Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
Sawako Kuronuma is an outcast and, in fact, everyone she looks in the eye runs away. In fact, she is nicknamed Sadako because she looks exactly like the evil girl from The Ring. Although Sawako is nothing like Sadako, she is socially awkward and people mistake her willingness to help for curses and witchcraft. Now that she is in high school, Sawako wants nothing more than to make friends and be liked, but she didn't anticipate Kazehaya. Kazehaya is the most popular guy in school and Sawako had the pleasure of bumping into him before the start of the school year. Sawako admires everything about him because he is nice, smart, handsome, and well-liked by everyone. Little does Sawako know, but her meeting with Kazehaya will set off a chain of events that she never expected. By acknowledging her existence, Kazehaya tells all oof their classmates that Sawako is not the loathsome Sadako. In fact, Kazehaya points out to everyone that she works harder than everyone else and takes on extra duties so no one else has to. With his help, Kazehaya helps Sawako come out of her shell and show everyone that she can't see ghosts or put curses on people. Granted, not everyone takes an instant liking to Sawako, it's the little things that get people to notice how special she is. Not to mention, when she captures the attention of Chizu and Ayane, there kidness to move their desks next to her leads to a special friendship filled with many adventures that allow Sawako to blossom and grow. The only problem with this transformation, is that Sawako will inadvertently make enemies with girls who will terrible things to make her the laughing stock of the school and rip her relationships apart. Furthermore, Sawako's insecurities also pose a threat to her relationship with Kazehaya.  This is truly, and utterly, a sweet tale of first love and friendship where anything is possible.

Critical Evaluation:
It's been a while since I have a read a manga that has made me smile from ear to ear. This manga is about a girl who is so unbelievably shy and awkward that is scares people away. Although I have yet to meet someone like this, I am sure the intention was not to terrify, but to be pleasant. Sawako has been misunderstood her whole life so making friends hasn't always been the easiest thing to do. However, when Sawako meets Kazehaya, she sees everything she wants to be in him. As for Kazehaya, he is such a pure soul that everyone just falls in love with him. For Sawako, Kazehaya is the first person to see her for who she truly is and that makes her feel special. Although Sawako knows she has to do a better job of standing up for herself, Kazehaya gives her the strength and the courage to make everyone notice her (without them running away). What's even more awesome is that Ayane and Chizu actually go out on a limb and befriend Sawako despite all of the obstacles that lay ahead of them. Granted, Chizu and Ayane are also a bunch of misfits with less then reputable reputations, Sawako doesn't let the gossip influence her decision to befriend then because she sees the good in everyone, just like Kazehaya. Although Sawako insists that she wants to be more like Kazehaya, in reality, they are both very alike. My heart skips a beat with every volume because the closer Kazehaya and Sawako get, the more I beg for a happy ending. This really is for the those looking for an sweet and virtuous story about love and happiness.

Information about the Author:According to Amazon.com:

Born October 23rd, Karuho Shiina’s favorite movies include The Apartment, The Shawshank Redemption and My Neighbor Totoro. Her previous series, Crazy for You, was also published in Germany. Kimi ni Todoke is her latest hit manga.

Genre:
Teen Romance Manga, Teen Humor Manga

Number of Volumes:
20-ongoing

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Kimi Ni Todoke:

• Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
• Otomen by Aya Kanno

Awards & Recognition:

• Top selling Manga in Japan (2013)

Plot Summary:
Ryoko knows what she wants in a man. He has to be athletic, kind, smart, caring, and dark haired. Although she has never had a boyfriend, she knows that her first kiss will be with the man she falls in love with. Unfortunately, instead of finding "Prince Charming," Ryoko met Ryunosuke and her world was turned upside down. Although Ryunosuke meets her standards, there is one small problem: Ryunosuke is a host. Although Ryoko believes that Ryunosuke could never be serious about his feelings for her, there is something about him that she just cannot shake and after meeting Inaba, she starts to realize that maybe Ryunosuke is the real deal; in fact; the more that Ryunosuke pursues her, the harder Ryoko falls for him. After a few bumps and surprises, Ryoko knows that Ryunosuke is the one she wants, but the question that remains is if she is willing to accept his career choice as a host where women pay him money to date them. Just when things could not get anymore complicated, Ryunosuke decides that he will quit being a host for her, but quitting a host job is not quite that easy. When Ryoko accidentally runs into the acting president of the host club, she accepts a bargain that she may not be able to fulfill. If she doesn't deliver, not only will Ryunosuke have to pay for her failure, but jeopardize their relationship at the same time. Who said love was simple?
     
Critical Evaluation:
It's amazing how love can not only change a person, but change everything around us. For Ryunosuke, love is nothing but a means to and end and a large pay check. However, when he met Ryoko, he learned that love is real and that is makes us do funny things. I will definitely say that this manga is super silly and sweet at the same time. Although I am not a huge fan of the artwork, the storyline is interesting simply because everything that could go wrong, literally did go wrong. Although Ryoko is a walking contradiction, Ryunosuke is the reality check she needs. Granted, Ryoko misjudged him quite a bit, she learns that Ryunosuke is very different from the character he portrays as a host. In fact, he is not only smart and gorgeous, he is very protective and thoughtful of Ryoko's feelings. The main message this story is based on is that we cannot put a price on love, nor we can we put a price on people. The reason why Ryunosuke cannot be let out of his contract is because he is the most popular and most successful host in the club. In other words, his success is what lines the president's pockets, which is why it is not so easy to leave. I do want to state that there is a difference between host and hostess club and prostitution; in the Japanese culture, host clubs are primarily for entertainment although "extra-curricular" activities may occur. Ran, a minor character, does state that she has had intimate relations with Ryunosuke, readers don't know if this is the case. Although Ryunosuke's job is taboo, he loves Ryoko so much that he willing to quit, but the hilarity of it all is when Ryoko makes a deal with the acting president that forces her to put herself in Ryunosuke's shoes. With this agreement, not only does Ryoko gain a little humility, she learns how crazy and lonely this kind of life is. This manga is definitely for the romance fan looking for something out of the ordinary.


Information about the Author:
Sadly, I couldn't find a whole lot about the author so I will keep searching!

Genre:
Teen Romance Manga
 

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 
Books Similar to B.O.D.Y.:

• Absolute Boyfriend by Yuu Watase
• Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori

Plot Summary:
Airi Hoshino is a romantic. Not only is it her goal to marry the man of her dreams, she truly believes that if she arrives at school for, on time, for two years, the magic mirror she inherited will grant her wish to marry her true love. When not watching romantic dramas, Airi dreams about her prince and vows to keep her first kiss just for him. However, all of that changes when Aram emerges from her mirror. Aram is a prince from a magical kingdom who was thrust into the mirror by his faithful servant because Prince Jelie, his eldest brother, cast a spell on him. When Aram arrived, Airi's life was lonely and it was nice having him him around until she realizes that Aram turns from a cute little boy into a gorgeous man overnight. The only way to save Aram is the "Maiden's Kiss" and Aram asks Airi to be his maiden. Caught between her vow to save her kiss for her soul mate, Airi doesn't know what to do because she cares for Aram even thought he's absolutely clueless when it comes to taking care of himself. In this series, Airi and Aram go on a journey where they will learn a lot about one another and each other, which leads to many revelations and disasters.

Critical Evaluation:
This manga is yet another one of my guilty pleasures. Not only is it funny, but it's super romantic because Airi and Aram needed each other in so many ways. For years, Aram hasn't known kindness because his half-brother has made his life miserable. The only person who cares about him is his guardian, Lei, but Aram needed more than just him. Airi, a romantic herself, has built this ideal man because she, like Aram, is on her own and needs something, or someone, to look forward to. Although Airi has built this elaborate fantasy, all of that changes when she realizes that love isn't straightforward like it is in her soap operas. Love is more than just having a home and family, but it takes work, requires a lot of patience, and sacrifice. The more time she spends with Aram, the more she realizes how complicated love is, especially because of great great great great great grandmother's "betrayal" that sent the mirror that brought Aram to her realm. There is plenty of magic and mystery in this story so any Shojo fan who is looking for a fun read where "Happy Ever After" really does exist.

Information about the Author:
According to Wikipedia:

 Matsuri Hino is a Japanese manga artist born in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. She made her professional debut in the September 10, 1995 issue of LaLa DX with the one-shot title Ko no Yume ga Same Tara (この夢が覚めたら, When This Dream is Over) . Hino Matsuri is also well known for her anime/manga series 'Vampire Knight.'

Genre:
Teen Romance Manga

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 
Books Similar toMeruPuri:

• Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino
• Absolute Boyfriend by Yu Watase

  Awards and Recoginition:From Anime News Network.com:

• New York Times Manga Best Seller List, October 2-8 (Oct 14, 2011)
• North American Anime, Manga Releases: September 4-10 (Sep 6, 2011)
• JManga Site Launches with Works Never Printed in U.S. (Aug 17, 2011)
• New York Times Manga Best Seller List, July 24-30 (Aug 5, 2011)
• Japanese Comic Ranking, May 30-June 5 (Jun 8, 2011)
• Anime/Manga/Game Industry Members Check In After Quake (Mar 11, 2011)
• UK Retailer Lists Vampire Knight Guilty, Rideback (Jan 28, 2011)
• New York Times Manga Best Seller List, December 6-12 (Dec 17, 2010)
• Japanese Comic Ranking, December 6-12 (Dec 15, 2010)
• Japanese Comic Ranking, November 29-December 5 (Dec 8, 2010)

Plot Summary:
 It's the future and books are under fire. In order to restore morale, the Media Betterment Committee (MBC) was formed by the National Government to prevent keep out materials that would corrupt the land. In other words, this committee is authorized to confiscate books, movies, and music they deem unworthy. Iku Kasahara, the newest Library Defense Forces recruit, has dedicated her life to protecting books because a Library Force soldier came to her aide when the MBC tried to arrest her because she refused to give up her favorite book. Not only was a hero, she fell in love with him and wants to be exactly like her idol. However, this could have been a lot easier if it wasn't for Sgt. Dojo who pushes her to the extreme and she finds him irritating, mean, and cruel. Although her roommate and fellow librarian, Shibazaki, says quite the opposite, Iku continues to try hard to prove him wrong. After becoming the first woman in the Library Defense Forces, she now works closely with Dojo and even though the fight constantly, she learns another side of him that confuses her and makes heartbeat pound. What is about Dojo that reminds her of her "Prince?" In this action packed series is a great selection of characters and scenarios that will make readers laugh and sigh at the same time. 

Critical Evaluation:
 I will be honest, I just had to read this series. As a Librarian, I want to see how this profession is conveyed in contemporary times and I love it!! Although I don't want to live in a time where Libraries and the government are warring, I love that the principals these brave individuals are the same exact principals I defend as well. I also love the fact that all Library Defense Force soldiers are librarians as well so one day we could a tough looking guy with guns blazing and then he is working a reference desk.  Not only is this a "novel" idea, it doesn't hurt that most of them are super cute so I would definitely not have any qualms working on one of those libraries. My favorite character has to be Iku because she is not the stereotypical librarian. Unlike her superiors, she is goofy, klutzy, avid leader, honest, direct, reckless, loveable, and vulnerable. Despite the fact that sounds a lot like me, she is the embodiment of this profession because, unlike the Nancy Pearls, librarians need to make people feel at ease and we have to be approachable. Moreover, we have to bend over backwards to make the impossible, possible, and we have to stand up and fight when its necessary. All kidding aside, this series is fun and sweet because even when the world is turned upside down, there is still room for love, happiness, and triumph.

Information about the Author:
Unfortunately, there is not a lot of useful information about Kiiro Yumi, but there is a littl about Hiro Arikawa from Wikipedia:

Hiro Arikawa won the tenth annual Dengeki Novel Prize for new writers for Shio no Machi: Wish on My Precious in 2003, and the book was published the following year. It was praised for its love story between a heroine and hero divided by age and social status, and for its depiction of military structures. Although she is a light novelist, her books from her second work onwards have been published as hardbacks alongside more literary works with Arikawa receiving special treatment in this respect from her publisher, MediaWorks. Shio no Machi was also later published in hardback. Her 2006 light novel Toshokan Sensō (The Library War) was named as Hon no Zasshi's number one for entertainment for the first half of 2006, and came fifth in the Honya Taishō for that year, competing against ordinary novels.

She often writes about the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and her first three novels concerning its three branches are known as the Jieitai Sanbusaku (The SDF Trilogy); she also wrote about the fictional Library Forces in the Toshokan Sensō series. Raintree no Kuni, which first appeared as a book within a book in Toshokan Nairan was later published by Arikawa as a spin-off with another publisher.

Genre:
Teen Romance Manga
 
Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up


Books Similar to Library Wars:

• Vampire Knight by Hino Matsuri 
• Kitchen Princess by Natsumi Ando
  

Plot Summary:
Asuka is the epitome of manliness. Not only is he captain of the Kendo team, he is also the best in Judo and he has the highest grades in school. He is quiet and all of the girls want him, which makes all the guys want to be him. However, what they don't know is that deep inside, hidden away from everyone, is an Otomen: a man who likes lovely things. When Asuka is not around a girl he likes, he's fine, but, when he met Ryou, he lost all restraint and is cannot help but cook, sew, read Shojo Manga, and think about love. Just when things could not get anymore complicated, he befriends Tachibana who has taken quite an interest in Azuka and Ryou. What Asuka and Ryou don't realize, is that Tachibana is hiding a secret as well. Asuka's biggest fear is being rejected by Ryou so he tries to hide his "girly" side, but, ironically, Ryou is not a typical girl. In fact, Ryou cannot cook, sew, or be girly because he father has not shown her how to be a girl. For Tachibana, he knows that Ryou is Asuka's opposite, which makes his plans a lot more exciting. Throughout this story, there are twists and turns that will bring Asuka and Ryou together, but, at the same time, tear them apart.

Critical Evaluation:
The manga is just too cute beyond words. I think it's absolutely perfect for teens simply because it deals with gender stereotypes in a rather hilarious way. We live in a world where those stereotypes are shifting, which makes this story incredibly enjoyable. Asuka may be a "manly" man on the outside, but he is ashamed of the fact that he likes cute things. I think what I find refreshing about Asuka is that he is learning that its okay to be himself around those he cares for because, as far as the reader knows, he hasn't been given the opportunity since his parents divorced (his father decided to live his life as a woman; thus, forcing his mother to raise him as a  super masculine boy). For Asuka, he fears that liking things such as stuffed animals and sweets will eventually lead to him being being rejected because men aren't supposed to like "girly" things. For Ryou, the same exact thing is happening to her because her father has no idea how to teach her to be a traditional woman since her mother passed. Furthermore, when he meets Asuka for the first time, he flips out because Asuka knows how to cook and clean. Eventually, Ryou's father comes to terms with this since his own daughter is like his own son, which conveys how ridiculous the adults in this story are. We have two characters here who are clueless about being men and women, but what's re-assuring is that they can teach one another about themselves. Honestly, this is a very sweet story about two teens who need one another in ways that we take for granted. Personally, I love it when my boyfriend makes me breakfast and selects my lotions from Bath & Body Works. Does that make him less of a man? Heck no! Asuka and Ryou will learn that its okay to do things that are beyond the traditional gender roles because it we were all the same then life would be boring!


Information about the Author:
According to Wikipedia:

Aya Kanno (菅野文 Kanno Aya^?, born 30 January 1980 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist. She is the former assistant of manga artist Masashi Asaki of Psychometrer Eiji fame. Her debut was in the January 2001 issue of Hana to Yume with Soul Rescue. Thus far, her work has only been serialized in Hakusensha's shōjo manga anthologies: Hana to Yume, The Hana to Yume, Hana to Yume Plus, and now primarily in Bessatsu Hana to Yume, in which her latest work, Otomen, is currently running. Also, she has completed Kokoro ni Hana wo.

Genre:

Teen Romance Manga

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 8 & up

Books Similar to Otomen:

• Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori
• Skip Beat by Yoshiki Nakamura
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com
Publisher's Weekly
An otomen as defined by this book is [a] male who has feminine hobbies, skills, or way of thinking. Asuka, the title otomen of this well-drawn comedy, secretly reads shojo manga, makes stuffed animals and prefers caramel macchiatos to coffee. Forbidden by his mother from girlish behavior after his transvestite father abandoned the family, Asuka takes on a very masculine public character. He is nationally ranked at judo, karate and kendo. Asukas tragedy is somehow hilarious. He falls for Ryo, the nongirly daughter of a manly martial arts instructor who finds Asuka unacceptable as a friend, let alone a potential suitor: Men dont go in the kitchen! he bellows. The strange deus ex machina character Junta acts as a catalyst to bring Asuka and Ryo together while enjoying Asukas elaborate bento lunches. The over-the-top gender stereotyping is ham-handed at times, but reveals interesting insight into what the Japanese consider the most manly and most girly extremes. The strong artwork carries the comedy premise further than the script could alone, and the manga-within-a-manga, Love Chick, is a hilariously accurate parody of typical shojo. Kannos other manga in translation include the sci-fi series Blank Slate and angel comedy Soul Rescue. (Feb.) 

Plot Summary:
What if Wonderland was not what we thought of us. What if it was a realm that depended on games in order to survive. For Alice Liddell, falling down that rabbit hole was not a good idea, now was it her choice. Peter, White, the White Rabbit, found Alice asleep in a garden and kidnapped her. Once in Wonderland, he forced Alice to drink a potion that would require her to stay in Wonderland until the liquid regenerates itself. How will she do this, she must meet a variety of characters. Although it seems simple, Wonderland has quite the cast of characters that we all know and love, except that the Red Queen isn't evil, the Hatter is a mafia boss, the Twins are mercenaries, the White Rabbit is a kidnapper, and the Cat is well--quite the cat. Confused, and just plain frustrated, Alice seeks help from Julius, the Keeper of the Clock Tower, who explains to her that there are places she can go and other locations to avoid. In fact, Wonderland has been at odds with itself for a while so battles can happen at any time. However, as the battle goes on, Alice learns, with the help of the dream demon, Nightmare, that the reason she is wonderland and the objective of this game is for the players to fall in love with her. The question is: is falling in love just a goal or is it real. For Alice, her feelings are all over the place, especially when she learns that the Blood Dupree, the Hatter, resembles the boy she loved back home. The more time she spends in Wonderland, the more she she learns about all of these unique gentlemen. Will Alice ever get home or will she be in Wonderland forever? Time will only tell.

Critical Evaluation:
I am a sucker for Alice in Wonderland. In this re-telling of one of my favorite stories is a pretty clever take on Alice's Wonderland. Despite the antics and the silliness, Alice is trying to figure out why she would be in a place where everyone will fall in love with her. Alice constantly questions herself and believes that the reason why she is in this "dream" is because she wants someone to love her. However, as readers dive into this short series, they will learn that is a lot more than than the eye can see. Honestly, I just love all of these characters because they are all walking contradictions. For example, the White Rabbit, or, Peter White, in the story, is reckless, determined, and not at all timid. Blood Dupree (the Hatter) is actually quite calm and sane (more calculated than anything). The Queen of Hearts isn't a crazy, angry woman, but beautiful, calm, and rather loving. As for Alice, she is much more feisty and not at all curious, which I thought was ironic. I thought this was interesting decision made by the author. Then again, a lot of the spin-offs of this story preserve facts that are necessary for the plot development. In this case, Alice never out right stated she wanted to go to a land where everything is opposite and in disarray. However, the longer she stays, the more she starts to realize that this maybe the dream she actually wanted.

Information about the Author: 

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information by Quinrose on their website, but here it is (with the help of Google Translate:

QuinRose～クインロゼ～』では、
女性主人公のファンタジー恋愛アドベンチャーゲームを中心に制作しています。
※関連作品として、男性主人公のゲームも制作しております。

2010年からソニーのパブリッシャーとなり、
現在は家庭用機ゲームを主に開発中です。

In "QuinRose ~ Kuinroze ~",
Has produced mainly female hero fantasy romance adventure game.
※ as related work, we have also produced male hero game.

And publisher of Sony from 2010,
And is currently developing a game machine primarily for home use.

From Amazon.com:

QuinRose is a Japanese game developer that produces dating-sim games for girls, including the bestselling Alice in the Country of Hearts. Many of their other productions are also loosely based on works of fiction. 

Genre:
Teen Fantasy Manga

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 10 & up

Books Similar to Alice in the Country of Hearts

•  Alice in the Country of Clovers by Quinrose
•  Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time by Tohko Mizuno

Plot Summary:
Reiko wants nothing more than to be an ordinary high school girl. However, Reiko has super powers that clearly show her peers, and family, is anything but ordinary. One day, Tachibana Ran barges into her classroom with a gun in hand and tells her that her life belongs to him. Translation: Ran wants Reiko to marry him. What makes Ran think he could do this to Reiko? Well, Ran is the heir to a the Tachibana empire and is worth millions of dollars. Reiko has no intention of marrying Ran and does everything she can to run away. Rather than chasing her all over the city, Ran makes a deal with Reiko: if Ran can catch Reiko within the next twenty-five hours, she will marry him. If he doesn't catch her, Reiko is free to go. What she doesn't plan on is that during these tumultuous twenty-five hours, she becomes victim to the people who want to assassinate Ran because of his high status and name. What the kidnappers and assassins don't know is that Reiko actually has a few tricks up of her sleeve...she is incredibly tough and flexible. Although the deadline passes, Reiko finds herself strangely attracted to Ran because he is the first person to like her for who she is rather than what she is not. What most people don't know about Reiko is that her heart was broken by a boy she though she loved; the reason why he didn't return her feelings is because she wasn't ordinary. However, Reiko and Ran are far from ordinary, which makes this pursuit hilarious and absolutely heart warming. 

Critical Evaluation:
I have read some pretty funny Shojo in my time and this one takes the cake so far. Not only is Ran outrageously crazy, he is so caring and loving that one cannot help but love him. As for Reiko, she is definitely not the traditional Shojo character who is looking for her prince charming, In fact, Reiko shuts out everyone because her heart was broken. I really, really admire her spirit and strength and that is what attracts Ran. Although Ran can have any girl in the world, he chose Reiko because she is extraordinary, which is what he needs. Although this story wasn't completed (it's only two volumes), readers can hope that when Ran is kidnapped, Reiko does what she can to rescue him. Along with the romance, the comedy is pure genius. I could not stop laughing simply because Takagi's dialouge is smart and quick. Although Ran has a tendency to be over dramatic, the tender moments are genuine and heart felt. I really, really wish there was more to this series, but I am looking forward to reading other series by Takagi-san. 

Information about the Author:
According to Baka Updates, Shigeyoshi Takagi was born on July 17 in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. She has a twin sister and has been writing manga since 2009.

 Genre:
Teen Shojo Manga

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Flower in a Storm:

•  Black Bird by Kanoko Sakurakoji

Plot Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Misao has always known what its like to see beyond this realm. All her life, she has the ability to see demons, but none have ever tried to harm her. Unfortunately, the day after her sixteenth birthday, she is attacked by humans possessed by other demons. Although she has no idea why the demons want to kill her, she learns that she is not of this world. Ten years ago, a boy named Kyou asked Misao to marry him when the time is right. After they made this promise, Kyou disappeared and all Misao has is shattered memories of him. What she did not know that Kyou is actually a Tengu, a bird-like demon, who not only loves, and desires, Misao, but has claimed her as his Senka Roku, which means "Bride of Prophecy." What Misao doesn't realize is that any demon who claims her will not be granted amazing powers, but her blood, alone, will make any demon invincible. After claiming Misao as his bride, Kyou must dedicate his life to protect her not because of her power, but because he loves her.

Critical Evaluation:
Of all of the Shojo manga out there, this particular series is absolutely brilliant since it has a great balance of romance, comedy, drama, and violence. Other than Matsuri Hino's Vampire Knight, the amount of epic battles is almost unheard of in the world of Shojo. However, the best part of this series is the forbidden love between Misao and Kyou. The flashback of their childhood memories are absolutely precious simply because a young boy made a promise to a young girl and fulfilled it. Although I was leery about Kyou's intentions, it is clear that he loves Misao for the woman she is and risks everything to save her. Although sex is a big part of this story (in order to obtain the powers of the Senka one must bed or consume her), there is a hidden moral message about waiting for the right time and the right person, which, for us adults, is better than no message at all. This series is definitely meant for older teens (younger teens will probably be really uncomfortable for the inevitable consummation of the "marriage").

Information about the Author
Although there is not a lot of information about Kanoko Sakurakoji, what we do know is that she was born on August 1 in Tokyo, Japan. According to Shojo Beat.com, " [Sakurakoji's] hobbies include reading, watching plays, traveling and shopping. Her debut title, Raibu ga Hanetara, ran in Bessatsu Shojo Comic (currently called Betsucomi) in 2000, and her 2004 Bestucomi title Backstage Prince was serialized in VIZ Media's Shojo Beat magazine. She won the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award for Black Bird( para.1)."  


Genre:
Teen Fantasy Manga, Teen Romance Manga


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 10 & up


Books Similar to Black Bird:

• Haruka Beyond the Stream of Time by Tohko Mizuno
  
• Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino
  

Awards & Recognition:

• 2009 Shogakukan Manga Award for Shojo manga

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

Plot Summary:
Just when we all though high school was rough, try being a poor person attending a rich academy where the guys and girls have way too much time on their hands. Haruhi, a scholarship student, attends Ouran High School Academy in hopes of achieving  a top knotch education. However, Haruhi has trouble fitting in since she does not care for frivolity, fashion, or being popular. One day, while trying to find a quiet place to stumbles upon the Music Room, which was supposedly abandoned, but is actually teh headquarters of the Ouran High School Host Club, where six gorgeous boys are paid to entertain the ladies of the school. The moment Haruhi realizes that she is in the wrong place, the boys unleash their charm, which, leads to a misunderstanding and an expensive accident; while tryin to escape, Haruhi breaks a very expensive vase and is in debt to the Host Club. In order to pay her debt off, she is forced to become their errand dog. Unfortunately, when the boys find out she is actually a girl, who makes a rather cute boy, she is now the newest host in the Ouran High School Host Club. 'Tweens will this story since it is packed with humor, love, outrageous schemes, and wonderful lessons that make all of us unique and special.

Genre:
Teen Humor Manga, Teen Romance Manga

Book Similar to Ouran High School Host Club:

• Gentleman's Alliance
• Tsubasa 
• Mamotte! Lollipop

Rating/Interest Level: 
Grades 8 &up