Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 1

by Sorata Akiduki Translated by Caleb Cook 3 stars A sweet book with a loose basis around the story of Snow White. I’ve watched the first season of the anime and wanted to give the manga a try. Shirayuki is well-known for her rare red hair, but when it gains her some unwanted attention, she…

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Flamer by Mike Curato

5 stars Hard-hitting and wonderfully told. Aiden has always felt different. He doesn’t fit in at school. His family life is chaotic. It’s the year before he starts high school and he’s at his favorite place, summer camp. But things aren’t going as well as he’d like. Despite his friendships and interesting camp courses, he…

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Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 by Kamome Shirahama

Translated by Stephen Kohler 5 stars A breathtaking read full of mystery, magic, and secrets. Coco has always been fascinated by magic. When she discovers the secret to casting spells, she tries to teach herself. But her attempts result in a devastating mistake. To set things right, she becomes a witch’s apprentice and dives headfirst…

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Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel

Written by Jason Reynolds Art by Danica Novgorodoff 5 stars I loved Reynolds’ original novel-in-verse and was a little nervous about this graphic adaptation. But it really delivered. Reynolds’ words and messages shine through accompanied by Novgorodoff’s haunting artwork and stunning visuals. The watercolors perfectly capture the essence of Reynolds’ words. Absolutely stunning. A fantastic…

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Grim Beginnings (Kim Reaper #1) by Sarah Graley

2 stars A weird little story with a fun blend of cutesy and dark style. Becka has a crush on fellow university student, Kim,. When she tries to make a move, she gets swept up in Kim’s job as a part-time grim reaper. Zombies, pirate ghouls, and buff cat dads… can a simple crush overcome…

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Insomniacs After School Volume 1 by Makoto Ojiro

Translated by Andria Cheng 4 stars A sweet, low-stakes manga featuring unexpected friendship, life after dark, and an adorable cat. Ganta Nakami can’t sleep. When he discovers classmate, Isaki Magari’s secret hideout, they bond over their shared sleep issues. They form their own secret club and start fixing up the old observatory to make a…

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Heartless Prince: Volume 1

Story & Illustrations by Angela De Vito Written by Leigh Dragoon 2 stars A kidnapped princess, a prince’s stollen heart, an orphan with mysterious abilities, and a witch out to ruin them all. I thought this was a standalone when I started it, but later found out it will be part of a trilogy. There…

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Cat + Gamer Volume 2 by Wataru Nadatani

Translated by Zack Davisson 5 stars Another fantastic volume featuring Riko and Musubi. I love the humor in these books so much. Cat lovers will easily relate to this series. This volume of slice-of-life adventures sees Riko dealing with Musubi as he levels up, clears ideal surfaces for napping, tries new tasty treats, and gets…

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Shuna’s Journey by Hayao Miyazaki

Translated by Alex Dudok de Wit 3 stars A standalone tale loosely based on the Tibetan folktale, “The Prince Who Turned into a Dog”. This book is all Miyazaki. Stunning settings, a strong woman with agency and determination, fascinating creatures, rich backgrounds, and intentional ambiguity. Slow-paced story that puts more emphasis on the visuals than…

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Pearl of the Sea

by Anthony Silverston, Raffaella Delle Donne, and Willem Samuel 4 stars A heartwarming story of friendship, family, forgiveness, and moving forward. With the looming threat of not making rent and having to move away from the sea, Pearl gives in to the temptation of illegal abalone poaching. But during her dives, she makes a strange…

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