The Manga Review

I'm taking a break from the poetry posts (not that I've had that many posted) to bring you a special post. Last year I read a lot of manga series. Then I complied them into a list and wrote reviews for each one for my co-worker, Carol. Carol is the Young Adult Librarian for my library and doesn't know a lot about Japanese mang and anime. I did my reviews in a similar format to what the Unshelved comic writers have reviews done for their Book Club selections (if you haven't read Unshelved, you should!). Today I'm giving you a small look into what I wrote.

Guide
Title, Author, Other selections by the same author (if relevant), Anime info, What I read/how many are available in the U.S., Do we own it, Short Summary, Rating (out of 5), Why I picked it up, Why am I hooked/not hooked

The List
Mixed Vegetables
Ayumi Komura
Not an anime
Read: 8/8
This one we own!
Hanayu Ashitaba is 15 and wants to be a sushi chef, but her family owns a pastry shop that she is destined to take over. Hayato Hyuga is also 15 and comes from a family of sushi chefs, but he wants to be a pastry chef. The two main characters go to the same high school and have a romance, but how will their dreams turn out?
Rating: 4/5
Why I picked it up: I read about it in the back of a manga I was reading. I thought it looked cute.
Why I am hooked: It was a cute romantic story. Also the reader learns a little about the pastry and sushi world in Japan.

The Gentlemen’s Alliance Cross
Arina Tanemura
Read: 11/11
Also Wrote: Ion, Full Moon, Short Tempered Melancholic and Other Stories
No anime
We own it!
Ever since Shizumasa Tōgū offered her words of encouragement and changed her life, Haine Otomiya has been in love with him. They’re worlds apart, though. He’s from a prestigious family and he doesn’t seem to remember ever meeting her. She now has an opportunity to get close to him by being his bodyguard. Shizumasa isn’t all that he seems, though. He and his family have major secrets.
Rating: 3/5
Why I picked it up: I like some of Tanemura’s other works.
Why I am not hooked: Like Sakura Hime this series disappointed my expectations. The Togu family history is dark and kind of complex. Truthfully, their way of running the family is messed up. The rankings at Haine’s school are based on family background, money, popularity, etc. Some social hierarchy set ups can be interesting but it’s typical. I read it all the way through, though, because I was intrigued by some things Autumn had to say about it. We had all eleven volumes in Fairborn one day, so, I decided to just go for it and finish it. It ended well, but it was weird, complex, soap opera-like, and a bit confusing.

Cross Game
Mitsuri Adachi
Anime: Is only available in America on certain internet streaming sites.
Read: 4/5
We own it!
Ko Kitamura lost his childhood sweetheart, Wakaba, when they were ten. She had a dream that he would be the greatest baseball pitcher in all of Japan someday. Because of that, Ko, keeps up with batting and pitching practicing even though he hasn’t played on a team in years. Now with the help of Wakaba’s little sister, Aoba, and some old friends Ko is participating in high school baseball but with the new coach and all these experienced transfer students on the team, will he get a chance to show his stuff and play at Koshien?(note: Koshien is the Japanese high school equivalent of the World Series)
Rating: 5/5
Why I picked it up: I am not into baseball or any sports, but manga and anime revolving around baseball intrigues me.
Why I am hooked: Ko is an amazing pitcher! I want him to go to Koshien. The first part of the story where it opens with Ko and Wakaba and their relationship is adorable. I was really sad when she died. Ko continues in being like family to Wakaba’s dad and sisters. All the family, except Aoba, adores him. His relationship with them is heartwarming and cute. There are also some funny scenes and comical characters that all around likeable.

Library Wars: Love & War
Kiro Yumi
Anime: Yes, but not available in America
Read: 6/6
We own it!
In the not so distant future the Japanese government can restrict and censor reading materials. Only libraries can acquire any materials whether they are banned or not. The Library Defense Force is formed to protect libraries and their materials. The main character, Iku, is the only participant in the Library Defense’s Task Force. She wishes to follow in the footsteps of her hero that she met when she was in high school. She calls him her “prince” but doesn’t know his name or remember his face. She only remembers the good deed he did for her.
Rating: 5/5
Why I picked it up: The title!
Why I am hooked: The love relationships. There is love, love, love in the air in the book. They are intriguing relationships with funny cute stories. The series also addresses the issues of censorship, which is of great interest to me.

I just included a small selection. The final list is nine pages long and includes manga I didn't end up reading a lot of and didn't care for. I hope this sample helps you in your manga reading this year. Enjoy!
-Nichole