Not sure where to start with buying manga for your library? Don't worry, you're not alone. This is probably the #1 question I get from school librarians. So, to help you and many others out, here is a list of recommendations to start.
I’ve separated the list into three groups. Start with Group One, and if you have money left over, head on to Group Two and even Three!
Some Buying Advice:
Depending on your shelf space, you may have to be judicious in how much of a series you buy physically. Consider buying the first few volumes in a series to see how well your students read and react to it. Something here that I claim to have wide circulation with my population might not do as well as with yours (although I've really tried to limit this list to universally appealing titles). So, before you sink lots of money into it, buy some and see how it goes. If it's popular, THEN you might have to tackle your shelf-space problem.
Legend: Here are a few symbols I'm using to help out.
# - classic
* - hot now + - has been going on for a while $ - long series High SchoolGroup one - must buys
This list of manga includes titles that students have been and continue to go nuts over. They will probably be amongst the most requested titles from your students.
Demon Slayer*
by Koyoharu Goutuge 23 published volumes Basic Plot: Tanjiro's family is attacked by demons, and his sister is infected and is becoming a demon. He seeks out renowned Demon Slayers to help him save his sister, but along the way, decides to join the ranks of Demon Slayers and rid the world of more humans being eaten and turned into demons. Genre: Supernatural, Shōnen Warnings: Violence, bloodshed Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2 
My Hero Academia*
by Kohei Horikoshi 28 published volumes in the main story, plus Vigilantes, Smash! and School Briefs Basic Plot: Midoriya wants to be a superhero but has no super ability. He gets a super ability and attends the prestigious U. A. High School for Super Heroes, and this series chronicles his journey through school, navigating classmates, other heroes, and villains. Genre: Action/Adventure, Superhero, Shōnen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7, vol 8 
Naruto $
by Masashi Kishimoto 72 published volumes, plus a number of light novels Basic Plot: Naruto is a ninja in a world where elements are important, animals can inhabit people's bodies, and everyone seems to be some sort of ninja fighter. Naruto wants to become the leader of his village, but, of course, he must go through so many trials and years of training before that can happen. Genre: Action/Adventure, Ninja, Shōnen Sara's Review: Naruto 
One-Punch Man $
by ONE 21 published volumes Basic Plot: Saitama trains to become a superhero, and he does so well that now he can defeat all manner of bad guy with one punch. Superhero work is kinda boring... He joins the Hero Association so he can get jobs saving people, but still, nothing's very challenging. This series is pretty hilarious and puts the superhero genre onto its head. Genre: Action/Adventure, Superhero, Humor, Shōnen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7 
Ouran High School Host Club #
by Bisco Hatori 18 published volumes Basic Plot: Haruhi accidentally breaks an expensive vase in the Host Club room and must work off her debt by becoming the errand boy for the Hosts. The Host Club specializes in entertaining female students with tea and sweets. This series is pretty funny, and caters to the "shipping" crowd of readers who want to play matchmaker with different characters. Genre: School age, Romance, Humor, Shōjo Group two - should buys
This group is still very popular and full of great manga. If you still have money left over after Group One, consider some of these titles.
Assassination Classroom *
by Yusei Matsui 21 published volumes Basic Plot: A new teacher on campus challenges his class of misfits and under-motivated students to assassinate him, and they only have the school year to do it. They'll get a reward for it, too, so who will be the successful one? Genre: School age, Science Fiction, Humor, Shōnen Warnings: Violence, bloodshed 
Blue Exorcist
by Kazue Kato 25 published volumes Basic Plot: Rin was raised by exorcists, but he's actually the son of Satan! He makes it his sole mission to take out the Boss Man Satan, but he has to train and up his skills as an exorcist, while navigating the rules of an order that do not embrace his demon side. What better place to learn how to be an exorcist than at an elite school, The True Cross Academy. Genre: Supernatural, School Age, Shōnen Warnings: Violence, bloodshed Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7, vol 8, vol 9, vol 10 
Cardcaptor Sakura #
by CLAMP 10 published volumes Basic Plot: Sakura accidentally set loose a deck of mischievous cards, and now she must use her latent magical ability and the powers bestowed upon her by the Guardian to collect all the cards again before they wreak tons of havoc. Genre: Magical girl, Fantasy, Shōjo Sara's Reviews: vol 1 
Death Note #
by Tsugumi Ohba 12 published volumes Basic Plot: Light discovers the notebook of a death god, where any human whose name is written in the notebook will die. Light decides to use this power to rid the world of terrible people, but this brings him some unwanted attention from the authorities. Genre: Supernatural, Shōnen Warnings: Violence, bloodshed 
Dragonball, Z, Super $
by Akira Toriyama Dragonball: 42 published volumes Dragonball Z: 26 published volumes Dragonball Super: 12 published volumes Basic Plot: This series follows Goku as he trains in martial arts and quests to collect all of the seven Dragon Balls, which will summon the dragon Shenlong and provide the user one wish. Genre: Action Adventure, Shōnen 
Fruits Basket #
by Natsuki Takaya 12 published volumes (collection's edition), Fruits Basket Another: 3 published editions Basic Plot: Tohru is an orphan who sets up her tent in a "park" that turns out to be the lands of a very special family, the Somas, who are all ncarnations of the Zodiac! Genre: Romance, Family, Shōjo Sara's Reviews: vol 1 
Fullmetal Alchemist #
by Hiromu Arakawa 27 published volumes Basic Plot: The Elric brothers travel their country of Amestris searching for a way to restore their original bodies after an alchemical experiment to bring back their mother goes awry. Genre: Action Adventure, Steampunk, Shōnen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7, vol 8, vol 9, vol 10, vol 11, vol 12 
Haikyu!! *
by Haruichi Furudate 43 published volumes Basic Plot: Hinata is obsessed with playing volleyball, but his junior high doesn't have much of a team. Once he gets into high school, he gets involved in the school's heavily competitive volleyball club. Genre: Sports, Shōnen Sara's Review: vol 1 
Komi Can’t Communicate *
by Tomohito Oda 11 published volumes Basic Plot: Komi suffers from an extreme social anxiety that makes her incapable of speaking to other people, However, she wants to make 100 friends before graduation! Tadano discovers Komi's crippling fear and goal, and he decides to help her reach her goals. Genre: School Age, Slice of Life, Humor, Friendship, Shōnen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5 
One Piece $
by Eiichiro Oda 95 published volumes Basic Plot: Monkey, who has the properties of rubber, is sailing the many seas, collecting a motley crew of pirates, and searching for the mythical treasure, One Piece. Genre: Action Adventure, Pirates, Humor, Shōnen 
The Promised Neverland *
by Kaiu Shirai 18 published volumes Basic Plot: Orphan children live at Grace Field House and enjoy life, until they realize what their Orphanage really is - a farm for raising prized meat for demons, who eat humans. Genre: Demons, Action Adventure, Horror, Mystery, Dystopian, Shōnen Warnings: Violence, bloodshed Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7, vol 8, vol 9, vol 10, vol 11, vol 12, vol 13, vol 14 
Sailor Moon #
by Naoko Takeuchi 12 published volumes Basic Plot: Junior high student Usagi Tsukino awakens as the mythical solider, Sailor Moon, who must protect Earth and the Solar System from various threats that want to take over the world and steal the power from the Sailor Soldiers. Genre: Magical Girl, Superheroes, Romance, Shōjo Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7 GROUP THREE - GOOD TO BUY
This group has been pretty popular for a while, so chances are they're going to keep being popular, but many of these series are very long, a little older, or might have a more specific audience/reader they will appeal to. 
Attack on Titan +$
by Hajime Isayama Attack on Titan: 31 published volumes Attack On Titan: Before the Fall: 17 published volumes Attack on Titan: No Regrets: 2 published volumes Attack on Titan: Junior High: 5 published volumes Basic Plot: Eren lives in Shiganshina, a city within very tall wals, and one of the last places of human civilization. Outside the walls, human-eating giants, called Titans, roam the earth trying to find humans to eat. During an attack on Singanshina, Eren's family and home is destroyed, and he decides to enlist in the military, whose major mission is to defend against and kill Titans. Genre: Horror, Dystopian, War, Shōnen Warnings: Violence, bloodshed 
Bleach $
by Tite Kubo 75 published volumes Basic plot: Ichigo is a hotheaded teenager who can see ghosts. He becomes a Soul Reaper, similar to a grim reaper, and he must defend humans from evil spirits. Genre: Action Adventure, Supernatural, Shōnen 
Manga Classics *
by various creators 17 published volumes Manga adaptations of classic literature, including Jane Eyre, Dracula, Shakespearean plays, and so many more. This is one way you can get staff/parents on board by showing the medium of Manga being used in a fairly scholastic way. Genre: various 
Tokyo Ghoul
by Sui Ishida 14 published volumes Tokyo Ghoul:re: 15 published volumes Basic Plot: Ghouls live amongst the humans, and they need to eat human flesh in order to survive. Ken gets attacked by a ghoul and undergoes surgery to save his life, but he ends up as a half-ghoul and has to learn how to live with this new part of himself. Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Seinen Warnings: Violence, bloodshed. Tokyo Ghoul:re has adult content Reviews from No Flying, No Tights 
Witch Hat Atelier
by Kamome Shirahama 7 published volumes Basic Plot: Coco accidentally turns her mother into stone and must train with a witch to build her skills up in order to save her mother. But, there are sinister workings in the magical community that want to use Coco for their own means. Genre: Magical girl, Fantasy, Seinen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7 Middle SchoolGROUP ONE - MUST BUYS
This list of manga includes titles that students have been and continue to go nuts over. They will probably be amongst the most requested titles from your students. 
My Hero Academia*
by Kohei Horikoshi 28 published volumes in the main story, plus Vigilantes, Smash! and School Briefs Basic Plot: Midoriya wants to be a superhero but has no super ability. He gets a super ability and attends the prestigious U. A. High School for Super Heroes, and this series chronicles his journey through school, navigating classmates, other heroes, and villains. Genre: Action/Adventure, Superhero, Shōnen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7, vol 8 
Naruto $
by Masashi Kishimoto 72 published volumes, plus a number of light novels Basic Plot: Naruto is a ninja in a world where elements are important, animals can inhabit people's bodies, and everyone seems to be some sort of ninja fighter. Naruto wants to become the leader of his village, but, of course, he must go through so many trials and years of training before that can happen. Genre: Action/Adventure, Ninja, Shōnen Sara's Review: Naruto 
One-Punch Man $
by ONE 21 published volumes Basic Plot: Saitama trains to become a superhero, and he does so well that now he can defeat all manner of bad guy with one punch. Superhero work is kinda boring... He joins the Hero Association so he can get jobs saving people, but still, nothing's very challenging. This series is pretty hilarious and puts the superhero genre onto its head. Genre: Action/Adventure, Superhero, Humor, Shōnen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7 
Yotsuba&!
by Kiyohiko Azuma 14 published volumes Basic Plot: Yotsuba moves into a new house with her father, and she gets to explore the house and the neighborhood, meet new friends, and lots more. The series is really cute and wholesome. Genre: Slice of life, humor, Shōnen GROUP TWO - SHOULD BUYS
This group is still very popular and full of great manga. If you still have money left over after Group One, consider some of these titles. 
Fruits Basket #
by Natsuki Takaya 12 published volumes (collection's edition), Fruits Basket Another: 3 published editions Basic Plot: Tohru is an orphan who sets up her tent in a "park" that turns out to be the lands of a very special family, the Somas, who are all ncarnations of the Zodiac! Genre: Romance, Family, Shōjo Sara's Reviews: vol 1 
Fullmetal Alchemist #
by Hiromu Arakawa 27 published volumes Basic Plot: The Elric brothers travel their country of Amestris searching for a way to restore their original bodies after an alchemical experiment to bring back their mother goes awry. Genre: Action Adventure, Steampunk, Shōnen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7, vol 8, vol 9, vol 10, vol 11, vol 12 
Haikyu!! *
by Haruichi Furudate 43 published volumes Basic Plot: Hinata is obsessed with playing volleyball, but his junior high doesn't have much of a team. Once he gets into high school, he gets involved in the school's heavily competitive volleyball club. Genre: Sports, Shōnen Sara's Review: vol 1 
Komi Can’t Communicate *
by Tomohito Oda 11 published volumes Basic Plot: Komi suffers from an extreme social anxiety that makes her incapable of speaking to other people, However, she wants to make 100 friends before graduation! Tadano discovers Komi's crippling fear and goal, and he decides to help her reach her goals. Genre: School Age, Slice of Life, Humor, Friendship, Shōnen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5 
Sailor Moon #
by Naoko Takeuchi 12 published volumes Basic Plot: Junior high student Usagi Tsukino awakens as the mythical solider, Sailor Moon, who must protect Earth and the Solar System from various threats that want to take over the world and steal the power from the Sailor Soldiers. Genre: Magical Girl, Superheroes, Romance, Shōjo Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7 
Witch Hat Atelier
by Kamome Shirahama 7 published volumes Basic Plot: Coco accidentally turns her mother into stone and must train with a witch to build her skills up in order to save her mother. But, there are sinister workings in the magical community that want to use Coco for their own means. Genre: Magical girl, Fantasy, Seinen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7 Elementary
I don't read as much for this age group as I should, so I only have a few recommendations for now. 
Witch Hat Atelier
by Kamome Shirahama 7 published volumes Basic Plot: Coco accidentally turns her mother into stone and must train with a witch to build her skills up in order to save her mother. But, there are sinister workings in the magical community that want to use Coco for their own means. Genre: Magical girl, Fantasy, Seinen Sara's Reviews: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7 
Yotsuba&!
by Kiyohiko Azuma 14 published volumes Basic Plot: Yotsuba moves into a new house with her father, and she gets to explore the house and the neighborhood, meet new friends, and lots more. The series is really cute and wholesome. Genre: Slice of life, humor, Shōnen
3 Comments
Jason Boissiere
4/29/2021 01:27:06 am
All the symbols for classic, long series, etc., look like question marks to me, FF 88 on Linux.
Amy Brownlee
4/14/2022 06:42:17 am
Thanks so much for this excellent guide! I am a school librarian with a handful of manga titles in our collection. I just received a grant to buy more manga and all the reviews and information you share are so helpful! I'm also a mom and my kids love manga and anime, so I've learned a bit from them as well. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!
Sara Smith
4/14/2022 01:09:49 pm
I’m so glad you are finding it helpful! Good luck spending all your grant money 😁 Leave a Reply. |
Info PostingsThis section is where I will post general information about graphic novels, news, or other things I feel are relevant to the development of graphic novel sections in libraries.
About MeI've been reading Manga and comicbooks for years. Now, it's time to share my knowledge with you.
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