Are you into reading Manga? I wasn't, until this summer. One of the other librarians on staff encouraged me to read a few series. And then, I go hooked. I love Manga! I love the story lines, I love the format that is so accessible to kids across the board. Whether kids are struggling to read, or accomplished readers way above grade level, manga is an equal opportunity format. The fact that it is a graphic based format makes it easier for struggling readers, and the white spaces between the panels encourage higher order thinking skills painlessly. (making predictions, drawing inferences).
Manga is different than Western Graphic Novels in that you read them from right to left, and you start each page on the top right hand side, reading to the left, and then returning to the left side and going down a line. I'm convinced that reading in this format is going to help me stave off dementia!
While I enjoyed most everything I read, I was drawn to "Slice of Life" manga. Slice of life is based around the life of a person going about their day. From chores, to school, to preparing meals.
In no particular order, here are my favorite Manga series that I read this summer:
Yotsuba & !
Yotsuba and her father encounter many adventures when they move into a new house in the big city! Every day brings new adventures! *Note, in many ways, I felt that this series was a "read-alike" to Junie B Jones or Ramona Quimby. This is the only series that I read that came out of the children's section.
Silver Spoon
Yugo Hachiken chooses to go to an agricultural school instead of the Academic School that his parents had planned for him to attend. Hachiken's life takes an interesting turn as he begins to understand the world that prepares the food that he eats, and applies his business acumen to helping the future farmers i the school grow their business models.
The Ancient Magus' Bride: Wizards Blue
Definitely NOT a slice of life! The ancient wizard has chosen a bound partner who's job will eventually be to kill her. Wonderfully fun fantasy full of action and adventure, with a touch of magic tossed in for fun.
Spy X Family
Super Spy must acquire a family in order to spy upon a foreign diplomat/businessman who has designs on taking over the world. Said spy quickly finds a family. He unknowingly marries an assassin for hire and adopts a telepath. This series is solid gold! We can't keep it on our shelves. It keeps getting checked out!
Living Room
High School student lives in the big city in her uncle's boarding house with really hot college guy across the hall who might be as interested in her as she is in him. Or is he? Very sweet series!
The Way of the House Husband
This delightful series follows the life of an ex-Yakuza gang member who retires from a life of crime and becomes a House Husband. I love the comic absurdities throughout the series!
Have you read any Manga? What are your favorite series? Inquiring minds want to know!
*If you're curious to find out more about Manga and how it supports reading, you can find out more here: https://www.ncwlibraries.org/the-benefits-of-manga-and-graphic-novels/
