It's All About the Story: Manga, Comics & Graphic Novels

  I have been meaning to try this series for awhile, and it did not disappoint.  The idea is that some people are actually immortal but they don't know until they fail to die one day.  Of course the government and other agencies want to use & experiment on these people.....so when Kei Nagai is struck by a truck and doesn't die....his entire life changes. I only read the first but I will definitely be reading more! I love humor in a story, and was hopeful for this one....and very happy I tried it. The basic premise is that a dragon becomes a ladies' maid but she is clueless about what to do or what is expected.  It is adorable, as is the crush the dragon has on her "employer".    I like to check out nonfiction stories as well, and Gao's story of struggling to fit in as a Wuhanese American growing up is really well done.  It isn't just the struggle of languages but also cultures; small town living vs American big cities and so much more. Definitely a...

  Animal Castle may appear to be a silly adventure with pets, but it is actually an homage to Orwell's Animal Farm, but done with a pacifist slant and explaining/using passive resistance instead of force to fight against oppression. Once you understand the premise, you will not be surprised to find that it isn't an easy read, nor is it "fun" but it IS enlightening and terrible as well as a fantastically written and illustrated work.  If you are looking for a little more depth in your reading, perhaps check this out. Taylor's book takes the premise of Peter Pan's Neverland and then posits what if there was an island that adults disappeared to....and what if it was near the island for the kids who don't want to grow up?  The war that this new group of kids is thrown into is startling and evocative.  I don't know that all of the premise works, but it is only vol 1, so perhaps some of the unanswered questions will be answered in future volumes; but overall...

Wanted to share some brand new titles, so I hurried up and read them just for you!  The Last Session is a fun story about a group of friends who starting hanging out in high school, when they turned their GSA into a Dungeons and Dragons role playing space (though they call it something else due to copyright).  They never finished the adventure and years later are finally making time to finish.  However, things are different as none of them are the same and one of them has brought in someone new....his new girlfriend.  She really wants to be part of the group but not everyone likes all the changes to the game, or to their lives. This is a fun and light hearted story but with a grain of a serious conversation about handling change, being kind and welcoming to new people (especially in a gaming space but honestly....I wish kindness happened more everywhere).  Even though everyone is in their early 20's, this book can be enjoyed by anyone, especially as they constan...

  I know this one is not new but I have never read it (really don't like the cover).  However, it was mentioned in a couple of "must read" lists and I decided to go for it....boy am I glad I did.   This is an awesome book where evil manifests itself as actually changing people (usually white) into monsters which the Sangerye family cures through root magic.  They are still living in treacherous times, 1920's Harlem, and are also struggling with a recent family tragedy of their own, where several family members were lost to the void (where the demons live).   The family is truly the center of this plot, showing the different ways they work and argue and love each other.  The art work is amazing (really not sure why the cover shot was chosen...so many better pieces); and the fight scenes jump off the page.  I will definitely be finishing this series (it's a trilogy) and recommend it to anyone wanting a different kind of superhero comic. I didn'...

  Rooster Fighter is a strange, fun manga with the old trope of the "lone fighter vs giant demon creatures" but instead of a person, it's a rooster....like an actual chicken.  Rooster is always on the go, looking to find the demon who killed his sister, and using his super-sonic cock-a-doodle-doo to eliminate the horrible creatures destroying Tokyo (and other parts of Japan).   This is rated for Older Teens, and is maybe not everyone's cup of tea but if you are looking for something different....it is definitely worth a try. I seem to have found a lot of "different" manga this month.  Cat + Gamer is about a young lady who has no life ....just work and gaming; until she adopts a kitten.  She doesn't really know anything about being a cat mom, so she thinks of it in terms of a role playing game and does the best she can.....however, real cats (and kittens) are not like games and sometimes it is nice to move outside your comfort zone and try new things. Thi...

 This month I found two very different but equally awesome books to share with you. Tommie Smith shares his story of the Civil Rights movement, his decision to speak out in a wordless but iconic gesture from the awards podium at the Olympics and the consequences he faced upon returning home.  This compelling story has an even greater impact as a graphic novel. Who doesn't love desserts?  This historical journey through the history of some of our favorite yummy treats (along with recipes) is told in a sweet and fun style using magical fairies as the storytellers, enabling the reader to hear the stories, examine the facts and learn of conflicting origins but still keep a light airy style overall.  The only downside to this book is how hungry you'll be for some sweet treats while reading it (and afterwards as well).  I also love that you could read this as an adult or a teen, or TO a young child in small doses and then trying recipes.  Fun! Educational! Yummy!...

  Booth has written a fun and interesting twist on the "mistaken identity" trope by adding in a set of twins; one of whom has changed from private school to public and is dressing more masculine (actually borrowing a lot of her twin's clothing).  Everyone assumes she is a lesbian, without actually asking her, and no one knows about her twin (whom she now strongly resembles with a similar haircut & his wardrobe)....so of course mistakes occur and lots of craziness ensues.....all culminating at the dance at the end of the year.   Booth kept the story light but didn't shy away from complex issues (like gender expression and exploring your identity).  This isn't a perfect book, but is fun and is definitely worth a read I really loved vol 1 of this, and am so happy that vol 2 lived up to its predecessor.  Our superhero is continuing to fight the good fight, but is emotionally exhausted and bruised by the constant arguments from his mother, who refuses to acc...