Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, Omnibus Book 1

Gr 7 Up—The plot and characters of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion anime were so popular that they have been reimagined numerous times, and this book is promoted as an alternate universe version of the original characters. This is the story of a boy named Shinji who seems to be living an ordinary life, but it is gradually revealed that he is one important piece of a larger puzzle. He spends his days dealing with school, friendships, and his attraction to Rei, a mysterious new transfer student. Meanwhile, we see that his parents, who work at the Artificial Evolution Research Center, are involved with a secret project that involves both Shinji and Rei. When the adults ask the kids to help out with the research, Shinji and Rei agree without fully understanding what that entails. Shinji is the emotional attractor and focus of the story, and he practically exerts a gravitational pull on all the other characters. There are also hints of what is happening in the lab, and readers will wonder what is really going on. While teens don't have to have watched the original anime to appreciate this tale, familiarity with that universe will enrich the reading experience.