Graphic Novels

Gr 7 Up–Haruna sees the students in her new school, with their cliques and power struggles, as acting like monkeys on a mountain. She wants to keep to herself, but because she’s beautiful, the boys start vying for her attention and the girls are getting jealous. Atsuyuki is usually the center of attention, so he assumes that Haruna will fall for him. However, his friend Macharu is mesmerized by her, and over time she grows to care for him, too. When she tells him her theory, he asks how she fits into it. It is his honesty that first begins to crack Haruna’s armor, and it creates the first step of their surprising relationship. The other students are preoccupied with this drama, which seems to indicate that either they watch too many soap operas or that they don’t see too many transfer students. The artwork is lively and bright, and the romantic scenes are filled with the prerequisite bright shining eyes and glowing snowflakes, moonbeams, etc. Readers who get caught up in the couple’s first fight, first hand-holding, and first kiss will wait breathlessly for the other volumes in this series.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Gr 1-3–The right combination of bold illustration, large lettering, and action-oriented storytelling makes this original tale perfect for young superhero fans. In simple first-person narrative, Batman reveals his secrets, describing his reasons for fighting crime and highlighting his archenemies. The text infuses humor in the form of onomatopoeia and one-liners. Cosentino’s stylized art is reminiscent of mid-20th-century pulp comics with bold lines and shading. Several illustrations include monochromatic backgrounds featuring enlarged Benday dots à la Roy Lichtenstein’s Pop Art. From the bat wings depicted in the grillwork of the Wayne Manor gate to a rat perching on a Gotham City trash can, the layering of different elements and textures adds great interest to the pictures, and the details will draw children back again and again. The layout tends toward that of a picture book with full pages and spreads, though a comic-book aesthetic is maintained by the frequent use of borders, word boxes, and sound effects. Series of panels number no more than four, making it easy for children to follow the action. Humor is also found in the facial expressions of the characters as they are foiled by Batman. This well-constructed and effective introduction to this hero and comic-book elements will have children revisiting the Dark Knight until the pages wear thin.–Kim T. Ha, Elkridge Branch Library, MD

K-Gr 2–Stinky the monster is content in the smelly swamp that he shares with his pet toad and other friendly animals until a boy from the nearby town wanders into the area. Stinky is afraid of kids because they are so different from him. They like to take baths and eat apples and candy while he loves mud and pickled onions. When he tries to scare the boy away, he discovers that the boy is also fond of toads and enjoys exploring the “muckiest” part of the swamp, and the two become friends. The charming cartoon artwork, full of humorous details, complements the text, and the muted color scheme makes Stinky endearing rather than scary. The simple vocabulary and repetition of words make the text accessible for emergent readers, who will love the graphic-novel format. The engaging plot shows young readers that it’s possible to make friends with those who may seem very different from themselves.–Mari Pongkhamsing, St. Perpetua School, Lafayette, CA

Gr 6 Up–In the standard Beowulf story, the character appears as a full-fledged hero, with little concept of how he actually became one. Fajardo tells the backstory, using a blend of humor and soap-opera plot twists. The book opens with a “prologue” that admirably and entertainingly sums up the classic story in just seven pages of poetry and panel art. This section contains several warnings that men “twist the truth,” and the rest of the book purports to show just who Beowulf really was. Part One tells the story of his ancestors, including how several of them meet the dragon that is waiting for someone else from their bloodline for his ultimate battle. This dragon makes a deal with Hrothgar to help him rule the land, but the combining of their blood causes unforeseen problems when Hrothgar’s wife becomes pregnant with what will one day become Gertrude. Part Two covers the events leading up to Beowulf’s birth–as Grendel’s twin brother. It isn’t until Part Three that readers finally see Beowulf as a boy who has no idea of his convoluted family heritage. When he rescues another boy by killing a sea serpent, his abilities become apparent to those around him. The cartoon-style illustrations are lively and contain lots of visual humor. This book will be most enjoyable to readers familiar with the original story as they’ll be able to understand all of the references and appreciate the jokes.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Gr 6 Up–Evie’s father, Dr. Richard Wymond, a preeminent nano-biologist, is locked in a nearly five-year struggle to devise an advanced superhuman to send as a delegate into space, as requested by the mechanized emissaries sent five years earlier. Dr. Wymond has created the ZETTA serum, which, in a solitary lab rat, creates nanoscopic machines that interact with the body on an atomic level, weakened only by electromagnetic force. With five hours to go before the emissaries return to retrieve the delegate, Dr. Wymond learns that all of the candidates have been assassinated, and he must inject himself with the serum and travel into space. On the way to a rare visit with her father, Evie and her mother are slammed by a diesel truck, leaving Evie on the brink of death. In a split-second decision, Dr. Wymond injects his daughter with the serum, and, like the Bionic Woman, she is saved from death, but with side effects. Seventeen years old and superhuman, she boards the alien ship and serves as Earth’s delegate to an intergalactic congress. Both the story line and graphics more closely resemble a traditional superhero comic (Batman, Superman, etc.) than manga. Featuring intergalactic politics last seen in Star Wars (Dark Horse), including one creature whose lingo is suspiciously Yoda-esque, eV should appeal to middle school readers. As Evie is both brainy and beautiful, both male and female readers should enjoy this highly readable graphic novel.–Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA

Gr 5 Up–This is the tale as you’ve never seen it before. After using her hair to free herself from her prison tower, this Rapunzel ignores the pompous prince and teams up with Jack (of Beanstalk fame) in an attempt to free her birth mother and an entire kingdom from the evil witch who once moonlighted as her “mother.” Dogged by both the witch’s henchman and Jack’s outlaw past, the heroes travel across the map as they right wrongs, help the oppressed, and generally try to stay alive. Rapunzel is no damsel in distress–she wields her long braids as both rope and weapon–but she happily accepts Jack’s teamwork and friendship. While the witch’s castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after.–Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, New York Public Library

Gr 3-5–Seven stories, in chronological order, introduce women in various times and countries who passed for men in order to get around restrictive societal codes. Most of the selections are quietly charming, with a mild wit in their execution. The bold black-and-white art clearly depicts each account, allowing breathing room for both the occasional piece of visual flair and the accessible narratives. Most of the stories feel similar in tone and presentation. There are variations in the storytelling, just not always for the best. The chapter on James Barry is curiously disconnected, as if the author were lacking credible sources, and the one on Ellen Craft is considerably narrower in scope and event than those of her fellows. But the tale of the Viking pirate Alfhild is undeniably fun, and the ending and message with regard to a girl fighting during the American Civil War provide an effective close for the volume. Amiable and slight, the book ends with a brief list of books that expand on each figure.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

Gr 8 Up–For fans of the classic television program, Kneece’s adaptations of two well-known episodes into comic format will be a delight. Both have the weird and creepy elements that the show was known for, using the supernatural to comment on the real world. After Hours is the story of a mannequin who has forgotten her identity and believes that she is a real woman; the scene in which she is locked in a department store after hours has all the eerie feel that it would have had on screen. Walking Distance features a man traveling back in time to witness his childhood and has the message that reclaiming your past is impossible. Because of this, the latter is more likely to appeal to adults than teens. In addition, the dated and mono-cultural nature of the stories and images, both designed to reflect the feel of the 1950s world of Twilight Zone, may be off-putting to students expecting the adaptations to have a more modern or diverse feel. The stories are exceptionally well told and are brilliantly adapted to a new medium, but their nostalgic feel is more likely to suit those familiar with the television show.–Alana Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT

Gr 3-5–These titles do very little to bring the fascinating stories to life. Even the most dramatic moments are rendered flat by the generic and dull illustrations and mediocre writing. The plots are oversimplified, losing all the suspense and tenderness that make these classics great and timeless. Young readers can find better titles to meet their needs.–Lauren Anduri, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Gr 7 Up–“Princess Ai,” a popular three-volume series created by Courtney Love and D. J. Milky (Tokyopop), has been retold and embellished in these 12 short stories, 10 of which are told OEL left to right, and 2 in traditional manga style. Princess Ai has returned to Ai-land, but those she left behind–the ex-boss, jealous coworker, tabloid reporter, roommate, assistant, friends, and enemies–all have their stories to tell of her time on Earth. One tale by original artist and cowriter Misaho Kujiradou gives a brief epilogue for fans. The other installments feature different writers and illustrators who introduce their own visions of Princess Ai’s background and appearance. Ranging from silly to superhero and sweet to slapstick (sometimes in the same chapter), these stories don’t take themselves or the established mythology seriously. While each chapter varies widely in style, the whole is of consistently high quality in both storytelling and artwork. Humor, combined with chapter introductions, makes this volume fun for newcomers, but the book will be best appreciated in tandem with the original. With more books based on Princess Ai on their way, this is a good purchase for libraries that own the original series and want to maintain readers’ interest.–Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, New York Public Library

K-Gr 3–Mona and Joey are constantly fighting but they both share a love for the superhero Mojo. One day, out of the blue, their mailman reveals that he is actually their revered hero in disguise. Ready to retire, he offers the children his costume, which contains his special powers. The siblings fight over it until they rip it in half, but their mother creatively transforms the pieces into two costumes, each containing one of Mojo’s powers. When the town parade is threatened, the children must learn to work together, becoming the team “Mojo.” The dynamic cartoon art successfully conveys the excitement and action of the plot, and children will love the simple graphic format. However, though young readers will probably be drawn into the narrative by the dynamic artwork, some of the text might be difficult for them to decode. Also, the siblings’ bickering is grating, making the characters somewhat unappealing, and the central message that the children need to work together is a bit heavy-handed.–Mari Pongkhamsing, St. Perpetua School, Lafayette, CA

Gr 5 Up–An award-winning comics creator has adapted the first in D. J. MacHale’s popular series (S & S). The “Pendragon” books take the elements of the classic hero and his journey (the orphaned young man with a great destiny, the mentor, the call to adventure, etc.) and mix in sci-fi, fantasy, and plenty of action to create a compelling story. This adaptation moves along at a brisk pace, establishing the characters and situations and then playing them out to their (literally) explosive conclusion, but not without first setting up the next volume in the series. The black-and-white illustrations do a capable job of presenting the events, although both story and image lack the spark that would elevate them above similar tales. Still, “Pendragon” fans and lovers of action comics will certainly be drawn to this title.–Douglas P. Davey, Halton Hills Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Gr 6 Up–With the number of excellent manga titles on the market, it is hard to imagine an audience for this unremarkable story. It is unpolished both in plot and in dialogue. The main character, 17-year-old Jermain, is the daughter of a famous detective who was murdered when she was a child, an event that seems to have had little impact on her, except to create a desire to solve mysteries. With the two cute boys next door, both of whom are interested in her romantically, Jermain takes on solving the murder of a student and band teacher from her high school, only to discover that many of the students are being turned into mindless puppets by a sinister force. But this mystery, dark and serious in nature, takes a backseat to the real questions in Jermain’s life: What should she do after she graduates, and which of the boys should she date? The story does wrap up over the course of the volume, and Misako Rocks! makes excellent use of the panels and layout for her likable, if somewhat uneven, art. Overall, there is not enough story here to draw in readers, and the execution is not strong enough to make up for that lack.–Alana Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT

Gr 3-6–The chipmunk hero Thelonious is back, along with his companions from the earlier volumes–bears, a porcupine, a renegade lizard, and the shrunken scientist Bob, who may be the last human on the planet–to stop the burgeoning war between the mutant crabs with their robot soldiers and the army of ratminks led by the vainglorious Dragon Lady. Along the way, Thelonious learns secrets about the ultimate fate of humanity and more about the origins of the varied clans of intelligent animals. The illustrator and author continue to alternate between chapters of illustrated prose and comic-book narrative. The conclusion is satisfying, but events leading up to it raise as many questions as they answer, and a rushed final journey of discovery as to how the humans made the planet uninhabitable for themselves feels too much like a visual recap of earlier exposition than a satisfying final revelation. On the other hand, the book does provide enough of an ending to give a sense of closure while still leaving the door open for future episodes. The lessons about trust and prejudice work well, even though the environmental moral lacks punch. The book demonstrates increased skill on the part of the storytellers, despite the poorly paced denouement.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

Gr 7-10–In this third tale of teen spies versus Simon Blankenship, aka the reincarnated god Mithros, Rachel Buchanan, the reincarnated goddess Etherea, and her friends travel to Japan to retrieve a stolen Mithrian artifact. Rachel faces dangerous foes, critical trench coats, and a budding attraction for her best friend’s boyfriend. Spradlin began this series several years ago with two novels that mention Japan as one of the locations of a Mithrian temple, thus allowing him to play on manga readers’ love for all things Japanese. Teens are able to travel vicariously to Japan, enjoying a traditional bathhouse, shopping for souvenirs, and visiting Akihabara. While this volume stands alone reasonably well, there are several moments where readers might feel that, despite the fact that this is volume one, they are missing pieces of the story, which they are. Even a one-page explanation of what happened in the novels would have transitioned better than the brief backstory provided in single panel images and passing comments. Overall, the story and characters lend themselves well to the visual format with its nicely Americanized manga style. The novels were fun, and this volume follows suit.–Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, New York Public Library

Gr 5-8–This intense mystery-adventure coming-of-age chapter book is done in comic-book style–something of a departure for Wood. Two brothers, Duffy and Sumo, are sent to Hawaii to visit their mysterious aunt, who hustles them off on a perilous expedition into the bowels of an erupting volcano, accompanied by strangers whose skills are obvious, but whose trustworthiness is not. The dangers the boys face are terrifying, especially an interlude during which Sumo, wracked by guilt and indecision after he thinks his brother has fallen to his death, is trapped in the dark on an underground cliff and is visited by the specter of Death. That the children, who appear to be 10 or 12, have been exposed to such peril knowingly by an adult who has been entrusted with their care is a dark vein running through the story. Wood’s vividly colored artwork brings the perils the siblings face into startling focus. Keenly observed depictions of the Hawaiian landscape and geological processes lend an impressive veracity to this exciting and unusual offering. It is a rare example of a graphic novel for young people that is neither manga nor mainstream.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

Gr 9 Up–Every so often a book comes along that surpasses expectations, taking readers on an inspirational voyage that they don’t want to leave. This is one such book. Each page is a feast for the eyes with beautiful full-page collages of photographs, watercolors, ink drawings, and text, resulting in a gorgeous volume that explores and encourages writing in a combination of ways. The author challenges readers with philosophical questions to ponder, such as “What is an image? Where are they found? Can we remember something we can’t imagine?” The volume also acts as a workbook that successfully encourages teens to explore their own creativity through writing. In addition, autobiographical glimpses of Barry’s journey from childhood to adulthood appear throughout the book. The struggles and obstacles she faces while following her path of becoming an artist and writer allow readers to believe in the possibility of writing themselves. This stunning book will appeal to those teens who are interested in delving into their creativity through words and art. The questions posed and valuable exercises that exist within its pages, along with the illustrations, could also make this book a valuable tool for English and art teachers in the classroom.–Lara McAllister, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Gr 10 Up–As a motif of horror fiction, subways have certainly been explored before, but this combination of manga and underground terror is sure to win fans. It seems that the Tokyo subway is more than just a bustling urban transport system; it’s also the lair of ghosts and other gruesome beasties. In a series of self-contained short stories, different characters encounter the restless spirits that lurk in the subterranean tunnels: a dancer is pursued by the ghost of a former rival, some teenage pimps must face the shocking results of their actions, and so on. Throughout the stories, a spectral young man named Seiya appears, guiding the living and the dead with his understanding of the underworld. The art is dramatic and evocative but the gory images make this title for older teens.–Douglas P. Davey, Halton Hills Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Gr 9 Up–Based on a popular game for Nintendo’s DS system, Phoenix Wright, in its first English manga translation, is a compilation of 20 full stories and a handful of four-panel shorts. Though written by a mix of veteran and rookie manga writers, the stories blend nearly seamlessly. The book focuses on young defense lawyer Phoenix Wright, also known as Nick; and his “gal Friday,” Maya, a mystic who houses the spirit of her more buxom sister and Nick’s lost love, Mia, within her petite body. Phoenix faces a familiar mix of noir characters, including his charming, slick nemesis and mentor, Mr. Edgeworth, a preppy prosecutor who beats everyone (except Phoenix); and Dick Gumshoe, a moody private detective with a penchant for calling everyone “Pal.” Phoenix struggles with each of his cases, ranging from learning the truth about a long-ago murder to finding a home for a wayward kitten. It’s part typical yaoi manga–complete with temper tantrums and mass-consumption of ramen and burgers–and part noir classic, and both the video game and the manga have a large following online. With mild sexual references and one frightening look at channeling the spirits of the dead, Phoenix Wright fits best with older students.–Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA

Gr 10 Up–Sylvia Mark is different. On the surface, she’s your average 13-year-old genius just trying to find her way in high school. It’s her ability to leap out of buildings and smash bullies into lockers that really makes her stand out. Pestered by bad dreams and parental misunderstandings, she runs away. On the road, she discovers that her nightmares are real. She’s one of 100 girls who are all clones grown to be weapons, and she sets out to find the other 6 who have made it into the general population. Unfortunately, the corporation that originally started the project has its agents, each with special talents, tracking her down. Sylvia doesn’t have a lot going for her. Her dialogue is stilted, almost like a guess at how teenagers might talk. She and her friends appear much older than they actually are. The average age at her high school appears to be about 25. This style carries over to the adults, making them seem more like senior citizens. Few teenagers will want to look at the scene where a haggard middle-aged couple wake up in bed together. The concept could be interesting, even if mutant-as-biological-weapon is overdone. However, the execution is sloppy and rushed, and there’s not enough mystery or character development to keep readers interested. This is a supplementary purchase at best.–Sadie Mattox, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA

Gr 10 Up–A compelling story of tragedy and struggle, Real is sure to appeal to teens–especially to male readers. Like Inoue’s “Slam Dunk” series (Viz Media), the novel centers on basketball, but this time the focus is on wheelchair athletes. Tomomi is an angry and troubled high school dropout. He is plagued by guilt over a motorcycle accident that left his passenger paralyzed and has made Tomomi a social outcast among his former teammates. Kiyoharu is also struggling, having lost a leg to bone cancer and now confined to a wheelchair. Although Tomomi and Kiyoharu are very different, they share an intense love for the game, a passion that brings them together. A third tragic event, which results in a basketball bully losing the use of his legs, is introduced near the end of the book. It is sure to play an important role in future volumes. Inoue’s black-and-white drawings are detailed and realistic, enhancing the grittiness of the story and helping to bring both characters and action to life. Real will make a welcome addition to libraries looking for manga for more mature readers, and it is sure to leave teens hungry for more.–Lara McAllister, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Gr 10 Up–Kai Eto is a rookie investigator for the Narcotics Control Division. That’s how he introduces himself when he barges into the middle of a bust, the first of several incidents that probably would get him fired in the real world. But this is a manga universe, where characters revert to cuteness moments after they’ve used their fists or their guns. And what guns they are! Firearms stand out on several occasions; sometimes the gun in someone’s hand is drawn in a different style from everything else on the page, causing readers’ eyes to focus on it more closely. A gun is also prominently featured on the cover, held sideways in a gangster style, pointed at the readers who can see which chambers are loaded and which are empty. The other clue to the plot on the cover is a pill containing a dangerous new drug. Kai and his partner Hal are trying to infiltrate a Chinese drug ring, learning more about Dragon Speed, and trying to make more arrests and take credit for more busts than the Meguro Police Department. The illustrations are excellent and they capture a lot of motion and excitement. But the story is sometimes difficult to follow, many of the characters look alike (and are best identified by their accessories), and the violence/cuteness ratio is a little jarring.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up–Combining the first five issues of the comic-book series, this book tells of how an ordinary guy descends into madness. The story opens with Cy’s beloved Uncle Walt committing suicide in an open-air café, in front of Cy; his girlfriend, Jordan; and a wealth of other people. Cy, who was raised by Walt, decides he must find out the motivation behind his uncle’s desperate act and what he meant when he told Cy to “stop him.” So, despite Jordan’s pleadings to the contrary, Cy searches through his uncle’s belongings left behind in a single room in a Norman Bates-esque boardinghouse. He uncovers strange rituals, a peculiar language with not enough vowels, and an alternate world known as the Dreamlands. There, Cy encounters a creature known as the whore, who promises to unveil the secrets of Walt’s obsession with the cult of Cthulhu, if Cy will give his eternity to her. The tale continues in a swirl of blood, frightening creatures, and unsettling rituals. Both the story and the style of the color artwork will remind readers of Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” series (Vertigo), but teens used to mainstream comics and manga series will be disappointed by the rough edges of the art. Fall will appeal most to those who enjoy dark comics.–Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA

Gr 10 Up–Ursa and her brother, both Kentucky firefighters, respond to reports of a burning horse barn in the aftermath of a fierce tornado. Frustrated by his constant jibes, Ursa traps him in the burning building, but, when he escapes, he unexpectedly blames it on Rafi, the undocumented Mexican immigrant who was living and working in the loft. Using somber watercolors, the artist works hard to create a sense of place, periodically breaking up the already slow-paced story with full-page evocations of the vast, tumultuous skies and the hills of Kentucky and Mexico. The line work is rough and has a certain degree of shapelessness, which works well with the nature scenes and the watercolors themselves, but which makes the characters occasionally seem clumsy. Where it works exceptionally well, however, is in the depiction of Ursa’s rage-induced visions and the magical realism of Rafi’s journey to the U.S., where policemen ride pigs and he has to climb over St. Peter’s Gate to cross the border. Also compelling are the author’s tone-clear rendition of Rafi’s broken English and the strangeness of the protagonists’ decisions. The atmospheric tone of the medium and the setting, combined with the weirdness of the characters’ actions and their hallucinatory impressions, creates a curious, open-ended, and emotional reading experience.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

Gr 10 Up– In the present, mixed-race musician Elvis lives with his friends July and Ed as they struggle to make it big in the entertainment biz. While the three of them strive toward success, Elvis reminisces about growing up in a hotel in the middle of Utah, where he watched permanent guest Geo romance his single mother while a variety of people wandered through and tried to find focus or personal connection in their own lives. These memories provide a genuine heart to the book, as well as the bulk of its content, but their power is undercut by how disconnected they feel from one another and from the present. The volume itself has a pleasing solidity to it, a height, heft, and page count that seem to promise substantiality beyond some of the attenuated debuts of long-sprawling manga serials, and the art surpasses classic shojo atmospherics for detailed, if feminized, depictions. Readers will certainly enjoy following the burgeoning relationship between Elvis’s mom and Geo, which is heightened by an early investment in the paternal bond between suitor and son, but the scenes with Elvis as an adult lack direction. Initially a framing vehicle for each chapter, they grow increasingly less frequent as the book meanders on. That leaves readers with a sequence of vignettes involving whichever patron arrives to stir up melodrama. A pleasantly emotive experience, but lacking the necessary cohesion to inspire readers to pursue future volumes.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

Gr 9 Up–This book, based on the classic computer game (the latest version of the game is due to be released in November 2008), tells the story of multiple heroes and heroines. Fans of the original games may be better well equipped to understand the time shifts as the action flashes forward and backward between centuries, but any readers looking for adventure should enjoy the chases, fights, and political intrigue. There are several grisly scenes of leadership gone wrong, as multiple victims are decapitated or have their tongues cut out. And the divide between the haves and the have-nots is clearly illustrated by the battle over the precious water supply. The pages are filled with vibrant colors and stirring images; the palette begins with a spectrum of desert browns, which make vibrant hues like peacock blue and blood red stand out even more against the colors of sand and bone. In an insightful afterword, game creator Jordan Mechner writes about how this character has evolved over time in various incarnations. This is an excellent recommendation for computer gamers and the fan base that will emerge for the forthcoming (2009) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie, and a good choice for everyone else.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Gr 9 Up–With translations scheduled through volume four (December, 2008), this series seems here to stay. In this first volume, Takemoto, a college art student in Tokyo, takes center stage and provides the main perspective. He lives the life of a starving artist and student, looking quite like a character from Chibi Vampire (TokyoPop) whenever he has the opportunity to eat meat. Takemoto lives with several other male students, including the illusive Morita, who frequently takes off on a whim, returning days or weeks later with interesting treats (usually involving meat) and then crashing for a minimum of 48 hours. The first chapter sets the scene for the remainder of the book, with Morita’s oddities introduced and all the boys meeting tiny, beautiful Hagu, an art prodigy who catches the interest and attention of everyone she meets. Morita, though, takes special exception and begins to exploit Hagu through a Web site he creates, marketing her as a “koropokkur,” a member of a mythical race of tiny people. Throughout the story, the characters go about their daily lives, attending to class, trying to get enough to eat, and falling in love with the wrong people. Umino’s graphics are simple, and the characters are typical of shojo manga in that they are prone to frequent fits and hysterics. Though the sexual innuendos are tame, the college setting and complex love connections make this a better fit for high school readers.–Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA

Gr 10 Up–In this sequel to A Year in Japan (Princeton Architectural, 2006), Williamson returns home to work on a book and figure out what she wants to do with her life. Like its predecessor, Crossroads collects anecdotes and vignettes, and brings them together to create a perfect picture of someone lost at age 20-something. Highlights of her story include a Hall and Oates concert, flirting with the cute boy in the neighborhood who’s just a little too young for her, battling noisy squirrels in the attic, and making a chain-mail outfit to wear at her cousin’s Renaissance-themed wedding. And of course, she is constantly plagued by the question, “So what are you up to these days?” Williamson’s light touch is what makes this work funny without being cruel, and, occasionally, sad without being depressing. The visuals, with their bright pastels, will appeal more immediately to girls. But anyone who has ever felt the frustration and malaise of figuring out the future will relate to and laugh along with this author’s touching story.–Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Gr 10 Up–Riley enters into a standardized test beta with three NYU classmates in order to make some money to get an apartment together. A good student with limited social skills due to her controlling, academic parents, the teen relies heavily on online interactions. As she begins to get to know her classmates and to reconnect with her outcast older sister, a secret virtual relationship threatens to destabilize everything. Wood is known for incorporating a strong sense of place into his comic work, and, while this is a story about growing up and learning to communicate, the classic bohemian fixtures of clubs and brownstones, and the inclusion of New York City landmarks, help make the book feel grounded. Kelly’s energetic artwork conveys a sense of activity and movement. His portrayal of one character, Merissa, tends toward caricature more than the others, and panels are occasionally too busy to find the focus of the scene easily, but the detailed settings are nicely evocative. Wood tries to do too much, resulting in a scattered set-up of Riley’s classmates’ individual stories–glimpses of what are surely the main focuses of future volumes–leaving readers with what is disappointingly not quite an entire story, but one that is superbly told.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH