Romance, action, and incredible art take center stage in these new or continuing manga series that center high emotions and complex relationships. Avid readers will be excited to get in on the ground floor of their favorite new series.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Hunter, Erin & Dan Jolley. Graystripe’s Adventure: The Lost Warrior. 96p. (Bk. 1). ISBN 9781098255411.
––––. Graystripe’s Adventure: Warrior’s Refuge. 88p. (Bk. 2). ISBN 9781098255428.
––––. Graystripe’s Adventure: Warrior’s Return. 88p. (Bk. 3). ISBN 9781098255435.
––––. Ravenpaw’s Path: Shattered Peace. 88p. (Bk. 1). ISBN 9781098255442.
––––. Ravenpaw’s Path: A Clan in Need. 88p. (Bk. 2). ISBN 9781098255459.
––––. Ravenpaw’s Path: The Heart of a Warrior. 88p. (Bk. 3). ISBN 9781098255466.
––––. SkyClan and the Stranger: The Rescue. 88p. (Bk. 1). ISBN 9781098255473.
––––. SkyClan and the Stranger: Beyond the Code. 88p. (Bk. 2). ISBN 9781098255480.
––––. SkyClan and the Stranger: After the Flood. 88p. (Bk. 3). ISBN 9781098255497.
ea vol: illus. by James L. Barry. (Warriors Manga). ABDO. Jan. 2025. Tr. $37.07.
Gr 4-6–Three story arcs in the popular Warrior cat universe begin. In the Graystripe’s Adventure titles Graystripe finds himself abducted from his forest home and adopted by a young family. He must use all of his warrior skills to get back to his family. In the Ravenpaw’s Path set, Ravenpaw and his friend Barley regret offering shelter to a group of strange cats in their barn. The comparatively calm and cerebral SkyClan and the Stranger titles explore clan politics as expectant mother Leafstar tries desperately to discern the correct path for her clan to keep them all safe. The illustrations and coloring overall are a bit basic, and this adaptation is more in line with modern graphic novels than manga, but readers of the original novel series will enjoy seeing their favorite characters in this format. VERDICT Buy where the original novels and graphic novels are popular.

Upper Middle School to High School

Aruga, Rie. Sheltering Eaves. (Bk. 1). ISBN 9798888772157.
––––. Sheltering Eaves. (Bk. 2). ISBN 9798888773246.
––––. Sheltering Eaves. (Bk. 3). ISBN 9798888773253.
ea vol: tr. by Sawa Matsueda Savage. 160p. (Sheltering Eaves). Kodansha. Nov. 2024. pap. $13.99.
Gr 9 Up–At ten years old, Yoru comes to a children’s group home where she meets Tenjaku, a boy who suffers no bullies and promises to stick up for her always. Six years later, it’s time to start figuring out their lives after high school. Tenjaku is on the track team and has two part time jobs, while Yoru is crippled with anxiety over leaving the home and being separated from Tenjaku. The two grasp for some sense of normalcy—they attend summer festivals in donated yukata; they confess their feelings under fireworks; they study for college entrance exams. But bubbling under it all is the fear of being separated when they age out, dread or hope about their abusive families trying to contact them, their adult expenses, and their codependency. Aruga’s beautiful character work will have readers strung along on Yoru and Tenjaku’s emotional journey, hoping for the two to find happiness while knowing they’re bound for heartbreak first. VERDICT Hand this one to readers looking to be all in their feelings.

Isaki, Uta. The Spellbook Library. (Bk. 1). Oct. 2024. ISBN 9798888772935.
––––. The Spellbook Library. (Bk. 2). Dec. 2024. ISBN 9798888772942.
ea vol: tr. by Jacqueline Fung. 176p. (The Spellbook Library). Kodansha. pap. $13.99.
Gr 8 Up–Yan has a reputation as a tough guy, while Tohru is an adoptee who has never left his noble family’s estate. Both are unlikely candidates for this year’s Spellbook Library entrance exam, a prestigious library responsible for safeguarding and creating new spellbooks that house all manner of magical creatures in the kingdom. They manage to pass the rigorous exam and, instead of being assigned to the coveted Sealing Department, find themselves assigned to the Public Relations Department with Princess Emel. Tohru reveals he has ulterior motives for becoming a Spellbook Librarian, but this brings Yan and Emel closer to their new coworker. Some mild cussing and alcohol consumption are introduced in volume two. This is a beautifully illustrated fantasy with imaginative creatures that aren’t your standard beasts. The characters and kingdom are both tantalizing mysteries readers will want to explore more of. VERDICT Readers who love books and libraries will want to delve into this story and get lost in its pages.

Ishiyama, Ryo. Dragon and Chameleon. (Bk. 1). Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781646093113.
––––. Dragon and Chameleon. (Bk. 2). Feb. 2025. ISBN 9781646093281.
ea vol: tr. by Kevin Yuan. 192p. (Dragon and Chameleon). Square Enix. pap. $12.99.
Gr 10 Up–An accident at a manga studio leaves Shinobu Miyama, an indignant and entitled manga assistant, body-swapped with Garyo Hanagami, the immensely talented and tireless creator of a successful series. While Hanagami initially fights to regain his body, the true Miyama refuses and seizes this opportunity to prove himself without the oppressive manga industry weighing him down. The true Hanagami eventually relishes the opportunity to compete against his own creation. In volume two, Hanagami embraces his new persona and attends a boot camp to discover a new standout creator for a long-running series and anime opportunity. Very quickly, “Miyama” has most of the other creators under his spell. Ishiyama peppers the narrative with hysterical moments and beautiful illustrations. This isn’t just for fans who are interested in making manga, this is for readers who are interested in dynamic storytelling and compelling character work. A few moments of fan service throughout the volumes make this better for older readers. VERDICT A fun and entertaining take on the creative pursuits.

Momoyo, Mayo & Itsuki Mito. How I Punched My Way into Marrying a Prince: Always a Catch (Bk. 1). Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781646093083.
––––. How I Punched My Way into Marrying a Prince: Always a Catch! (Bk. 2). Mar. 2025. ISBN 9781646093205.
ea vol: tr. by Nova Skipper. illus. by Kaki Nagato. 192p. (Always a Catch!). Square Enix. pap. $12.99.
Gr 7 Up–Maria (Mimi) Annovazzi was born the fourth daughter and raised as the Annovazzi heir, inheriting the coveted martial arts fighting style her family was famous for. With the birth of her younger brother, Mimi is suddenly off the hook and stuck looking for a husband who would be comfortable with an unrefined bride. Mimi decides to attend university in the neighboring kingdom with her cousin, hoping to have a fresh start and better prospects for marriage. She soon catches the attention of the crown prince, the heart of his mother, and endears herself to almost everyone she meets despite her lack of courtly manners. Momoyo’s characters are overly expressive, and their unique illustration style employs many humorous elements throughout to heighten the lighthearted moments in this romantic comedy. There’s a uniqueness to the design, with dark exterior lines and shading that makes each page buoyant and alive as Mimi bounces from one scene to the next with her bubbly personality. VERDICT This is a hilarious rom-com that will induce the giggle-and-kick-your-feet-up feeling for readers.

Nihei, Tsutomu. Kaina of the Great Snow Sea. Illus. by Itoe Takemoto. 160p. (Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Bk. 3). Kodansha. Oct. 2024. pap. $13.95. ISBN 9781647293642.
Gr 7 Up–With Princess Ririha captured, Kaina and young Prince Yaona mount a secret rescue mission to save her. Their plans don’t go as expected, and all three end up in the belly of the Valghian floating fortress. Kaina reveals there is a giant living spire tree that could stretch far above the canopy and could be a source of water for all living below, but Ririha fears the Valghians would conquer the Atlandians and claim this resource for themselves. Nihei’s lean narration mixes well with Takemoto’s sparse illustrations. Characters are mostly drawn in white clothing on white backgrounds of the snow sea, so the attention is in the fine detailing of minute facial expressions and small elements in each panel. Readers who invest in this science fiction series should not look to have clear answers to many questions for the first several volumes, but rather be satiated with the interactions between Kaina, Ririha, and now Yaona. VERDICT Purchase where science fiction or dystopian stories are popular.

Sannomiya, Kota & Muneyuki Kaneshiro . Blue Lock: Episode Nagi. tr. by Nate Derr. illus. by Yusuke Nomura. 208p. (Blue Lock: Episode Nagi: Bk. 2). Kodansha. Jan. 2025. 9798888771761.
Gr 9 Up–In order to win against other teams of talented soccer players, Reo discovers the secret to the potential of Team V: Tentetsu’s unbeatable speed, his own gift for tactics, and Nagi’s unpredictable skill with ball handling. The challenge is to motivate Nagi, who is unbearably lazy. He recognizes that a main motivator for Nagi in getting his phone back, but he must work with Tentetsu, who can be thick and unintelligent. Other teams also have weapons at their disposal, so he must figure out and neutralize all of their assets on top of keeping his team deadly. Nagi became a crowd favorite in his few scenes throughout the original “Blue Lock” series, and the unlikely chemistry of Team V makes this series thoroughly enjoyable. This storyline runs independent of the original series but also in tandem to what’s happening with Isagi’s epic. Reading them together offers maximum enjoyment but is not required in order to understand what’s happening in this series. VERDICT Recommended for fans of the original and new readers alike.

Yoshimura, Tsumuji. Just Like Mona Lisa. tr. by Leo McDonagh. 176p. (Just Like Mona Lisa: Bk. 4). Square Enix. Jan. 2025. pap. $14.99. ISBN 9781646092802.
Gr 10 Up–Shiori and Ritsu both have conversations with other friends that cause them to examine their feelings for Hinase, and whether their feelings would change depending on Hinase having a gender. Ritsu discovers that many of her friends have very complicated views on gender and romance, causing her to question the strength of her feelings for Hinase. All three also visit with the woman who saved Hinase’s life and discover a photograph of an older ungendered person. Hinase is still conflicted about their choices for their future. This series critically examines attraction, gender roles, and human relationships in a genuine, meaningful way. Yoshimura deftly uses blue coloring throughout to draw readers’ attention to key details but also to provide another layer for readers to examine during their analysis. As this series significantly deals with attraction and sexuality, attention is paid to what makes males and females attractive, not in a fan-service way, but enough to make this suitable for older teen readers. VERDICT This series examining relationships and gender is best for teens grappling with their own feelings of attraction.