Jay is starting eighth grade and his class schedule is mostly different from his friends, but he'll be OK as long as he can stay in art class. There, he has at least two acquaintances who are nice to him and can work on group projects with him. When Jay starts getting acne, it seems like a little problem at first, but when it becomes aggressive and no over-the-counter medicines work, he starts going to a specialist who prescribes some pretty intense medicine that comes with some awful side effects. He starts getting mood swings that make him irritable, and he has problems regulating his temperature so that wearing his signature hoodie is too much. He starts alienating even his classmates and can't understand the romantic feelings they express towards him, until one day when one introduces him to a term that seems to describe him perfectly: ace.
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Illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari
Aqua begins filming his reality dating show with five other teens from the entertainment industry while Ruby tries to get her idol group to have an online presence thanks to a popular YouTuber who is also repped by Strawberry Productions. Though Aqua is content to stay on the fringe of the show and not become entangled in the love triangles, he is ensnared when online rage is pointed at one of his female cast-mates. In thanks for his heroism, the cast-mate vows to become the kind of girl Aqua can fall in love with, which sends her into a deep character study of Ai and makes her a valuable asset in Aqua’s continued quest to discover everything about the idol.
Suiren is a beautiful, mysterious young girl starting high school and the object of many young men’s crushes. She’s quiet, mysterious, and keeps to herself often. They liken her and nickname her “mysterious flower” because of her beauty and aloofness. One day, shy but tough Kawasumi stands up for her against several bullies, and she finds herself smitten. Kawasumi’s problem mirrors Suiren’s - he doesn’t know how to talk to girls, while Suiren doesn’t know how to talk to boys without sending them into emotional tizzies. The two bounce off each other in various high school situations - class field trips, navigating other students having crushes on them - and they might start to drift closer to one another as they realize a mutual attraction.
Illustrated by Tobi Tana and Nanna Fujimi Booklist review Sara's Rating: 9/10 Suitability Level: Grades 8-12 Publisher: Yen Press Publication Date: July 18, 2023 ISBN: 9781975365301 (Paperback) Tags: Rating: 9/10, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High School, Manga, Fantasy, Mental Health, School Life, Yen Press
John is a powerless teen at a private school in a world where everyone has a power. He's determined to do well and study hard, and he's particularly determined to keep his head down as he's a target for high-power bullies. But, he often finds himself in the infirmary after standing up for folks who can fight back or for mouthing off to someone with more power than him. Good thing that his best friend is Seraphina, one of the most powerful kids in school. There are some strange things happening around in the community, though. Someone is murdering high powered superheroes and tracking even high schoolers who are overpowered. And Sera comes under fire when school officials find her with a copy of a banned book, so now he's without his loyal protector. Will it be the school that finally breaks him, or will it be his secret past finally catching up with him?
The Astronomy Club needs to start holding events and doing actual club activities, but first, they need ideas and some funds. The club advisor suggests Nakami and Magari travel to a small town and visit with past Astronomy Club alumna, Yui Shiromaru, who is an award-winning astrophotographer, and who may be able to provide some guidance with Nakami’s budding hobby and make it lucrative for the club. Meanwhile. Nakami and Magari separately explore their feelings for their friend and try to decide whether the safe haven they have created has begun to blossom into a crush. Towards the end, the grade-level goes on a field trip to a famous beach, and the two hope to sneak away to capture their award-winning photo, but the constant storms and cloud-cover, plus watchful chaperones, might ruin their plan.
Charlie just wants to attend a normal high school and get a normal education, but Charlie's main problem is - he's not normal! Charlie is the world's first ever Humanzee! Born in a California lab 15 years ago then freed by the ALA -- The Animal Liberation Allliance -- Charlie has been trying to live a quiet life with his mom and dad in a small town in the Midwest, but all that changes when the ALA sets its sights on Charlie once again. When the ALA begins executing violent attacks in cities across the nation, folks start to wonder if it's safe for Charlie -- and for their own children -- for him to try to be a normal teenager.
Asari is on the receiving end of the bullying she wrought upon Tsugu when she first came back into town, and she does not enjoy the taste of her own medicine. Tsugu, Sora, and Yuushin all stay at the restaurant after the boxing exam since Yuushin rescued a kitten, reminding them all of childhood sleepovers. In the morning, Tsugu goes to a studio where her Pop is working to play her guitar with him, but receives some devastating news about her family dynamic. The friends finally travel back and reconnect back at the base of the Golden Sheep and regain some closure by digging up their time capsule.
Illustrated by Toshi Aoi
Will is a No-Talent student attending Regarden Magical Academy and hoping one day to become part of the Magia Vander. He can’t cast a single spell, but he isn’t talent-less - rather, he is exceptionally skilled at the sword, and he has gotten as far as he has by beating monsters in the dungeon below the school, and by studying relentlessly so that he can pass all of his written exams. Despite his skills, most of Will’s classmates and professors refuse to accept a No-talent among their ranks, and they test him and bully him frequently. One such occasion comes within the dungeons as Will’s classmate, Sion, tries to eliminate a dangerous beast before Will and deprive him of the prize credits. In another turn, a professor challenges will to land a single offensive strike. Will constantly must prove that he is worthy of his place at Regarden and achieve his dreams at his friend's side in the highest place of their magical society. Booklist review Sara's Rating: 8/10 Suitability Level: Grades 9-12 Publisher: Yen Press Publication Date: August 29, 2023 ISBN: 9781975365066 (Paperback) Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: High School, Manga, School Life, Supernatural, Yen Press |
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 siteRatings, Audience, and Subject Tags
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