Joy Kim

Librarian. Book Reviewer. Coffee Addict.

February 24, 2008
by Joy
Comments Off on Mori, Kaoru: Emma, vol. 2

Mori, Kaoru: Emma, vol. 2

emma2.jpgEmma, Vol. 2
Story and Art by Kaoru Mori
Rated Teen Plus
CMX, 2007
ISBN: 1-4012-4433-X

Review

In Victorian England, a quiet young woman named Emma works as a maid for Mrs. Stownar, a retired governess. William Jones is the eldest son of a wealthy merchant family and one of Mrs. Stownar’s former charges. When William meets Emma while visiting, he’s instantly smitten. But class distinctions and some unexpected developments will conspire to keep the couple apart.

In this volume, Emma and William’s relationship moves forward, but new obstacles to their relationship also appear. William’s family urges him to make a more socially acceptable match with his sister’s friend Eleanor, while Emma’s own situation becomes uncertain due to the failing health of her employer and protector. We also learn more about Emma’s past and the circumstances that brought her to London in the first place.

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February 18, 2008
by Joy
Comments Off on Yagi, Norihiro: Claymore, vol. 1

Yagi, Norihiro: Claymore, vol. 1

claymore1.jpgClaymore, Vol. 1
Story and Art by Norihiro Yagi
Rated T+ for Older Teen
Viz, 2006
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-0618-0

Review

Yoma are monsters who feed upon humans and can move among them in disguise. Only the Claymores, women warriors who are half human and half yoma, can detect yoma and match them in strength and speed. When a series of attacks makes it clear that a yoma has come to Raki’s village, the chief appeals to the Claymores for aid. But the Claymore Clare’s arrival in the village has unexpected consequences for some of its residents.

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February 14, 2008
by Joy
Comments Off on Asian American Comics

Asian American Comics

I’ve happily added a new comics blog to my feed reader this week: Asian American Comics [Link via Angry Asian Man]. It promises “the latest scoop on Asian American comics and Asian American comic book creators,” and from what I’ve seen so far, it’s delivering.

Here are just a few of the great links that I’ve come across thanks to this blog:

Visit the site on your own for more great content!

February 13, 2008
by Joy
Comments Off on New lists from ICv2

New lists from ICv2

ICv2 has released its latest top manga and anime properties list. You’ll have to get the actual guide to see the full lists, but here are the top ten titles:

ICv2’s Top Ten Manga Properties for 2007:
1. Naruto
2. Fruits Basket
3. Death Note
4. Bleach
5. Kingdom Hearts
6. Pokemon
7. Vampire Knight
8. Fullmetal Alchemist
9. Absolute Boyfriend
10. Loveless

ICv2 Top Ten Anime Properties for 2007:
1. Dragon Ball Z
2. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
3. Pokemon
4. Naruto
5. Afro Samurai
6. Howl’s Moving Castle
7. Bleach
8. Robotech Shadow Chronicles
9. My Neighbor Totoro
10. Karas the Revelation

On library listservs I see a lot of librarians who are new to manga and anime asking, “So what are core titles?” I won’t say that these lists are mini core collection lists; older series are not well represented on them, and all titles are not appropriate for all collections. But if you’re trying to keep up with manga and anime for some professional reason, everything on here should be pretty recognizable to you: these properties are popular, and people are likely to be asking about them.

February 11, 2008
by Joy
Comments Off on Link roundup 2008-02-11

Link roundup 2008-02-11

Bryan Lee O’Malley of Scott Pilgrim fame shares the cover he drew for the March 2008 issue of Shojo Beat. Along the way, he plugs two Shojo Beat titles, Nana and Beauty Pop. I’m a big fan of the former but unfamiliar with the latter; I’ll have to add it to my to-read list. [Via Precocious Curmudgeon]

David Welsh reviews A.I. Revolution at Precocious Curmudgeon.

The jury for the Andre Norton Award has announced their additions to the final ballot:

  • Adam Rex, The True Meaning of Smekday
  • Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu, The Shadow Speaker
  • Elizabeth Wein, The Lion Hunter

(For those of you unfamiliar with it, the Andre Norton Award is awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and honors “outstanding science fiction and fantasy novels written for the young adult market.”)

February 6, 2008
by Joy
3 Comments

Hino, Matsuri: Vampire Knight 1

vampireknight1.jpgVampire Knight, Vol. 1
Story and Art by Matsuri Hino
Rated T+ for Older Teen
Viz, 2007
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-0822-1

Review

Yuki has no memory of her life before the day she was saved from a vicious vampire attack. Now, ten years later, she’s the teenage ward of the headmaster of Cross Academy, an unusual school attended by two groups of students. The Day Class is like any other group of teenagers, but the Night Class is full of vampires. As one of the Guardians of the school, Yuki works to protect the Day Class from its own dangerous interest in the Night Class and to keep her adoptive father’s dreams of peaceful coexistence between vampires and humans alive.
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February 6, 2008
by admin
1 Comment

Hello

This blog will review and comment upon current pop culture, especially manga, anime, and youth and teen literature.

I am a librarian-in-training, an avid reader, and a fan, and I hope to incorporate all three of these perspectives into my writing.

Feedback via comments and e-mail is very much encouraged, and I welcome suggestions for future post topics.