Reviews: Graphic Novels

Gr 8 Up—Ariwara gives Alexander Dumas's classic novel of adventure and intrigue a unique sci-fi/gothic angle. Two naive young Parisian men journey to a distant planet for Carnival and encounter an enigmatic alien nobleman known only as the Count of Monte Cristo. Drawn to him despite (or perhaps because of) his mysterious and macabre ways, Franz and Albert befriend the Count, but they are soon called back to Earth as their well-connected fathers appear to be threatened by unknown foes. As corrupt as they are powerful, the men have made their fortunes by treachery—namely, the false accusation of a mutual friend who appears to have died in prison. When the Count arrives on Earth and is surprisingly familiar with the older men, questions arise about his real identity. The twisting, fast-paced plot will have readers on the edge of their seats, and the manga art style and graphic-novel format make this somewhat dated and convoluted tale extremely accessible for modern readers. An excellent choice for a library looking for a graphic novel that has both literary substance and guaranteed popularity for a wide range of readers.—Dave Inabnitt, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Gr 7 Up—Jim Bloggs is a middle-aged toilet cleaner who dreams of a life filled with adventure. Influenced by his nightly reading of children's storybooks, he imagines himself as a pirate, a cowboy, and even a successful Renaissance painter—anything to help break the monotony of his daily life. While the storybook-inspired illustrations appear simple, Briggs makes skillful use of every element on the page; from layouts to the look of text boxes, everything functions to match and enhance the moods and themes of the tale. Jim's imagination is little more than a quaint eccentricity until it starts to bleed into his real life. His desire to become a highwayman prompts him to wear a dramatic cape and toy sword; he finally comes to the attention of the authorities when he illegally buys a donkey for a valiant steed and rides it around the city, looking for excitement. But his charming, childlike innocence wins in the end; when confronted with circumstances that could have been very sad, Jim's fertile mind manages to turn it into another triumph. This edition of a 1980 work includes an introduction by cartoonist Seth that explains how influential Briggs has been over the years. While the innocent-looking art might turn off readers looking for an edgier story, anyone picking up this title will be treated to a sweet, whimsical tale.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Gr 5–9—Each book opens with a list of characters and a description of the setting. Background information, a short synopsis, famous phrases from the play, and a biographical sketch of Shakespeare are also included. Described as titles for reluctant readers, each slim volume is written in large-sized font and includes full-color illustrations covering between two to five panels per age. All dialogue has been extracted from the original play, which exposes readers to Shakespearean language. Explanatory text boxes judiciously placed throughout the panels enhance readers' understanding of characters, actions, and events. With substantial front and back matter, these adaptations seem best suited for instructional purposes. Additional explanation, discussion, and further reading may be required if young readers are to understand the Shakespearean phrases and interlocking plots as well as the subject matter of these plays: madness, human suffering, suicide, revenge, and murder. However, the books will serve as introductions to the Bard for older, reluctant readers. Dunn's illustrations for Hamlet and King Lear were done in a straightforward style and have rich, dramatic colors. Espinosa's use of a limited color palette for A Midsummer Night's Dream suits the moonlight setting. This adaptation's inclusion of Puck's rhyming introduction to the characters is a delightful addition.—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Gr 4–8—Davis calls Garfield "a human in a catsuit," and the sarcastic feline's wry, egotistical observations and love of lasagna, donuts, and naps are a winning and enduring formula. Garfield's popularity has not waned over the years, and this may be because the jokes, and the drawing style, have barely changed. Readers will find plenty of slapstick humor and visual gags in this collection to entertain them. Throughout the book, Davis offers occasional insights about his career and the development of Garfield. They are written in simple language, and are seemingly aimed at the cat's young fans, who will certainly check this out.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Gr 8 Up—When a nuclear holocaust casts Los Angeles into a second ice age, a small band of scavengers must contend with both the freezing cold and the demands of Slaughterhouse Joe, a cruel and greedy warlord. After the tribe is massacred in a fit of rage by the despot, Pak, the son of its leader and one of the few survivors, is taken under the wing of a taciturn old hunter. Growing in strength and fighting skill under the old man's tutelage, he returns to "Lost Angeles" to avenge his mother's death and free his kidnapped childhood love from the clutches of Slaughterhouse Joe, even if it means dying in the process. Although the book is reminiscent of the "pulp" comics of yesteryear in some respects, it's little more than a mediocre reworking of The Road Warrior and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, albeit with more snow. The plot is entirely predictable, and the characters are uninteresting and two-dimensional. The artwork is average but the use of color is excellent, almost popping off the pages. Although the book might find some success with younger readers who are not familiar with its antecedents, libraries can safely hold off on purchasing North Wind as a first or even second choice.—Dave Inabnitt, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Gr 3–5—These biographies fail to spark interest in the lives of the absorbing and exciting people they illustrate. The characters interact stiffly on the pages and are bland and lifeless. The graphics are flat and show little movement, action, or vibrant color. The texts give the basic facts, but the dialogue and art do little to enliven the stories. Children will learn to appreciate these figures from many better sources.—Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UT

Gr 7–9—One day, Kaede suddenly has a new sister. Suzu looks exactly like Kaede, except that she has cat ears and a bigger bosom. She also worships Kaede. Who is she? The book doesn't offer many answers. Instead, it focuses on the gag of having an adoring, catlike sister. Suzu sleeps 18 hours a day, hates the rain, and snuggles up to an exasperated Kaede in bed. The illustrations are crisp and simple, but are confined to small panels. There are two vertical strips to a page, and each one has a separate heading. These headings break the flow of the story, which is baffling enough already. Though the sisters are 15, they seem much younger, and this discrepancy would seem appropriate for a younger audience if there was not so much attention paid to Suzu's large chest. The first few pages are in color, and depict Suzu nude. This wacky shojo may be a little too offbeat to appeal to many readers.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Gr 7 Up—This "American manga" by the author of Bad Kitty (2006) and Kitty Kitty (2008, both HarperCollins) continues the story of amateur investigator Jas Callihan as yet another mystery falls into her lap. This time she stumbles across a jewelry store robbery at the mall while avoiding her dad and trying to schedule a date with her boyfriend, Jack. Soon her friends join the chase for the missing diamonds while the date with Jack gets pushed to the back burner yet again. The artwork is lively and fun especially in the conversational asides. Catnipped will be especially appreciated by fans of Jaffe's novels, but it is not necessary to have read them to enjoy this rollicking, fast-paced, and funny mystery.—Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Gr 7 Up—In these additions to the series, characters are introduced with full-color illustrations accompanied by a play quotation revealing the essence of each cast member. Both adaptations use excerpts from Shakespeare's words paired with black-and-white art to dramatize the action. Although the books are categorized as manga, pages are read from front to back, left to right. Caesar is set in a contemporary world filled with cell phones and motorcycles. The artist's imagery, such as the serpent in Brutus's home and the puppets in Cassius's hands, adds depth and layers of meaning to the text. Stage directions, noted in boxes at the top of panels, help readers to follow the story. While the style of artwork appears "busy" for manga, the artist's rendition of faces accurately captures each character's feelings in this emotionally charged adaptation. Macbeth is set in a postapocalyptic world, with crumbling cities, alien beings who serve as "witches," and men with Charles Atlas-like bodies. Bold, dynamic male figures reinforce the notion of mutations in both body and emotion. The setting introduces some anachronisms. Sophisticated communication devices seem at odds with armor-clad riders carrying swords and traveling on horseback. Although segments of well-known speeches are included, the abridgment seems choppy. Numerous, briefly introduced characters and abrupt scene changes make it difficult to follow the story line. However, readers familiar with the play may appreciate this futuristic adaptation.—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Gr 7 Up—A maid named Ana and a prince named Zelos, 15-year-olds from neighboring kingdoms, are accidentally linked by a magical curse that regresses them both to 10-year-old status. Both have the ability to transform back to their proper age, but only at the expense of making the other child five years younger. The book tells their parallel stories in this magical comedy of errors, detailing how they met and what happened after they were cursed. The story line is fun, if a bit convoluted, and watching the characters' ages ricochet back and forth can be both entertaining and confusing. The transformation is triggered by laughing or crying, which leads to an odd scene of Ana asking a strange woman to tickle her so that she can get back to her real age. Some of the most interesting aspects of the story involve Zelos and Ana examining and breaking the class barrier between them, but the majority of the characters are pretty one-dimensional. The color and black-and-white artwork is done in a variety of styles. This book will be most appreciated by fans of manga that combines fantasy, action, and hints of romance.—Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Gr 1–4—This bland graphic novel takes a young nerd and makes him into the stumbling yet indestructible Zinc Alloy. Zack Allen is tormented by bullies—until he uses a comic book to construct a robot suit of copper and zinc. Despite being slammed into a tunnel, the boy wonder saves a speeding train and then returns to face the bullies. Children will cheer for Zack when he faces down his schoolyard adversaries but will not be chuckling along during his adventures. The prose is stilted and the jokes are clichéd. However, the art moves the story energetically along. There are better "zero to hero" stories, such as Frank Cammuso's Knights of the Lunch Table (Scholastic, 2008).—Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UT

Gr 7 Up—A synopsis for those new to the series acquaints readers with 16-year-old Momoka Futami, orphaned four years earlier in an accident that also took her memory. She seeks to learn the truth about her past and travels to Mitsurugi City, home of her father's very powerful relatives who offer to take her in. There Momoka is introduced to the eight spiritual swords and their masters, as well as her own spiritual sword Susukaze. She also learns of her part in a future battle. The book follows the teen as she attempts to find answers to her questions surrounding the deaths of her family members. She visits their gravesite, where she encounters what appears to be her dead sister and, for the first time, she unsheathes her spiritual sword. This episode is probably the most exciting scene in the book. It is difficult to keep track of the numerous characters in this story, which include the eight spiritual sword masters, the four sacred sword-wielders, and numerous supporting cast members. There is even a guide to the assorted Mitsurugi cats. Without warning, new characters suddenly appear in the story line. Flipping back to the cast listing becomes tiresome and slows down whatever momentum may be building. The plot seems to meander in several directions and often becomes difficult to follow.—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Gr 7 Up—Buzzing with action, Resurrection will appeal to Batman's fans, but it is not a good starting point for readers unfamiliar with the series history. Ra's Al Ghul has miraculously returned from what was thought to be a fiery demise. His features badly burned, Ra's needs a completely new host body to continue his evil ways. His candidate is bratty Damian-his grandson, who happens to be the child of Batman and Talia, Ra's Al Ghul's daughter. When Damian is eventually captured by his grandfather, Batman and Ra's face off to determine the boy's fate. The artwork varies with each chapter. Violence is depicted, and images of women may strike some as objectification. The exaggerated, comic-book-style illustrations are consistently well done, although characters are rendered differently by each artist, a fact that may throw off some readers. The writing also fluctuates with each chapter, from standard heroic platitudes to tongue-in-cheek sarcasm. This is not an essential purchase, but it will be welcomed by readers with knowledge of the characters and backstory.—Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI

Gr 8 Up—A virus is spreading through Chicago, giving its residents destructive superpowers. Heroic police officer Dick Urbanski is on the case, but things get more complicated when the city is put under quarantine. The CDC plans to nuke it if the virus cannot be contained within 32 hours. This apocalyptic tale is dramatic, fast paced, and drawn in a detailed superhero style, in moody dark tones. Refreshingly, there is no graphic violence, and no gratuitously endowed heroines. In fact, a female scientist helps Dick save the world. This is a skillful comic with high appeal to teens, including reluctant readers.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Gr 4 Up—In 1957, Little Rock faces a split populace as it attempts to integrate a high school after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. This book focuses on two fictional teens: Will McNally, the white son of a local attorney, and Thomas Johnson, the black son of his domestic help. Their tenuous friendship is the lens for the conflict as each teen wrestles with the larger social implications of the Supreme Court decision. While the artwork is flat and the faces overly simplified so as to mute expression, details of fashion and decor help to emphasize the setting. Most evocative is the frequent depiction of African Americans silently doing menial jobs while the discussion of their roles and rights happens around them. A variety of perspectives and concerns are expressed, and only Will's grandfather comes across as a straw man for racism. The debates have an easy, conversational flow, and what could be a staid reenactment of a civics lesson takes on the character of an actual event. There is a difficult balance required while creating composite characters to work alongside actual participants and not supplant their historical roles. The book ends up more about the issues than the event that inspired them.—Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

Gr 7 Up—When adapting a video game that can be little more than the grind of encountering monsters and fighting them, it is a natural choice to have the fight scene be central to the structure of the story. This volume focuses on the arena battles of a trio of unlikely allies: an amnesiac human initially nicknamed Croc Bait and a pair of elves whose historical tribal rivalry is overlooked—for the moment. It's all very flush with well-intentioned pathos and world-building, but undercut in two key areas. Firstly, in order to create some epic scale, Croc Bait is given fabulous combat skills beyond reckoning, which makes every fight scene superfluous and which treads dully on well-trod ground. But, more importantly, the artwork is uncommunicative. While spot-lit with vista designed to evoke the wide world of the game, it has overly energetic action and characters seemingly capable of expressing only grim resolve and fierce rage. The dialogue and narration both gamely try to provide detail and expression that the art cannot, but only further serve to highlight the divide and make each seem stiff and detached. Unlikely to appeal even to ardent gamers.—Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

Gr 3–7—This graphic novel is based not on Kate DiCamillo's original novel, but is adapted from the movie script of the recent film. The story of the brave mouse who rescues a princess is told not only through paneled illustrations, but also through an ongoing narration, giving the tale more prose than most graphic novels. The result is that there is less pressure on the pictures to show the emotions of the characters, making the rare moments when they carry the story more powerful. The cartoon-style artwork depicts the movie-concept characters in a straightforward fashion that sometimes seems oversimplified for the sophisticated text. The characters appear softer than their movie counterparts, particularly Princess Pea, whose tears make a particularly lovely set of four panels. Though the story comes through clearly and the pacing is fast and action-oriented, the book feels like the adaptation it is, and seems like it is only scratching the surface of the characters. It will work as a substitute for children who have seen the film and can't wait until it comes out on DVD, and will hopefully inspire many of those same readers to pick up the original tale.—Alana Joli Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library

Gr 1–3—These phonics readers in graphic-novel format are intended for children learning to read with adult assistance. The inside front and back covers have information for adults, include Guided Reading Levels, and feature lists of "Story Words" (challenging vocabulary) and "Sight Words" (frequently used words that do not need decoding). In the first book, Otis, a mouse living in New York City, flees a persistent cat and finds himself in a brown shoe heading for Egypt, where he has many adventures, before accidentally ending up on a boat bound for Greece. The subtitle may be over the heads of children but they will still enjoy the humor and adventures. In Battle at Mount Kamado, Master Fu asks Hiro and three other dragon students to search for one of the long-lost Power Jades. Their adventures include defeating ninjas and Evil Master Gomi to retrieve the treasure. The theme of this story is facing your fears, and, to ensure that the message is not lost, the cover caption proclaims, "Face Your Fears." Large, colorful cartoons and a good-size font make these books appropriate for beginning readers.—Marilyn Ackerman, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Gr 10 Up—Picking up where Aya (Drawn & Quarterly, 2007) left off, Yop City continues the adventures of Aya, her family, and friends in prewar Ivory Coast. Adjoua is trying to convince the Sissokos that their son is her baby's father, but the truth comes out in a comedic episode. Moussa Sissoko isn't off the hook though, as his father decides it's time for him to learn the family business. Meanwhile, Adjoua's friends are spending as much time caring for the baby as she is, although Bintou thinks she has met the man of her dreams. As usual, all the action revolves around the periphery of Aya's life, but this time the drama hits closer to home at the book's end. Readers who haven't read the first volume will have a tough time following the action, as it picks up threads introduced there with little explanation. As in Aya, back matter includes more Ivorian detail such as recipes, childbirth customs, and a glossary. Oubrerie's illustrations are even more colorful than in the original and match well with the light, humorous tone of the text. An interview with the author is included. This continues to be a pleasant addition to both world literature and graphic-novel collections in its depiction of Africa as a more modern urbane place than much of the literature we see about the continent.—Jamie Watson, Harford County Public Library, MD

Gr 10 Up—In antebellum Maryland, the Button family is gifted with a wizened newborn whose physical age seems to grow ever younger over time. The scholarly afterword to this meticulous volume mentions the recent film adaptation of Fitzgerald's Jazz Age story, but it would be a mistake to assume that this volume has been created simply because of the media tie-in. It is a strikingly literal adaptation, re-creating dialogue, narration, and even chapter breaks with an assured and deliberate hand. While Fitzgerald's light tone is well preserved, it is the artwork that is the most striking, despite what could be construed as a dour use of gray and sepia. It is highly evocative, with an excellent use of facial expression to moving and comic effect. As the story obviously must address the particulars of physical age, Cornell depicts not just the transformation of Benjamin's face, but also his changing poise and confidence with well-rendered body language. While a thoroughly fine work, the lightly funny, softly satiric material will not produce peals of laughter, and the subject matter may strike teens as more unusual than engaging. Still, this is a work of quality that should find a small but appreciative audience.—Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

Gr 10 Up—In this follow-up to The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation (Hill & Wang, 2006), Jacobson and Colón offer readers an incisive report on the U. S. government's activities, in both foreign and domestic theaters, in response to the perceived threat of continuing terrorist incursions. Densely packed panels explicate diplomatic, political, military, and popular discussions; edicts; and activities through narrative, carefully chosen quotes, and images that vary in style from photorealism to symbolic idioms. An example of the latter is the iconic sound of a submachine gun, accompanied by a spray of blood, to indicate each assassination cataloged here. Both teen researchers and those with an interest in American foreign affairs will find this a helpful guide to events, although the period it covers is necessarily brief and still open-ended. Panel layout is less felicitous than in most graphic-novel-style nonfiction, but readers can graze a page to cull its messages rather than needing to follow a specific path. A must for any collection supporting American history and government curricula.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Gr 10 Up—Moomin, the appealing hippolike troll, and his family and friends are back. This volume features characters from the author's well-known children's books in five short, amusingly chaotic adventures, including an errant Martian spaceship crashing in Moomin's garden, Moomin and his family moving into a haunted lighthouse, and Moomin's levelheaded and practical Moominmama joining a gang of burglars. The stories are fast moving and humorous, but also bring up thought-provoking questions such as What is romantic love? and Is it better to have security or freedom? Jansson's expressive line drawings give the Moomin family, as well as other characters like Stinky the burglar and Moomin's neighbor Mrs. Fillyjonk, unique personalities. Teens will enjoy the whimsical characters and appreciate the exploration of human nature and society through the eyes of another species.—Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Gr 10 Up—This final volume in a trilogy shifts the focus to Anne Quenneville, a traveling nurse. Her character primarily works as a device, reintroducing readers to the disparate members of the Lebeuf family. Lester, no longer donning his toy superhero cape, is a little more grown up but seems lonely, while Jimmy continues to hide himself in his job at the town filling station. Anne decides to help the family heal by urging Jimmy to step forward and finally get to know his young son Lester, giving more formal answers to questions of lineage and familial tragedy that were only hinted at in the earlier books. Lemire's cartoonlike art is more cinematic than ever here, making full poetic use of wintry Canadian landscapes to force readers to pause and feel the emotions of the characters. A side story features Lawrence, a Lebeuf ancestor who grew up in a desolate orphanage managed by a nun and a gruff caretaker. Although these flashbacks don't have a direct impact on the modern-day Lebeufs, the past events do bring a deeper layer of history to the family. The first two volumes worked exceptionally well as stand-alone stories. While Lemire still creates memorable moments in this finale, readers will want to know what happened in the previous tales to appreciate this one fully. Well written and beautifully drawn, this wonderful close to a powerful trilogy is ideal for fans of realistic stories in comics.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Gr 11 Up—In this violent world, which mixes elements of feudal Japan, cowboy Westerns, and apocalyptic sci-fi, the best fighter is the one who acquires the magical Number 1 headband, which grants strength far beyond that of normal men. The only warrior with enough power to challenge Number 1 is Number 2. In an effort to avenge the murder of his father, the former Number 1, Afro has struggled hard to claim the Number 2 title. The story opens with him questing his way toward Number 1's castle, battling Number 1's underlings and countless assassins. With his endless array of quips and bad raps, Afro's sidekick Ninja supplies some much-needed humor to a dark story. Fans of the anime adaptation will find essentially the same plot here as in the original manga. Unfortunately, it lacks a lot of the flashbacks into Afro's history. Hopefully, these details will come later on, since they make Afro more sympathetic. Okazaki's stylish art, with its expressionist lines and darkly cartoon faces, serves as a good match for the world he has created. This is a fun but gritty adventure that many are bound to pick up on name recognition alone. The violence, gore, and brief nudity make it best suited for older teens.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Gr 10 Up—Powell has created a complex tale of two adolescent step-siblings struggling through the usual angst and discovery that occur during the teenage years. However, for Ruth and Perry, mental illness makes this time even more difficult. Ruth, who is at the center of the story, suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and patterns of schizophrenia. Infatuated with insects, she keeps collections of them in jars in her room and is constantly arranging and rearranging them. She hallucinates that masses of insects surround her and fears stepping on any living thing. For Ruth, the simplest tasks present huge challenges. Perry fights his own demon as he tries to rid himself of a small wizard who persistently appears and makes him draw. The author's treatment of mental illness is realistic and sensitive. Readers are brought into the experiences of the characters and empathize with them. The relationships Ruth and Perry have with each other and with other family members are honest and lovingly portrayed. Every word in this graphic novel is carefully chosen, dialogue is realistic, and background "noise" masterfully done. Powell's detailed pen-and-ink drawings are well executed with lettering and images so brilliantly intertwined that they are one and the same. While the complexity and subject matter of Swallow Me Whole will not appeal to everyone, those teens who pick it up will discover a poignant story.—Lara McAllister, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Gr 10 Up—Robinson is back with a concise gem that packs just as much punch as his lengthier titles. The premise here is nothing groundbreaking: Andy Wicks, a middle-aged family man, goes to a hypnosis clinic to break a 25-year smoking habit. As he mocks the ordeal as "mumbo jumbo," he is suddenly transformed into his 15-year-old self. With a 40-something mind still intact, he is forced to relive the horrors of algebra class, visits to the principal, elaborate social hierarchies, and, of course, intense sexual frustration. What makes Too Cool remarkable is the author's ability to revisit high school drama and reality bending in a lighthearted way yet with a depth and thoughtfulness that consistently underscore the plot. Robinson never trivializes adolescent angst. Instead, Andy's journey allows him to explore and understand the complex psychology behind his coming-of-age choices and behavior. That he has lived to see the results adds a compelling twist. Readers will gain perspective on mortality, family relationships, compassion, and love among bikini posters, gum-infested lockers, and family TV nights. As usual, Robinson's portraits perfectly underscore the intricacies of emotion in the story line, from the awkwardness of goofy permed-out and barely mustachioed teens to the anxiety of aging fathers with worry lines. Further, the artist's use of white pace, page composition, and flexible panels create a compelling sense of movement and a satisfying sense of flow. Teens are sure to have a lot of fun with the book.—Shannon Peterson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA

Gr 10 Up— Kujibiki Unbalance, already an anime series, takes place in Rikkyoin High School, where all decisions are made by kujibiki, a lottery game. This full-length manga previously existed as a "comic-within-a-comic in the creator's "Genshiken" series (Del Rey). On the first day at his new school (selected by lottery, of course), Chihiro and his friend Tokino find themselves chosen as student council president and vice president, respectively, for the following school year. After dismantling a bomb and fighting a demon swordsman, Chihiro and his team realize that "winning" the kujibiki and serving as school leaders require far more than anticipated. The graphics are classically manga, with a definite slant toward the style in "Sailor Moon," and with the sci-fi and fantasy twists of Anthony Horowitz's Stormbreaker, Kujibiki goes beyond the visual and provides a new take on the current high school spy phenomenon. With frequent close-ups of breasts, glances up skirts, and odd sexual relationships, this book is a better fit for public libraries and high school libraries with flexible collection-development policies.—Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA