June 8, 2009
by Joy
2 Comments
Honey and Clover, Vol. 4-5 Story and Art by Chica Umino Rated T+ for Older Teen Originally published in Japan in 2000 Serialized in US Shojo Beat in 2008-2009 Published by Viz in volume form 2008-2009 ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-1507-6 (vol. 4) … Continue reading
June 5, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Highlights from Shojo Beat (Apr-Jun 09)
I have never been a subscriber to Shojo Beat, but I was definitely among those who were sad to hear that the July 2008 issue would be its last. I’ve read the magazine off and on at the library for … Continue reading
June 2, 2009
by Joy
2 Comments
13th Boy is the story of Hee-So Eun, an eighth-grader who has been spectacularly unlucky in love. Despite her tender years, she’s already had–and lost–eleven boyfriends. So one can’t blame her for being reluctant to give up on boyfriend number … Continue reading
June 2, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Sun and Guo: The History of the West Wing
A young scholar sleeping in a temple courtyard encounters the beautiful daughter of a government official. It’s not quite love at first sight, but both parties are intrigued; before long, a clandestine second meeting is arranged. So begins The History … Continue reading
May 20, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Tanigawa, Tsugana, and Ito: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, vol. 3
When Haruhi enters the SOS Brigade into a local baseball tournament, the club members once again find themselves scrambling to cater to her whims. Winning isn’t everything to Haruhi; it’s the only thing. And it’s up to Kyon and the … Continue reading
May 20, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Chmakova, Svetlana: Nightschool: The Weirn Books, vol. 1
Sarah Treveney has a new job as part of the staff at a high school for vampires, werewolves, and witches. For reasons not yet explained, her younger sister Alex, a talented weirn (a type of witch in the series), is … Continue reading
April 28, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Kiyuduki, Satoko: GA, vol. 1
GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class is a yonkoma (4 panel) manga that follows five friends–Kisaragi, Miki, Namiko, Tomokane, and Miyabi–during their days in a high school art department. Each strip collected in this volume captures a different moment in the … Continue reading
April 22, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Ishida, Akira: Oninagi, vol. 1
Fifteen-year-old Nanami is looking forward to starting high school, since it will give her an opportunity to be closer to her long-time crush Kazuto Sanjouin. But her hopes for a normal springtime of youth are promptly derailed by the arrival … Continue reading
April 22, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Jo Walton on Lois McMaster Bujold over at Tor.com
Swing by the official Tor blogs when you get a chance, because novelist Jo Walton has been writing a series of posts on Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan series. The post on Memory is especially worth reading. It really expresses a … Continue reading
April 14, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Huh and Kim: Pig Bride, vol. 1
When eight-year-old Si-Joon, the spoiled son of a senator, is lost in the mountains during summer camp, he meets a strange woman who tells him that he must marry her (literally) pig-faced daughter to atone for the sins of his … Continue reading
April 7, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Yu, Yanshu: Step, vol. 1
Step is the story of Mr. Han, a professional monster hunter, and Dynasty Tang, the orphaned vampire girl that he has taken in. When Mr. Han is not busy fending off vampires and three-headed dogs, he focuses on lighter pursuits, … Continue reading
March 20, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Urasawa, Naoki: 20th Century Boys, vol. 1
Even in the US, where most of his work is still not yet available, Naoki Urasawa is something of a manga superstar. When his work Monster, a suspenseful thriller about a doctor on the trail of a serial killer, first … Continue reading
February 10, 2009
by Joy
1 Comment
I’ve been so busy at work that I completely missed my blog anniversary. When I started this blog a year ago, I was still a student, reading trashy vampire shojo manga, and annoyed by Re-Gifters. Now I’ve graduated and work … Continue reading
February 10, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Mizushiro, Setona: After School Nightmare, vol. 10
The tenth volume of After School Nightmare marks the end of the series and finally offers some answers regarding Ichijo’s mysterious experiences in the dream class. Readers who’ve stuck with this fascinating series through all its earlier twists and turns … Continue reading
January 26, 2009
by Joy
Comments Off on Youth media awards
ALA announced its youth media award winners today at the midwinter conference in Denver. I really enjoyed The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, so I was very happy to see that it had won the Newbery Medal. Of course, Gaiman … Continue reading
January 16, 2009
by Joy
1 Comment
In Silver Diamond, Rakan, an orphaned teen with an affinity for plants, has his life turned upside down when a series of unexpected guests from another world turn up in his garden. Chigusa arrives first; he initially mistakes Rakan for … Continue reading
December 30, 2008
by Joy
Comments Off on A partial “best of” list
Manga Life has posted its end of 2008 wrap-up. I contributed a few thoughts on my favorite manga and anime releases in 2008. Click on the link to see what I and other ML contributors cited as our favorites. I … Continue reading
December 20, 2008
by Joy
3 Comments
Voice acting is one of those things I never really noticed until I started watching anime. Then I went and compared the original Japanese-language audio tracks of a couple anime to their English-language dubs and heard for myself the difference … Continue reading
December 10, 2008
by Joy
1 Comment
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a children’s cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon over three seasons. It’s the story of a fantasy world where certain people have an affinity for elemental magic. Those with the ability to manipulate one of the … Continue reading
December 1, 2008
by Joy
Comments Off on Hagaren miscellany
Via umadoshi: Jake Forbes on the joys of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga. An excerpt: Any anime fan who’s followed the scene for the last five years is probably quite familiar with this ongoing tale of angst and alchemy, but if … Continue reading