most flawless report card. Her outstanding grades made her a prime candidate for the school's key subsidies; first in everything, perfect in everything, she gradually drew the attention of the student council and the school's seniors. But she did not know the rules of the game at this school—new students must be kept in line. A teacher's favor could not prevent the bullying, and the bullying at school was nothing compared to the cold violence at home. Mockery, isolation, disrespect—the dark season of youth descended upon Miyako. And with it came a dangerous love that hovered at the edge of the line, and a meticulous mystery to be unraveled thread by thread...

Editor's review

Masquerade begins with mixed-race girl Moyako entering a new school, weaving school bullying, cold domestic violence, and a dangerous romance into an intricate puzzle. The author, Haizibang, is skilled at planting suspenseful clues within a youth narrative, letting readers discover the school's hidden "rules of the game" and the student council's power structure as they follow Yako's adjustment to her new environment. The depiction of bullying is not superficial; it advances along three lines at once—teachers' favoritism, classmates' isolation, and cold domestic violence—presenting adolescents' psychological shifts under multiple pressures. The two-volume length gives the story ample room to unfold, with the unraveling of the mystery alternating with tests of emotional boundaries, keeping a tight reading pace. Suitable for readers interested in youth suspense and campus themes, and for those who want to see character growth and psychological portrayal within genre fiction. While reading, pay attention to Yako's progression from being controlled to actively confronting the rules—this is the most compelling part of the book.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy youth suspense and campus genre fiction
Readers interested in issues such as school bullying and cold domestic violence
Readers who prefer two-volume serials and can accept longer buildup
Readers concerned with adolescent psychological growth and identity

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping for light, sweet campus romance
Readers sensitive to oppressive content such as bullying and cold violence
Readers who prefer standalone, fast-paced short works

Reading tips

Read the first volume to establish character relationships and school rules before moving into the mystery in the second volume; avoid skipping.
Pay attention to details in Yako's interactions with her mother and student council seniors—these are key to understanding the mystery.
Pause when reading bullying and cold violence passages, and consider the characters' motives in light of their circumstances rather than focusing only on plot.
After finishing, revisit the opening description of Yako's "perfect transcript" to appreciate the author's foreshadowing and echo.

版权信息
第1章不得接触的男生
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第2章逆风茉莉
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第3章月桂情人
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第4章醉蜜斜阳
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第5章倔强的赤兔
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第6章燃烧的冰块
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第7章人鱼之乐
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第8章受宠潘多拉
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第9章侵者为王
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第10章数字狂欢
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第11章另一只狮子
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第12章卢清女神
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第13章长剑与恋人
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第14章独占王国
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第15章暴力玫瑰
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第16章烫
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第17章我爱你
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第18章我恨你
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第19章段氏掌伶
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第20章再别海湾
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第21章如果爱下去
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FAQ

Is this a complete story or does it require waiting for a sequel?

Masquerade is published in two complete volumes; together they form a complete story that readers can finish in one go, with no need to wait for sequels.

Are there many bullying scenes, and is it depressing to read?

Bullying is an important thread driving the story, presented through classmate isolation, the failure of teacher favoritism, and cold domestic violence; the overall atmosphere is somewhat oppressive, but the author also lays out a mystery and emotional storyline, so the reading experience is not uniformly heavy.

What role does Moyako's mixed-race identity play in the story?

Yako's mixed-race identity contrasts with her "purest face and most perfect transcript," making her the focus of the school's attention and control and deepening her isolation—an important background for understanding her psychology.

Is it suitable for middle school students?

The book involves school bullying, cold domestic violence, and a dangerous romance that skirts boundaries; the themes are relatively heavy, so it is recommended for older readers with some capacity for judgment, and younger readers may discuss it under the guidance of teachers or parents.

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About the author

孩子帮 Author

Haizibang is an author about whom limited public information is available. The library currently holds only one work by this author: the two-volume suspense and mystery novel Mask (Jiamian). Based on this information, the author's writing centers on suspense and mystery, and the image of the "mask" tends to point to themes such as disguised identity, hidden truth, and the many sides of human nature. The work is divided into two volumes, suggesting a substantial narrative scope and relatively complex plotlines, which may appeal to readers who enjoy a layered, puzzle-solving reading experience. Because the author's real name, nationality, dates of birth and death, and writing background have not been made public, no further account of the author's life or creative development can be given. This introduction is based solely on the work information in the library and its common classification, with a focus on the author's thematic orientation and the character of the work.