Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
Haruhi Fujioka does not look, or act like, most of the students at Ouran High School Academy. In fact, she isn't fashionable, looks like a boy, and is dirt poor. Although Ouran High School is one of the best schools to get into, it is also home to way too many rich kids how have nothing better than just look pretty and have fun. One day, Haruhi's luck takes a turn for the worse when she stumbles upon the Ouran High School Host Club and breaks a vase worth millions of yen. In order to pay for the broken items, she is now the newest member of the Host Club even though she is a girl! This series is full of surprises, award moments, and loads of comedy.

Critical Evaluation:
This series is just delightful and hilarious that teens, guys and girls, will have a great time watching. Unfortunately, the manga series is still being published so viewers will only get half of the story. However, those who haven't read the manga will want to after witnessing the antics of six gorgeous, goofy guys and one girl who has an amazing effect on them despite the fact she thinks they are all idiots. The greatest aspect of this anime is the dubbing. Most dubbing isn't all that great since the English voice-overs do not always match the look of the character. However, Funimation hired the right people, especially Tamaki and Haruhi (the main characters). The story is just absolutely amazing where a group of sheltered rich kids get to know someone who lives modestly; more importantly, Haruhi makes them feel comfortable in their own skin, especially the Hitachin (Karou and Jikaru) and that everyone deserves to be happy and loved.

Information about the Author of Ouran High School Host Club:
Ouran High School Host Club was written by Bisco Hatori who was born on August 30, 1975 in Saitama, Japan. According to Wikipedia, Hatori's "debut was A Moment of Romance in LaLa DX. Her first series was Millennium Snow, which was put on hiatus because of her other manga, the comedy Ouran High School Host Club, is her breakout hit. It placed in the 50 top-selling manga in Japan for both 2008 and 2009. According to an interview with Shojo Beat when she has ahard time selecting names for her chracters, she listens to loud, upbeat music" (para.1). Ouran High School Host Club was completed in 2010 and readers all over the country are eager to get their hand on these titles. Currently, the Alhambra Civic Center Library owns fifteen volumes and in the process of ordering the rest of the series by next fiscal year. Lastly, Bisco Hatori is actually a pseudonym and I can't wait to find out what her real name is! 


Genre:
Teen Anime 
 
Reading Level/Interest:
Teens 13& up


Anime Similar to Ouran High School Host Club:

• Romeo X Juliet
• Fruits Basket

Awards & Recognition:
N/A

Plot Summary:
Based on the popular Shojo Manga, Miyazaki has brought Natsuki Takaya's beloved story to life. Tohru Honda has never had it really easy. She lost her father when she was just an infant and her mother was killed in a car accident a year ago. She currently lives with her grandfather, who is the middle of remodeling their home, so Tohru has taken it upon herself to live in a tent to spare her grandfather any hardship. However, none of her family, or friends, know that she is "camping out" until Yuki Sohma, the most popular guy in school, discovers her secret (she is living on Sohma land). When things could not get worse, Tohru's tent is later swallowed up by a landslide and finds herself the newest resident of the Sohma house (she is the live in housekeeper). Things seems to be working out well for Tohru and Yuki, until she meets Kyo (Yuki's cousin) who not only barges in, but Thoru runs into him turning him into a cat. What she doesn't realize is this family has a dark secret--whenever a member of the opposite touches them they turn into animals of the Chinese Zodiac. 

Critical Evaluation:
After reading the entire manga, I must say that this series is just wonderful. The only problem with the anime is that it only cover about the first 15 volumes of the manga, which is due to the fact that the series was released before Takaya finished the series. However, despite the fact viewers don't get the full story, it is spot on with the series, which makes the viewers want to read the entire manga. The English and Japanese cast are both wonderfully done (translations are pretty good). Although this series is aimed at teenage girls, boys will enjoy the anime since the tumultuous relationship between Yuki and Kyo is rather entertaining. Moreover, the simplistic drawings and dialogue not only capture viewers hearts,. but provide an exceptional example of kindness, love, and empathy.  

Information about the Author/Director:
Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information on Nagisa Miyazaki; however, she has had an extensive career working an a director, animator, and writer. According to IMDB.com, she has been involved in nineteen anime television series and uses an alternate name, Haruka Ninomiya, for other series. 

Genre:
Teen Anime

Curriculum Tie-In's:
N/A


Reading Level/Interest:
Teens 13 & up


Challenge Issues:
N/A


Series Similar to Fruits Basket:

• Honey and Clover
• Rumbling Hearts

Awards & Recognition:
N/A

Plot Summary:
In this world, there is an unstoppable force known as Keren Birj. Not only has he managed to create a dictatorship that everyone fears, other countries question his methods and ethics. Grace, the main character of this story, lives on the outskirts of "The City," called the "Hills" where young people are are trained to fight and die in the name of freedom. Abandoned by her father, she is raised in the Angel Sanctuary where orphans are indoctrinated to become suicide bombers, or "Angels," whose sole purpose is to destroy Keren Birj. However, Grace doesn't want to die and decides that it was time to make her own choice for once and escape this world aboard a rickety train to the border of the country, out of Birj's control. On this journey, she meets a boy named Kerr who not only knows her secret, but carries a dark past that not only frightens Grace, but could cost her her life. 

Critical Evaluation:
Elizabeth Scott has done it again--she has created yet another masterpiece. In this provocative fantasy, children are being taught to not care for life, but to destroy it in the name of principal. Grace is one of many innocent children who were brainwashed and used as weapons. Like most teenagers, Grace is trying to figure out her purpose in life and refuses to believe that death is her destiny. Moreover, when she runs away from her mission, she pays an enormous price to escape the realm of Keran Birj. Kerr, her traveling companion, happens to be the boy who is very close to Birj. Grace involuntarily gets wrapped up in something larger than she could have imagined, but the more she gets to know Kerr, she realizes that they have a lot more in common than she thought. This story is incredibly thoughtful where Grace struggles with heavy moral issues, which will engage readers to think about their own principals.

Information about the Author:
According to her  website, Elizabeth Scott grew up in a tiny town in Virginia and her parents were both educators and actually took three classes taught by her father (para.3). After graduating high school, she went onto college and had every intention living a glamorous life and to not get married. Well, she ended up meeting her husband at college and held down a variety of odd jobs such as being a secretary, selling pantyhose, working as an editor, and burning CD's. She started writing young adult novels and can't imagine doing anything else. Scott has written nine young adult novels and has gained a solid audiences. According to Scott:

"I read a lot, and I love all kinds of books, but young adult books hold a very special place in my heart. Being a teenager is both the most amazing and the most frightening thing — there's so much going on with you, your friends, your parents, and handling that and school and having to think about your future... it can be really exciting, but it's also a lot to deal with!" (para. 7).

Genre:
Teen Dystopian Thrillers


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Grace:

• Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Double Helix by Nancy Werlin
  

Awards & Recognition:

• See Elizabeth Scott's website
  

Plot Summary:
In this book are photographs of some of the most elaborate and clever cosplay outfits from six different Anime Cons (Conventions). Each photograph is accompanied with quotes from each cosplayer and what Cosplay means to them. For those new to Cosplay, it is where Anime, Manga, and Comic fans masquerade as their favorite character. Not only are they dressed like the characters, but they have managed to become the character through mannerisms and speech.

Critical Evaluation:
Last summer, I met photographer, and author, Ejen Chuang at Anime Expo (AX) in Los Angeles.  As I marveled, from 10 feet away, I saw kids, 'tweens', 'teens, and adults just having the time of their life dressed up;  Ejen captures this spirit in his photographs and interviews with each person photographed. Teens who are die hard cosplayers will love this book simply because it will not only give them ideas for their next cosplay, but convey to them they are not the only ones are nuts about this stuff and it is completely normal to be different. More importantly, the quotes that are interspersed throughout the book, and his insightful "Foreward," Ejen and the cosplayers tell readers that as long as you have passion for something, you can do anything you want since most of the adults in this books are either fashion designers, architects, bankers, teachers, and/or librarians who have a passion for anime and manga.

Information about the Author:
According to his website, Ejen Chuang is a Los Angeles based photographer who was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He graduated from north Texas University and moved to Los Angeles in 1999.He has been in this industry for over ten years and has an amazing portfolio where he worked on a variety of projects where his photos have been used in posters, press kit photos, production stills, and gallery shots.

On his website, he as a rather entertaining set of random questions, potential clients and fans may want to know for example:

What is your favor​ite candy​?​​​
Skittles or M&Ms

If you were a crayo​n,​​​ what color​ would​ you be?
Purple. Not sure why but that’s the first color to pop in my head

What was your favor​ite toy as a child​?​​​
Legos ! Hands down best toy I’ve ever had !

What is under​ your bed?
Nothing, probably dust bunnies.

Genre:
Teen Nonfiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up




Books Similar to Cosplay in America:

• How to Cosplay Graphic-Sha

Awards & Recognition:
N/A

Plot Summary:
After much debate, and confusion, Leslie Simon and Trevor Kelley have finally put out a definitive guide to the term "Emo." According to this Simon & Kelley, " Emo is a kind of music, but more than anything, it's a state of mind"(p. 1). The term "Emo," is for "emotional," which can be applied to music, fashion, literature, and film. To be "emo," individuals are highly sensitive and in-tune with their sadness and use it to their advantage; hence, the success of Dashboard Confessional, one of the recent, and most popular, Emo bands.

Critical Evaluation:
Teens are at an age where they are not only experimenting with fashion trends, but are beginning their search for themselves and where they belong. In this guide, there is tons of information on Emo ideology, fashion, lifestyle choices (becoming a vegan or vegetarian), music selection, taste in movies, literature that should be read, history and television show NOT to be watched. Basically, this is a beginner's guide to everything Emo as well as handbook for those who have already converted. The humor and sarcasm are not only entertaining, but required since sarcasm is usually a teenager's best friend. Teens, and adults, will get a kick out of this book since it reads like an authoritative text, but, by no means, is authoritative. The drawings, time lines, fact boxes, and suggestions are incredibly useful, especially when deciphering the different types of Emo.    

Information about the Authors:

From the Back Cover of  Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture

Leslie Simon currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio and  is the managing editor for Alternative Press (AP) Magazine. She has made appearances on FUSE TV and MTV; her writings have appeared on E!Online, Stuff, and Teen People. When she has a few moments to herself, she makes Conor Oberst paper dolls (see link).

Again, according to the back cover of Everybody Trevor Kelly also works for AP Magazine as a leading contributor who currently lives in New York. He has also published articles with Spin Magazine, NME, and Harp Magazine. According to Kelly, his favorite emo album of the past ten years is Tell All Your Friends by Taking Back Sunday.

Genre:
Teen Nonfiction; Pop Culture

Booktalking Ideas:
Before talking about this book, I would ask the teens what the term "emo" means to them and teen culture. I would then ask if they know anyone, or who happens to be, "emo." After hearing their response, I would read the "Foreward" by Leslie Simon and see what kind of reaction I get. Fads are a touchy subject for some teens (since they don't want be made fun of) so I would be careful not to offend those who currently practice. In stead, I would make this booktalk a mini-lecture about popular culture and its various subcultures; I would even go so far and tell them that I had a Goth phase.

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up


Books Similar to Everybody Hurts

• An Essential Guide to Your Favorite Music Scenes - from Punk to Indie and Everything in Between
  by Leslie Simon
•  Nothing Feels Good by Andy Grenwald

Awards & Recognition:
N/A

Plot Summary:Dante is not the traditional hero. In fact, he's lazy, messy, and is up to his ears in debt. However, his line of work is anything but boring. Dante is an honest-to-goodness demon hunter. Armed with every weapon imaginable, Dante takes on these tasks, no matter how dangerous they may be to make end's meet. Life for him is pretty dismal until a little girl named Patty comes into his life. Not only does she nag him, but she actually cleans up after him. Patty's mysterious appearance was not at all coincidental; she actually came to the Devil May Cry Angel Agency to hire Dante for a job. At the core of this story is Dante's past; he has issues with a woman clad in Black leather who resembles someone very near and dear to him. Furthermore, there is another woman called "Lady" who finds odd jobs for Dante's and sometimes assists him. Devil May Cry is not for the faint of heart, but it's full of action, monsters, and humor.  

Critical Evaluation:
Devil May Cry is definitely not a family film. This anime series is gritty, violent, and Dante is more, or less, an antihero that viewers will love and hate. This anime is actually based on a PlayStation 2 video game and has received mixed reviews. However, this anime is actually incredibly entertaining with the modern animation and a soundtrack viewers will want to listen to over and over. In regards to the characters, the only one who has the most development, and history, is Dante himself. Although he is lazy, eats way to much pizza, and is a complete slob, there is something mysterious and endearing about him. Moreover, viewers will be fascinated with his fighting skills and abilities since his own strength matches that of all powerful demons; we all learn later on that he is part-human and part-demon. His relationship with Patty is highly entertaining, but it develops beautifully, especially when Dante is consumed by his demon-side and the only one who can save him is Patty.   
 
Information about the Author:
Devil May Cry is actually based on a video game created by Capcom; however, the game, itself was created by Shinji Mikami. Mikami was born on August 11, 1965 and graduated from the Faculty of Commerce at Doshisha University in 1990. He has been a part of many gaming projects such as the the ever popular Super Nintendo games Aladdin and the Goof Troop. He would later earn his fame for conceptualizing the Resident Evil games, including the third-person shooting game (i.e., Resident Evil IV).Mikami has done a lot in his time for gaming and has plenty of managerial and directorial experience (he was appointed manager at the Capcom 4 studio and he went on to create Capcom 5 and Resident Evil 4:

Resident Evil 4 is regarded as one of the most influential games of the 2000s decade, due to its influence in redefining at least two video game genres: the survival horror and the third-person shooter. Resident Evil 4 attempted to redefine the survival horror genre by emphasizing reflexes and precision aiming, thus broadening the gameplay of the series with elements from the wider action game genre. It helped redefine the third-person shooter genre by introducing a "reliance on offset camera angles that fail to obscure the action" (para 12).

Genre:
Teen Anime

Reading Level/Interest:TV-MA


Books/Movies Similar to Devil May Cry:

• Cowboy Bebop
• Vampire Hunter D

Awards & Recognition:
N/A


References:
Hideki Kamiya. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved March 26, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideki_Kamiya

Shinji Mikami. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved March 26, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinji_Mikami

Plot Summary:
Just when love could never get any more complicated, let's throw in vampires, ancient feuds, magic, and tragedy. Yuki Cross, the daughter of Headmaster Cross and class prefect, watches over the "Day class" (human class) at Cross Academy; Kaname Kuran, leader of the "Night Class,"an exclusive group of vampires who live off blood pills to prove they do not need human blood. As part of her duties to watch after the "Day Class," Yuki has developed deep feelings for Kaname, who, oddly enough, seems to reciprocate those feelings, which does not sit well with Zero, Yuki's closest friend. However, when tragedy strikes,the only person who can save Zero is Yukis. Vampire Knight is one of the most amazing love triangles, jam packed with surprises, drama, and an epic climax! 


Critical Evaluation:
In this tale of murder, forbidden love, good, and evil, an innocent girl was rescued from the clutches of an evil vampire and raised by a kind man. However, the most heart-wrenching of all of these details is that Yuki had no memory of her past or who she is. This is yet another complex tale that is not only filled with twists and turns, but readers will never believe the ending. All of the characters, in this story, are not only unique, but share similar tales of tragedy like Yuki. Many girls will instantly fall in love with Kaname and Zero becuase they are both really hot and are surrounded by tragedy. Moreover, this is a tale of forbidden and what girl can resist?

Information about the Author:
According to an interview, on Hakusensha Online, Matsuri Hino was born on January 24 in Hokkaido Japan. She made her debut with Wake this Dream published by La La La DX in 1995. Matsuri has written other successful series such as Merupuri and Captive Hearts. According to Anime News Network, Hino's Vampire Knight, is ranked number nine on the New York Times Best Seller Manga List (February 27-March 5). According to ShojoBeat: "Hino enjoys creative activities, and has commented that she would have been either an architect or an apprentice to traditional Japanese craft masters if she did not become a manga artist" (para. 3). Another interesting tidbit about Matsuri Hino is that she had only become a Manga artist nine months prior to the release of her first series.

Genre: 
Teen Fantasy Manga, Teen Romance Manga


Reading Level/Interest:
Teen 13 & up


Books Similar to Vampire Knight:

• Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles by Clamp
• Black Bird by Kanoko Sakurakoji
• Angel Sanctuary by Kaori Yuki

Awards & Recognition:

• New York Times Manga Best Seller List (December 27, 2010-March 5, 2011)

Plot Summary:
In this story, a  crazy tough girl, named Haine, has a major crush on Shizumasa, nicknamed the "The Emperor". However, this girl is actually pretty amazing. A while back, she was actually involved in a gang and it was Shizumasa who saved her from that life; he was also the one who wrote a storybook that made her fall in love with Shizumasa. Haine's goal is to win Shizumasa's love that she loves him and will do anything to protect him (she is assigned as bodyguard). Meanwhile, readers learn that Shizumasa has a huge secret he is hiding in the shadows named Takanari. Furthermore, this secret between these two guys causes a lot of turmoil for Haine. There are a bunch of characters that make this story hysterical such as the stereotypical gay guy, the drag queen, the psuedo-lesbian, the hot doctor, forgotten siblings, the slave, and the family secrets amongst the Togu and Kamiya families. This series is incredibly complicated and convoluted, but highly entertaining!

Critical Evaluation:
If we were to compare this story to any Victorian drama, our heads would probably explode. Not only is the main character a bit of a contradiction, every other character in the story is worse. This series is jam packed full of love, secrets, deception, and a bit naughty, which makes it perfect for the girl who needs an escape. One aspect of this series, which I admire, is Tanemura's ability to weave a complex story where reader's are always in step with each sequence. I could not put this Manga series down because, honestly, it was a guilty pleasure for me and was rooting for Haine all the way until the end. There is a a bunch of characters who have such different stories, and personalities, that make them all unique and just as lovable, especially Senri, the school physician who is quite a character.

Information about the Author:
Arina Tanemura, according to the Arina Tanemura Fan Club, was born on March 12, 1978 in Aichi, Japan. She made her debut in 1996 with Nibanme no Koi no Katachi (The Style of the Second Love). Tanemura has written over twelve series that are not only popular, but she has been recognized as one of the most successful Shojo Manga artists today. According to Wikipedia.com, one interesting fact about Arina Tanemura is that Gentlemen's Alliance Cross is the first series she had published that contains more than 5 consecutive volumes.

Genre:
Shojo, Romance, Comedy


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up


Books Similar to Gentlemen's Alliance Cross:

• Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori
• Hana Kimi by Hisaya Nakajo

Awards & Recognition:
N/A