Status Royale, Vol. 1

Gr 7 Up–Nobody’s better than Min-Jun Yong when it comes to the wildly popular VR game, Status Royale. Every professional esports team he’s played on ends up a champion, but when it comes to his reallife friendships, he could use a little work. When Min-Jun unceremoniously ghosts his friend Vell, who also loves playing Status Royale, though more as a casual gamer than a professional, Vell decides to take matters into her own hands by leading her own collection of amateur gamers to beat the champ at his own game! From the VIZ Original imprint, where anyone around the world can submit their work for the chance to be published, this book brings a largely lighthearted electronic sports story to life. Though the action can occasionally be hard to decipher, and certain panels are cluttered, the art style is a departure from typical manga, bringing a refreshing take to the table. Vell is believable, lively, and positive, going about her business in a cheerful way, while displaying a realistic array of both strengths and weaknesses. The plot is easy enough to follow, and while the narrative is not groundbreaking, this is a safe enough title to introduce reluctant readers to the manga medium before offering them a sip of the hard stuff.