Angel Cup

Angel Cup

ISBN: 1-59532-303-1

Publisher Tokyo Pop

Author Youn Jae-ho Artist: Kim Dong-wook



Plot Summary:
This manga title is about two girls, So-jinn, and Shinn- Bee. The girls are two extremely competitive soccer players, and soccer is the main theme of the book. The girls will challenge anyone in soccer even boys, and its a good thing because their school only has a boys team. So Jinn and Shinn Bee are freshmen in high school and readers learn that Shinn-Bee was MVP in the junior high league but has a serious health condition. The illness affects her stamina however in spite of it she is still a formidable opponent. Soh-jinn is the main character and we learn that she was a well-know player at So-Rah junior high. Shinn Bee beat her in the finals before they both came to Hansin high School. Therefore while they play for the same team now, they have a tenuous past. They work as hard as possible to be the very best and readers see fiercely competitive females as the heroes of the story.

Critical Evaluation: So-Jinn and Shinn-Bee are driven and ambitious in their soccer playing, the fact that they will challenge anyone is fun and provides an example of two female athletes with intrinisic drive. As a manga title it is fun and entertaining while providing readers with positive role models.

Annotation: Manga title about two female soccer players, So-Jinn and Shinn-Bee. They are fiercley competitive and despite past rivalry must now play together on the same team. We learn that Shinn Bee has a serious health condition.

Author Information:none available
Genre: Manga

Curriculum Ties: none

Challenge Points: none

Booktalk Ideas:
1.) Why are So- Jinn and Shinn Bee strong girls?
2.) What would it be like to be a female soccer player on an all boys team?
3.) How do Shinn-Bee and So-Jinn show female readers that they are capable of challenging gender expectaions?

Selection Reasons: This is a fun manga title and the two females are strong and the soccer theme is wholesome and positive. It is a good title for a reluctant reader.