Mail Order Ninja

There’s been a fair amount of “American” manga hitting bookshelves, and while it seems many manga fans as a general rule don’t tend to lean toward reading them, the exception seems to be Mail Order Ninja by Josh Elder.

This all ages book is an absurdity comedy/fantasy about a young boy who wins his very own Ninja in the mail. What he does with this prize, and the crazy events that leads to, makes for the focus of the book.

The characters are very cliché, at least at first, but it serves the humor. And Timmy’s world is very Monty-python like in its absurdity. The school bully carries a Bully Union card. The idea a ninja can be kept like a family dog is fairly ho-hum to Timmy’s parents. Ninja’s of course dance like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, and sing like Frank Sinatra. And the most evil force in the world is a spoiled little rich girl.

The jokes range from silly kids stuff, to references adults will snort at. Elder even pokes fun at himself, and the inter-fandom conflict over American-Created Manga, and if it should be considered part of the fandom at all.

There is a little violence, but its very cartoonish and light. There are some issues tackled, like bullying, but in a way that isn’t “After School Special of the Week” at all. Rather, the humor turns these potential pills into candy to be gobbled, not just swallowed.
Recommended Highly for all kids (Even the big ones pretending to be adults) 8+.

.:: degrassi ::.

Degrassi, the Next Generation: Extra Credit Vol.1: Turning Japanese

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This new series is essential for any Degrassi fanatic, and perfect for every library’s teen section. The story begins in Season 5 of the CTV show, focusing on the lives of Ellie and J.T. Ellie is working at a comic book company, where one of her bosses starts acting a bit too “frisky” for her liking and she’s unsure how to handle the situation. Meanwhile, J.T., feeling in a bit of a funk after recent events have left him feeling lonely and unwanted, turns to the internet (porn!) for diversion. With an opening splash of the CN Tower and a TTC rocket, references to Jeff Smith and Superman, quintessential awkward teen moments (picture J.T. sitting as his computer with a box of Kleenex within arms length, when his grandmother walks in!), and written by J. Torres (author of Teen Titans Go and Love as a Foreign Language), this series is both entertaining and a smooth way of dealing with “big” issues in a teen-approachable (aka subtle and cool). For more conservative libraries, this series should be OK… the issues tackled are done so with great respect to both the topic and the audience and this volume contains no objectionable language, nudity or violence. Rule of thumb: if they watch Degrassi, they can read Degrassi.

SUBJECTS :: harassment, internet porn, teenagers, high school

Cantarella

Enter the world of the infamous Borgia family of Renaissance Italy. Orphaned at an early age, Cesare Borgia is surrounded by an aura of spirits that both torment and haunt him. Separated from those who could love him, Cesare battles his demons and employs Cantarella, a poison, to vanquish his mortal enemies. Based on historical legend, Cantarella portrays a soul in anguish as opposed to a vicious murderer. For mature teens. ~ Cerridwen

Naoki Urasawa's Monster

A brilliant young doctor, Kenzo Tenma, is summoned to save a critically wounded young boy. Years later, a series of murders leads a police detective to his door, this time as a suspect. Is he guilty of horrific crimes to further his medical career, or has he unwittingly created a monster? Dark and thought-provoking, the content is more appropriate for mature teens. ~ Cerridwen

GetBackersStory

GetBackersStory

by: Yuya AokiArt

by: Rando Ayamine

Ever lose something...someone? You need the team of Ginji Amano and Ban Mido - they're the retrieval team known as the GetBackers! With their special powers of illusion and electricity, they can find and, well, get back anything - or anyone - that's been lost. Their only problem is not starving on the streets before they get another job...this manga series is more appropriate for older teens, contains mature language and sexual innuendo. - Cerridwen