Fruits Basket

Fruits Basket

Author/ Artist: Takaya Natsuki
Tokyo Pop 2007

ISBN: 1-59182-603-9

Plot Summary:

Recently orphaned after the death of her mother, Tohru Honda goes to live with her grandfather. Then he has to remodel his home, and Tohru chooses to live in a tent in the forest. While living in the forest, Tohru meets the Sohma family. They are interesting and she learns that when any of them hugs a member of the opposite sex, they immediately transform into their zodiac animal. Tohru enjoys the Sohma family and becomes very close to them, and eventually lives with them for free in exchange for work around their home. They all come to appreciate one another and she becomes an important fixture in their lives.

Critical Analysis: Tohru becomes an orphan as a high school student. This is an important time in a person's development and to lose one's parents is difficult. Tohru is fortunate to build a relationship with the Sohma family and despite their unique secret, they are not dangerous to Tohru. Tohru exhibits grace and courage in the face of adversity.

Annotation: High school student, Tohru Honda is recently orphaned. While living in the forest after her grandfather cannot have her stay in his house, she meets the Sohma family. They invite her to come live with them and soon she becomes an important part of their family.

Genre: manga

Curriculum ties: There are no real curriculum ties for this title.

Booktalking Idea:

1.) When Tohru learns about the Sohma family, what did you think about the supernatural quality of the family?

2.) Is it surprising that Tohru fits in so well?

3.) How would it be to lose a parent as a teen and then be forced to leave the next guardian's house?

Reading level/ Interest Age: 7th grade and up

Challenge Ideas: none

Selection Reasons: When I interviewed the teens for our class, I asked which manga titles they preferred. Then I talked to Denise Stutzman the Teen Librarian for La Mesa Library, and she told me that it is one of the favorites and most requested. In addition, the story

Author Information: Takaya's real name is Naka Hatake. We know her for her series Fruits Basket. She was born on July 7, 1973. Takaya is left-handed and she said once that she wanted to be a manga artist since first grade, when her sister started drawing. She was raised in Tokyo where she made her debut in 1992. She enjoys playing video games such as Final Fantasy. Her series Fruits Basket is the second best-selling shojo manga sold ever in Japan and is numer one in North America.

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.

Step It Up (film)

Step It Up (Film)
Director: Anne Fletcher
Release Date: August 11, 2006



Plot Summary: Tyler and his friends break into a performing arts school, and Tyler gets caught and has to perform 120 hours of community service at the school. Tyler an already skilled street dancer meets Nora a classically trained dancer. While he performs his janitor work, he watches her and her friends and when her partner is forced to drop out of the performance due to an injury, Tyler becomes her rehearsal partner for the big Exposition. He shares some of his dance moves with him and she teaches him ballet. Tyler and Nora get closer and she encourages him to try to apply to the performing arts school, but when he talks to the school director, she does not feel he is ready to commit to the school.
Then Nora’s partner returns briefly and she feels obligated to let her partner perform with her. Tyler is hurt by this and refuses her phone calls. Then after a great tragedy, Tyler realizes that he must make the effort himself and races to be in Nora’s exposition !!!!

Critical Analysis: Tyler's transition from a frustrated poor teen living with his foster parents to a boy working his way into a performing arts school is rapid, and seems a bit contrived. It is entertaining anyway and the dancing is impressive and the chemistry between Nora and Tyler is intense. In the movie one of the male characters tells Nora's friend that she should only date someone who truly understands what a wonderful girl she is. This is a great message for teen girls; that they should chose a boyfriend that respects them and values them.

Annotation: Tyler forced to do community service meets Nora, and begins to learn her dance routine for the big exposition. As they get to know one another Tyler learns the value of keeping his word and how to be supportive to Nora. For the first time in his life, Tyler has something he wants and he plans to work towards it!

Genre: Dance,

Age Level Interest: YA ages 14 and up

Curriculum: Dance
Selection: The movie is inspiring and exciting. The dancing is very good and Tyler's character Fae's his ambitions straight on. He is respectful and so is his friend. Tyler is a positive male role model and for boys especially he conveys the need to be polite, ambitions, and to diligent when facing adversity.

Chobits

Chobits
Artist/ Author: Clamp

Publisher: TokyoPop April 2002


April 23, 2002, ISBN-10: 1931514925



Plot Summary:Created by CLAMP a collection of four Japanese author artists. It is a seinen manga. A story of about a student trying to prepare for University, and he wants a Persocom. A Persocom is a robot in human form. By chance, he stumbles on a beautiful persocom, and she is tied up by the trash. He takes her home and turns her on, and then he calls her “Chii,” as it is the only word she speaks. In the story we see Hideki struggle as he teaches Chii language and appropriate social behavior. He also cannot decipher who made her and he visits many different people, including a twelve year old genius too, and he and his acquaintances realize she might be a “Chobit,” which is a “Legendary” Persocom with both “free will,” and “emotions.”


Critical Evaluation: The Persocom idea is an interesting twist. CLAMP's construction of Chobits appeals to the gaming and cyber crowd and the fact that the Persocoms free will and is not merely a robot to please the males; instead she also does what she wants.



Information about the author:CLAMP is a group of four women manga artists. The members at this time are Ageha Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, Mokona, and Satsuki Igarashi. Clamp creates: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles, Chobits, Cardcaptor Sakura, X, Wish, Suki Dakara Suki (Because I Love You) and many others.

Genre: Manga

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
1.) Do you find a moral dilemma in creating human-like robots to keep people happy?
2.) Do you feel Chii's behavior makes it easier or more difficult to accept that she is a robot?

Reading Level/ Age of interest: Some mature material: Ages 16 and up/ 10th grade up

Challenge Issues: There are no strong challenge issues.

Selection Reasons: I chose this manga title because the subject of a Persocom seemed that it would be interesting to people to discuss and consider the pros and cons of such a creation.

The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service

The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
Dark Horse July 2006
Writer: Eiji Otsuka Artist: Housui Yamazaki
ISBN-10: 978-5307-555-2

Plot Summary: The main character Kuro Karatsu is a university student working part- time for a Corpse Delivery Service. His team is made up of students all holding a special power/ talent. Kuro hears the dead talk. Numata uses a pendant to locate corpses, little Makino studied embalming abroad, Yata is a channeler and talks to Aliens with his puppet, and Ao Sasaki is a leader and researcher and also appears to be a leader to the team. Together they find and transport corpses and also help the departed settle. In volume one they help a departed boyfriend fin his true love and find the truth about his murder and her fate.

Critical Analysis: Dark Horse brings us a novel with a darker side. The humor coupled with the supernatural aspect makes for a great read. Kuro's ability to hear from the dead provided a "Ghost Whisperer" tone and many young adults will enjoy this book. Kuro helps a departed boyfriend finally rest by seeking the whereabouts of his girlfriend a pop sensation. The underground organized crime aspect of the manga illustrates the urgency behind helping the departed boyfriend. Kuro and his eccentric team are truly helping the dead reach their resting place both physically and spiritually.

Annotation: Kuro comes to University and teams up with an eclectic and odd group of students to create the Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service. They help transport corpses to their final resting place and in the process communicate with the dead.

Author Information: born on August 28, 1959 in the former Tanashi, Tokyo. Eiji Otsuka is a Japanese writer. He writes the MPD Psycho and The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service manga series.

Genre: Horror/ manga/ Mystery

Curiculum ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
1.) With an upturn in the Gothic and supernatural in American Television, do you think that this series appeals to adults as well as teens?
2.) Kuro hears the dead, do you think his gift is the most valuable of all the team?

Reading Level/ Age Interest: 16 and up/ 10th grade and up and parental consent may be advisable

Challenge Issues: Death, horror, violence, supernatural

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

Selection Reasons: This text is one recommended to me by Denise Stutzman as a popular manga at her library. I found it to be both intelligently written and entertaining. I am a fan of horror and I feel it is done well, as Dark Horse deals well with the dark subject matter.

Bleach

Bleach
Author: Tite Kubo

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC;
illustrated edition: June 16, 2004

ISBN-13: 978-1591164418

Author Information: Bleach is author Tite Kubo's second title. Kubo made his debut with Zombiepowder, a four-volume series. The series is not yet available in English translation. Please enjoy this interview with him during the 2009 Comicon: http://manga.about.com/od/mangaartistinterviews/a/TiteKubo.htm

Plot Summary: Ichigo Kurosaki sees "dead people," and has since birth. However, something new happens and he sees a Hollow terrorizing his family. At the same time a Shinigami, a rested soul from the Soul Society comes to help protect Ichigo's family. He sees the Hollow and Rukia, the shinigami, which is rare. As she tries to protect his family, she sustains an injury and needs help to defeat the Hollow. She needs to share her powers, but the only way to do so is to kill Ichigo. She stabs him and immediately he takes a great deal of her power, and he defeats the Hollow. Unfortunately he now must avenge the death of his mother. After this occurs in book one, Ichigo rests between earth and the Soul Society as he did not die naturally and is not admitted in. Rukia recouperates her energy and powers, and works with Ichigo to protect humans and avenge his mother.

Critical Analysis: Bleach conveys the theme of honor as Ichigo decides to die, and protect his family. The focus is on the collective rather than the individual. American culture is usually the opposite and it is good for YA readers from our culture to see a new perspective. Rukia also sacrifices to help Ichigo as she shares her powers with him to save his family.

Annotation: Ichigo sees spirits and he sees the Hollow attacking his family as well as the Shinigami sent to protect them. He makes the ultimate sacrifice to save his family and joins the shinigami Rukia and protects the living.

Genre: YA Manga

Curriculum ties: There are no curriculum ties.

Challenge Issues: There are no Challenge issues

Selection Reasons: Bleach is a manga which demonstrates honor and love for ones family. It is a little extreme when Ichigo dies to save his family, but at the same time it is a notion of caring about the collective instead of the individual. The story is also popular and so it is important to provide access to the titles YA want.

Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye

Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye
ISBN: 0-44-20541-7
Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher:Bantam Double Day books, 1978


Plot Summary: Natalie Armstrong has a great family. She even wants to follow her father's footsteps and be a doctor. As she leaves for college, she decides to tell her parents, her adoptive parents, that she wants to find and meet her birth mother. Her parents are upset at first, but eventually accept it. Natalie follow several leads, using the telephone and traveling to meet her mom as the book takes place before the Internet.

When she finally meets her mother she is happy and realizes that they have some things in common but that she is also a great deal like her adoptive parents. Lowry uses a theme which has been in many books, but gives it dignity by portraying Natalie as an empowered teen seeking her identity.

Critical Analysis: Natalie's journey at this time in her life is normal as she wants very much to learn who she is before she begins her life. She is calm and reflective when discussing it with her parents and we see that she understands that it is as hard for them as it is for her.

Annotation: Before starting college, Natalie Armstrong decides to seek her biological mother. Her parents have a hard time but eventually support her decision.

Author: Lois Lowry has moved many places, and has a long list of great books. She won the Newbery Award for The Giver, and is a brilliant writer. To read more, please visit: www.loislowry.com

Genre: YA novel

Curriculum Ties: English, Sociology

Booktalking Ideas:
1.) Should her parents feel upset, or should they have anticipated this?
2.) What would you do if a friend asked you to help them find their birth parent?
3.) Do you think people should tell adopted children early or as a teen that they are adopted?

Reading Level: 15 and up/ 9th grade and up

Challenge Issues: There are none

Selection: I read about this book on Lowry's site and instantly wanted to read it. It offers Young Adults a chance to relate to the seeking of one's identity. At this developmental stage (15 and up) identity is important, and Lowry gives a dignified account of a girl's search.