The year is 1965, and it is a dangerous time for Jews in the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, Rabbi Rafael Grossman travels to the area to investigate reports of Jewish persecution for himself. Despite being welcomed as a guest by the Soviet government with the caveat that he maintains a strict schedule, the rabbi slips away to embark on a secret journey. Armed but nothing with an address and a partial idea of what he is walking into, he’s unaware that what he is about to encounter will irrevocably alter the way he interacts with humanity. Inspired by true events, this Eisner-nominated graphic novel captures a snippet of Jewish perseverance during an overlooked era when a different type of Holocaust, a spiritual Holocaust, was happening in the USSR.
0 Comments
Illustrated by Nekokurage
After buying Jinshi buys her contract, Mao Mao finds herself employed as one of his personal maids in the outer court. She has to steer clear of the East Wing where the soldiers are barracked, but otherwise can come and go on his errands and try to find medicinal herbs around the grounds, a difficult task during the winter months. Being close on hand to Sir Jinshi means plenty of mysteries come her way, like an explosion in a food storeroom, a case of potential food poisoning that has her unnaturally interested, and a strangely written will that has three brothers on edge after the death of their skilled tradesmen father. 
Aki and Konosuke are rescued by a doctor who transports them away via a jar to a remote mountain hamlet where Konosuke is finally able to recuperate from his poison wounds, but he doesn’t trust the doctor. Why would this man help them out of the blue? The doctor tells them of his long history into the Tsuchimikado family — he was tasked with training the Onmyoji’s son, Haretake, to control his considerable power, but something seemed wrong in the Tsuchimikado family that left the doctor wanting revenge. In another part of the world, we begin to see why Haretake kidnapped Tsuki in the first place, and why he needs her considerable power.
In a fictitious European-inspired country during the fifteenth century, many budding astronomers are beginning to shake up the church’s geocentric theory by studying the movement of the stars and planets and piercing together a heliocentric theory. A young man named Rafal, who had a promising future as a young theology student with early entry into a local university, is snared by the theory and can’t deny the beauty of the planetary orbits. Ten years later, a pair of mercenaries are entangled in ferrying the secret research documents to a genius monk who has already been admonished and severely punished for pursuing the same theories.
Vol 1: A Study in Scarlet, adapted by Crystal Chen, illustrated by Julien Choy.
Booklist review Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 7-12 Publisher: Manga Classics (UDON Entertainment) Publication Date: January 21, 2025 ISBN: 9781947808324 (Paperback) ​Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High School, Manga, Mystery, Historical Fiction, UDON Entertainment 
Sugimoto is a veteran of the Russo-Japanese war who earned the nickname “The Immortal Sugimoto” for having survived many near-fatal woundings on the battlefield. He heard there was gold left to pan in the Hokkaido region, so after the war, he set off to try to make a quick fortune in order to take care of the woman he loves. But, the rivers have already been picked clean. One day, he hears a tall tale of a group of prisoners with tattoos leading to Hokkaido’s hidden gold horde. What initially seemed to be the nonsense of a drunken man sets Sugimoto on an epic quest deep into the Hokkaido wilderness, teaming up with a capable Ainu huntress named Asirpa, and plenty more attempts on his life.
Yuri is, for all outward signs, a normal student who just passed her entrance exams and is looking forward to relaxing and getting closer to her crush, who finally kissed her. But her life takes a terrible turn when a murderous queen kidnaps her from her time and transports her back to the ancient Hittite empire to become a sacrifice in a ritual! Somewhat fortunately, a prince with an eye for beauty rescues her from the ceremony, but Yuri's not sure she's safer with the lecherous Prince Kail. Somehow, she has to find a way back home while surviving in the literal bronze age!
Suzu is a simple girl from the countryside who enjoys illustrating, but she doesn't always get the credit for her work at school. Upon arriving home one day, she discovers she will enter into an arranged marriage with a naval officer from the small town of Kure outside of Hiroshima. It's the early 1940s, so the station and job is a good one and she'll have a stable home, but the wartime post worries Suzu a little. Her new husband works in the same yards that service the large ships like the Yamato. Suzu fills her days taking care of their home and trying not to succumb to some of the nastiness the war has filled others with in her new home.
Gen and his family of four siblings and parents live in Hiroshima, Japan during WWII. Times are very difficult — there is little to eat thanks to most of the food going to the war effort; neighbors report each other for speaking out against the war; and constraint air raids have everyone on edge. Gen’s brother Akira is evacuated with his school into the countryside while his father is hauled in and severely beaten for saying he doesn’t support the war. This causes the entire family to be branded as traitors and encourages the eldest son Koji to volunteer early for the pilot training force. Gen and Shinji constantly get into antics, which are usually pointless until their pregnant mother becomes ill, then the boys decide to use their skills to beg for change to help buy her nutritious food. Their days pass on while, looming in the background, American scientists inch closer to the atomic age.
Illustrated by Nekokurage
Sir Jinshi asks Maomao to complete the investigation of the poisoning from the garden party by going undercover in the Garnet Palace, home of Lady Aduo, the longest reigning consort of the current emperor. Maomao doesn’t appreciate being a spy, but when a maid from the Garnet Palace is found dead, she is intrigued enough to succumb to Jinshi’s plans. What Maomao discovers is a plot that stretches back decades, involves other consorts, the emperor himself, and could end her employment at the palace. |
About MeI've been reading manga and comicbooks for years. Now, I write reviews and other helpful things for School Librarians, teachers, parents, and students. Search this site
Ratings, Audience, and Subject Tags
All
Archives
March 2025
|
© 2025 Sara Smith |
|
|
