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Manga Review: The Apothecary Diaries Volume 3

Title: The Apothecary Diaries 薬屋のひとりごと Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, “Apothecary’s Soliloquy” Volume: 3 Mangaka: by Natsu Hyuuga (Author), Nekokurage (Author), Itsuki Nanao (Compiler), Touco Shino (Designer) Translator: Julie Goniwich US Publisher: Square Enix Manga Age Relevance: High School & Up How Essential Is It?: Essential Curricular Connections?: Medicine, Critical Thinking Reader’s Advisory Tags: Mystery, Romance, Based on Imperial China, Seinen Anime: Crunchyroll (Second Season Confirmed!) Content Warnings: Allusions to…
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Manga Review: The Apothecary Diaries Volume 2
Title: The Apothecary Diaries 薬屋のひとりごと Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, “Apothecary’s Soliloquy” Volume: 2 Mangaka: by Natsu Hyuuga (Author), Nekokurage (Author), Itsuki Nanao (Compiler), Touco Shino (Designer) Translator: Julie Goniwich US Publisher: Square Enix Manga Age Relevance: High School & Up How Essential Is It?: Essential Curricular Connections?: Medicine, Critical Thinking Reader’s Advisory Tags: Mystery, Romance, Based on Imperial China, Seinen Anime: Crunchyroll (Second Season Confirmed!) Content Warnings: Allusions to…
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Manga Review: The Apothecary Diaries Volume 1

Title: The Apothecary Diaries 薬屋のひとりごと Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, “Apothecary’s Soliloquy” Volume: 1 Mangaka: by Natsu Hyuuga (Author), Nekokurage (Author), Itsuki Nanao (Compiler), Touco Shino (Designer) Translator: Julie Goniwich US Publisher: Square Enix Manga Age Relevance: High School & Up How Essential Is It?: Essential Curricular Connections?: Medicine, Critical Thinking Reader’s Advisory Tags: Mystery, Romance, Based on Imperial China, Seinen Anime: Crunchyroll (Second Season Confirmed!) Content Warnings: Infant death,…
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I Collaborated on a Book About Manga in Schools!
If you’ve been wondering why this blog has slowed down, well, it’s because for the past year I have been working on a book in collaboration with some truly fantastic librarians: Emily Ratica, Sara Smith, Julie Stivers, and Sybil “Mouna” Touré. This project has been my main focus outside of my daily work as a…
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Review Survey (Again)
Is there a review you’d like to see me prioritize or a topic you really need me to cover? Fill out this survey to give me an idea of what manga, light novels, or manhwa I should review next! I really do take this seriously and prioritize what is put in these surveys. It’s super…
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Manga Review: A Sign of Affection 01

Title: A Sign of Affection Volume: 1 Mangaka: suu Morishita Translator: Christine Dashiell US Publisher: Kodansha Age Relevance: High School & Up (Based on later volumes and age of protagonists) How Essential Is It?: Essential Curricular Connections?: SEL, Language Learning, Cultural Connections Reader’s Advisory Tags: Deaf Identity, Language Learning, Romance Anime: Crunchyroll Content Warnings: Drinking, Ableism (as experienced by Yuki) Publisher…
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Hi.
It’s been a minute, I know. I went away for a bit. Well… not really away. I’ve been writing reviews and features for Booklist, which I hope have been helpful. I’ve been working on a book, with Julie Stivers, Sara Smith, Emily Ratica, and Sybil “Mouna” Toure. I also have been shifting my life around…
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Manga Review: Chainsaw Man
Title: Chainsaw Man Mangaka: Tatsuki Fujimoto US Publisher: Viz Media / Shonen Jump Status: Ongoing- Now in Part II Age Relevance: Upper High School and Up How Essential Is It?: Must Have Curricular Connections?: Independent Reading Reader’s Advisory Tags: Horror, Action Anime: Crunchyroll Content Warnings: Gore, suicide, death, sexual innuendos, cannibalism, groping Publisher Synopsis: Denji’s a poor young man who’ll do anything…
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Manga Review: A Girl & Her Guard Dog
Title: A Girl & Her Guard Dog Mangaka: HATSUHARU US Publisher: Kodansha Status: Ongoing Age Relevance: High School and Up How Essential Is It?: Purchase if You Need to Burn Money Curricular Connections?: Independent Reading Reader’s Advisory Tags: Yakuza, Romance Anime: Coming in 2023 Content Warnings: Age gap, grooming, stalking behavior, kidnapping, assault, organized crime, attempted sexual assault Publisher Synopsis: Isaku never…
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Manga Review: Shuna’s Journey
Title: Shuna’s Journey Mangaka: Hayao Miyazaki US Publisher: First Second Status: Complete (Single Volume) Age Relevance: Elementary and Up How Essential Is It?: Must Have Curricular Connections?: Folk Tales, Independent Reading Reader’s Advisory Tags: Folk tale, Tibet, Studio Ghibli Content Warnings: Slavery, some thematic violence. Publisher Synopsis: From legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki comes Shuna’s Journey, a new manga classic about a prince on…