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Manga Review: Witch Hat Atelier
Title: Witch Hat Atelier Mangaka: Kamome Shirahama US Publisher: Kodansha Status: Ongoing Age Relevance: Middle School and Up (Upper Elementary can assess on a school by school basis because of content in volume 9) How Essential Is It?: Must Have Curricular Connections?: Could be used in art curriculum, or for independent reading. Reader’s Advisory Tags: Fantasy, Art, Harry Potter Replacements, Manga…
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Manhwa Review: The Beginning After the End
Title: The Beginning After the End Creator: Story by TurtleMe, Art by Fuyuki23 (Manhwa Artists on digital platforms commonly use pseudonyms such as this) US Publisher: Yen Press/Ize Press, Distributed digitally via app on Tapas Status: Ongoing Age Relevance: Middle School and Up How Essential Is It?: Must Have (This is going to be a HOT title) Curricular Connections?: Independent…
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Manga Review: Noragami: Stray God
Title: Noragami: Stray God Mangaka: Adachitoka US Publisher: Kodansha Status: Ongoing (Print & Digital) Currently at 24 Volumes. Age Relevance: Middle School and Up. How Essential Is It?: Nice to Have Curricular Connections?: Best for independent reading. Reader’s Advisory Tags: Supernatural, made into an anime, long running series, comedy, Japanese culture. Anime: Yes, available on Crunchyroll Content Warnings: Mild language, use of…
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Manga Review: Boys Run the Riot
Title: Boys Run the Riot Mangaka: Keito Gaku US Publisher: Kodansha Status: Complete Age Relevance: Middle School & Up How Essential Is It?: Must Have Curricular Connections?: Can be used with GSA clubs, in ELA classrooms dealing with themes of identity, and in college literature courses on gender and sexuality. Reader’s Advisory Tags: LGBTQ+ Issues, Gender Identity, Fashion, Bullying, Identity Anime: None…
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Review Survey!
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Manga for Middle Grades: A Delicate Balance

Middle grade collection development for manga is probably the trickiest grade band of them all. As a transitional period, you are purchasing titles for students who range drastically in maturity and stages of adolescent development. Because middle school is really a time when students are starting to understand the world and push on boundaries, it…
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Manga Review: Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon

Title: Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon Mangaka: Takashi Shiina, Rumiko Takahashi (Designed by), Katsuyuki Sumisawa (Other adaptation by) US Publisher: VIZ Media Status: Ongoing Age Relevance: Middle, High School How Essential Is It?: Nice to Have Curricular Connections?: N/A Reader’s Advisory Tags: InuYasha, feudal Japan, isekai, sequel series, strong female characters, fantasy, action Anime: Crunchyroll Content Warnings: Very mild horror and violence. Publisher Synopsis:…
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Manga Review: Talk to My Back
Title: Talk to My Back / Shin Kirari Mangaka: Yamada Murasaki US Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly Status: Complete Age Relevance: Adult How Essential Is It?: Must Have for Adult Collections Curricular Connections?: Great for discussions of feminist theory and thought. Could be used in high school ELA as a read-alike for literary works on feminist though. Reader’s Advisory Tags: motherhood, feminism,…
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Light Novels: An Updated Introduction
Light Novel Recommendations: Title List Follow me on Twitter for more manga talk: https://twitter.com/manga_librarian Like what I do? Consider supporting my school library by purchasing a student request! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/YFUM4D17XWD1?ref_=wl_share
