Teens Talk about Why They Like Manga

Ever wonder what teens see in those little books?  Well, here’s your answer:

Thanks and credit go to the Bay Area teens who were interviewed and the following members of BAYA (Bay Area Young Adult Librarians) for putting together this great video: Jack Baur of Berkeley Public Library, Jessica Lee of Willard Middle School, Amanda Jacobs-Foust and Carla Avitabile of Marin County Free Library, Chris Selig of San Leandro Library, and Anna Koval of Casa Grande High School in Petaluma!

Even though I’m not a regular manga reader, I really enjoyed Mangaman by Barry Lyga and Colleen Doran, and I was pleased to see it on 2012 Great Graphic Novels for Teens! I do take note of what’s really hot though. Lately these two titles have been flying off the shelves:

Blue Exorcist, by Kazue Kato
Viz Media, ISBN: 9781421540320
When Rin Okumura learns his real father is the Demon Lord Satan, he swears to defeat him and enters True Cross Academy to become an exorcist.

Sailor Moon, by Naoka Takeuchi
Viz Media, ISBN: 9781935429746
When Usagi Tsukino learns she is the hero, Sailor Moon, she fights evil and enforces justice in the name of the Moon with the help of other girls destined to be Sailor Scouts.

–Amy Pelman, currently reading There is No Dog, by Meg Rosoff