Welcome back to school 2024!
As you head back to your libraries and (hopefully) have some money to spend, check out my recommendations for some hot new titles from 2024 to purchase for your libraries that your students will (hopefully, again) enjoy! Some of these titles might just be new to me that I discovered over the last year, but others are new releases for all of us. Some of these reviews require subscriptions to read: Booklist* or School Library Journal+. elementary, grades 4-6in the name of the mermaid princess
by Yoshino Fumikawa, illustrated by Miya Tashiro
Princess Mio lives in a kingdom where to be unhuman is to be banished, but Mio is part mermaid. She has spent her entire life taking medicine to suppress her mermaid side. But, she's about to be married to the prince of a neighboring kingdom. When her tutor arrives and questions how her kingdom treats unhumans, Mio starts to wonder if she can live as a mermaid after all. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 6-10 Read the full reviews here: vol 1*, vol 2 a kingdom of quartz
by BOMHAT
An orphan named Blue lives in a world of angels segregated away from demons, but she has black wings while all the other angels have beautiful white wings. She wishes nothing more than to join the ranks of archangels and protect the the Quartz Kingdom, but her appearance and a hidden, dark power is getting in the way of her dreams. Volume one is fine for elementary, though successive volumes may be more dark and violent. Sara's Rating: Suitability Level: Grades 5-12 Read the full review here: vol 1* miraculous: tales of lady bug & cat noir
by ZAG, adapted by Koma Warita, illustrated by Riku Tsuchida
Guarding the streets of Paris is the adorable duo, Ladybug and Cat Noir, whose secret identities are teenagers Marionette and Adrien. When they’re not their superhero selves, Marionette tries to navigate being a teenager, which means babysitting, dealing with class projects with the stuck up preppy girl, and trying to confess her feelings for Adrien. Meanwhile, Adrien tries to deal with his crush on Ladybug! Around them, folks continue to have their strong emotions exploited by Hawk Moth, the sworn enemy of Ladybug and Cat Noir. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 5-8 Read the full review here: vol 1 mr. villain's day off
by Yuu Morikawa
Mr. Villain, also sometimes called The General, is a leader in the Evil League, and normally, his job is to eradicate humans on Earth in order to conquer the planet for his people. But, Mr. Villain is very wise and particular about his mission. Earth isn’t going to be conquered quickly, so balancing his work life and his days off is extremely important. On one mission, he investigates several animals at the zoo and grows particularly fond of the fluffy, cuddly looking pandas. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 5-12 Read the full review here: vol 1 my clueless first friend
by Taku Kawamura
Takada is a 5th grade transfer student, and Nishimura is a bit of a gloomy girl that everyone else calls "The Grim Reaper." Takada is determined to figure how what makes her so special to get such a cool nickname, and what he finds is an awesome friend and someone who makes him happy to be around. Other classmates try to make fun of Takada for being around Nishimura, but Takada's carefree attitude turns all their jabs around and makes everything backfire. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 4-10 Read the full review here:vol 1 middle school, grades 7-8bless
by Yukino Sonoyama
Aia has a background in modeling that has followed him into his high school career at a prestigious arts academy. But, he's always been fascinated with makeup and styling. When he pairs with Jun for a project, they decide to switch their expected roles and explore their heart's desires. Aia styles Jun while she breaks out of her shell and models for the first time. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 7-12 Read the full review here: vol 1* Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc
by Sekka Iwata & illustrated by Yu Aoki
In a world where magical girl companies are plentiful, Sakuragi is struggling to find where she fits in within the corporate world. She finds a home with the Magilumiere Magical Girls, Inc, and wants to make sure she can be useful while still contributing to a team. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 7-12 Read the full review here: vol 1+ medalist
by Tsurumaikada
After realizing his Olympic Ice Dancing dreams weren't coming true, Tsukasa decides to go all in on the dreams of eight-year-old Inori, who others think is too old to start figuring skating. Inori is determined to become an Olympian herself and catch up to other skaters who have been practicing since they were four. Together, their heart-felt spirit and hard work make them a feel-good team full of spunk and style. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 7-12 Read the full review here: vol 1*, vol 2 Neighborhood story
by Ai Yazawa
Mikako and her friends attend the Arts Academy and begin their journeys as young creators of fashion, modeling, and other arts. While they figure out their schoolwork, they're also navigating new friendships and romantic relationships, including Mikako sorting out her feelings for her long-time friend, Tsutomu, who she thought she didn't have feelings for. Sara's Rating: Suitability Level: Grades 8-12 Read the full review here: vol 1+ nina the starry bride
by Rikachi
Nina starts off life as an orphan, but is quickly sold out by someone she trusted. Her beautiful blue eyes make her rare and alluring, but also an almost perfect double for the recently deceased princess Alisha. Her captor is Prince Azure, Alisha’s older brother, who brings Nina into the palace and strikes a deal with her to impersonate the princess in exchange for a comfortable life. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 8-12 Read the full review here: vol 1 not-sew-wicked stepmom
by IRU
One day, a child fashion designer works herself to her literal death and awakens as the queen in the fairytale-inspired story she was reading. Now living as Abigail, she finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage with a husband who gives her the creeps, and the worst case of Resting-B**** Face that scares the daylights out of everyone, including her beautiful step-daughter Blanche, the Snow-White figure of the story. Sara's Rating: 9/10 Suitability Level: Grades 7-12 Read the full reviews here: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3 Pass the monster meat, milady
by Kanata Hoshi, adapted by Chika Mizube
Melphira is an outcast amongst nobles because she likes to experiment with eating monster meats. This makes her marriage prospects slim to none, until she meets Lord Galbraith. Dubbed the Blood-Mad duke, Lord Galbraith excels at killing monsters, and actually takes an interest in her culinary research. Sara's Rating: 9/10 Suitability Level: Grades 7-12 Read the full review here: vol 1+ the perks of being an s-class heroine
by Irinbi, adapted by Grrr
Our heroine meets an untimely death but received a message just before asking her if she wanted to purchase the full insurance package for her transmigration journey. Once in the afterlife, she is asked what kind of story she wanted to be placed in, and she asked for a childcare fantasy, but she gets an S-class novel instead! Rather than live out her afterlife in relative ease compared to the hardships she endured in her first life, she’s now stuck as Ailette, an energetic child of an alchemist serving a noble household. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 7-12 Read the full review here: vol 1 the villainess turns the hourglass
by SANSOBEE, illustrated by Antstudio
Just before the moment of her death, Aria's younger sister Mielle reveals herself as the true villainess. But, rather than dying, she is reincarnated as her younger self. Now that she knows her sister is the true evil one, she swears to make Mielle's life as miserable as possible this time through life. To aid her efforts, Aria also discovers a magical hourglass that lets her skip back several moments into the past to be able to further manipulate those around her. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 8-12 Read the full reviews here: vol 1+, vol 2 high school, grades 9-12Initial D
by Shuichi Shigeno
Takumi has been delivering tofu up Mount Akina for years, and has developed a natural talent for drifting his dad's Toyota AE "Eight-Six" Trueno. He reluctantly gets pulled into the world of street racing when punk after punk arrives to challenge Akina's Downhill Specialist, sometimes dishonoring his friends in the process. Sara's Rating: 9/10 Suitability Level: Grades 10-12 Read the full review here: vol 1*, vol 2 Jungle Juice
by Hyeong Eun, illustrated by Juder
After a fateful near-death encounter, college student Suchan discovers a hidden society of human-insect hybrids who were affected by the use of a bug spray called Jungle Juice. In this separate society, Suchan and his fellow students of Nest vie for the spot of Top Student so they can earn a canister of Cinderella serum, which will reverse the effects of their insect hybridization and bring them closer to a normal life. Sara's Rating: 9/10 Suitability Level: Grades 10-12 Read the full reviews here: vol 1*, vol 2, vol 3 the summer hikaru died
by Mokumokuren
One summer, Hikaru went up into the mountain, but what returned might not be Hikaru. Yoshiki doesn’t want to believe his best friend is dead, but he has a suspicion that whatever this thing is, isn’t his friend Hikaru. This creature might have all of Hikaru’s mannerisms and memories, but it’s not his best friend. However, is being around this thing better than not having Hikaru at all? Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 9-12 Read the full review here: vol 1 status royal
by Ru Xu
Vell and her best friend Jun play lots of Status Royale together until Jun decides that Vell is bringing him down and ditches her. Now, Vell decides find some new friends and train them up to bring down Jun in a competitive esports atmosphere. It turns out, her new teammates all have something to settle against Jun as well, so they find camaraderie and drive in their shared goal. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 9-12 Read the full review here: vol 1* Steel of the celestial shadows
by Daruma Matsuura
Konosuke is a disgraced samurai who cannot get near anything containing metal -- including his sword. He is nearly out of money and food when a beautiful and mysterious woman comes with a dowry and marriage proposal. His life seems to be looking up until they are attacked by men with mysterious supernatural powers, and his new bride is carted away to an otherworldly place. Konosuke vows to pursue her kidnappers, but first he must enlist others and understand his own power. Volume one has one adult scene between husband and wife, and volume three includes sexual assault, so while this is a beautiful and gripping fantasy story, it is best suited for older teen to adult collections. Sara's Rating: 9/10 Suitability Level: Grades 10-12 Read the full reviews here: vol 1*, vol 2, vol 3 unholy blood
by Lina Lim
Hayan Park starts her first year of college trying to live a normal life. But, her life is not normal. She's an orphan being raised by a Catholic priest and living in his church with two younger children she claims as siblings, and she's actually a pureblood vampire. Lately, there's been a slew of vicious vampire activity, causing civil unrest and more police activity. Hayan just wants to go to class and avoid the cute detective who seems to know her secret. Sara's Rating: Suitability Level: Grades 10-12 Read the full reviews here: vol 1+, vol 2 watch dogs: Tokyo
by Seiichi Shirato, illustrated by Shūhei Kamo
In a future that seems much closer to reality than science fiction, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is aided by private company Blume Japan and its powerful data-collection system, J-ctOS, to help fight, predict, and solve crimes. Some of this doesn’t sit well with Inspector Goda, who thinks J-ctOS incapable of chasing down leads who leave behind no data points. To complicate things further, a cyber activist group known as DEDSEC takes an interest in Goda because he may not be as dumb as all cops, and might prove useful in the fight against corrupt artificial intelligence. Sara's Rating: 9/10 Suitability Level: Grades 9-12 Read the full review here: vol 1 whisper me a love song
by Eku Takeshima
At the welcoming ceremony of their high school, Himari falls in love with the vocals and guitar playing of Yori and becomes her biggest fan. With her confession of love, Yori falls in love with Himari, but in an actual sense of love, rather than an admiration of fandom. The other band members thinks this infatuation is the perfect fodder for Yori, who they have tasked with writing a love song. Yori isn’t sure she can be close with Himari and not continue to fall more in actual love with her. Himari, on the other hand, starts to examine whether what she's feeling is just admiration, or can she actually reciprocate Yori's feelings. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 9-12 Read the full review here: vol 1 Windbreaker
by Satoru Nii
Sakura has come to the neighborhood of Makochi to attend Furin High School. It’s an all-boys school known as being full of delinquents where students constantly get in fights. Sakura intends on fighting his way to the top because he has no time for anyone weaker than him. But when he finally gets into the neighborhood, he discovers an entirely different environment. Students from Furin are called Bofurin - protectors of the neighborhood, and they don’t fight each other - they protect the citizenry and fight other gangs to deter other delinquency in their area. Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 9-12 Read the full reviews here: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Info PostingsThis section is where I will post general information about graphic novels, lists, 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.
Categories
All
SEARCH THIS SITE
|
© 2024 Sara Smith |
|
|