The Shaman King

The Shaman King
Author/ Artist: Hirokuki Takei
Shonen Jump Manga, March 2009

ISBN-13: 978-1569319024

Plot Summary: Manta Oyamada walks through a graveyard late one night trying to take a shortcut. As he walks through, he meets an unlikely friend, a middle school aged Shaman. Yoh Asakura is a Shaman even in his young years and is a talented Shaman at that. Every year there is a competition to become the next Shaman King. Yoh is training to be the next Shaman King. Anna is Yoh's girlfriend and she is a strong and talented trainer and arrives to help Yoh train.

Meanwhile Manta and Yoh become very close friends, and Manta is Yoh's champion as Yoh feels compelled to win especially after he meets Hao Asakura. Hao wishes to end the world as we know it and create a new world for only Shamans.

Later with Anna's help Hao seeks the help of the Great Spirit in order to bring Hao's mother to him. Hao's mother pleads with him to forgive the human race for being responsible for her death.

Critical Analysis: With the character, Anna, The Shaman King, is a manga which proves enjoyable for both males and female readers. With Anna as the trainer and the one capable of helping Hao, she is promising heroine alongside Yoh. It is interesting that she trains Yoh, and she is also his girlfriend. This is a relationship where a strong and formidable male character relies on and even stronger woman. When Hao confronts his pain and sees his mother's spirit, the book holds the potential for catharsis.

Annotation: The battle to be the next Shaman King begins, and Yoh is training with Anna. In the process he and a Manta become friends and they must convince opponent Hao to forgive humans and refrain from destroying the world.

Author Information: Hiroyuki Takei started his career after winning the Hop Step Award and the Osamu Tezuka award. He was an assistant to Watsuki Takei and debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 with his series, Butsu Zone which was a series about Buddhist mythology. In 1998 he debuted with Shaman King.

Genre: Manga/ supernatural

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Idea:
1.) What do you think about Anna being the one to help Hao while Yoh is training to be Shaman King?
2.) What do you feel is the significance of Hao blaming the entire human race for his mother's death?
3.) Clearly Hao is angry, but what does this anger demonstrate about the effects of a loss of a parent?

Reading Level/ Interest Age: 16 and up. While Manta is a younger student, the language in the book is harsh. I would advise parental consent.

Challenge Issues: Religious content, language

The overall message of the book is positive as Anna helps Hao. When Hao confronts his pain and sees his mother's spirit, the book holds the potential for catharsis. I would advise parents to consider these points.

In addition, I would explain policies for selection for San Diego County Libraries:

http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf
If after my working to convince the patron, they still were not satisfied and wanted to file a grievance, I would provide the needed paper work and then it would go to the “Challenged Materials” team for San Diego County and then onward until there is resolution: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf

Reasons for selection: In this text, there are several positive themes. Anna helps Hao despite the fact that he is a rival and has dangerous intentions. Also, Anna is a strong woman and is the trainer for Yoh, this is an example of a female which the males rely on for her skills and her mind. She is a great example or both genders. Lastly, when Hao seeks his mother's spirit, Takei gives dignity to the grief felt when one loses a parent.