GROG - Love.com Vol. 2 and 3 (or WHY AM I CONTINUING WITH THIS SERIES?)

Title: Love.Com Vol. 2 and 3
Author: Aya Nakahara
Illustrator Aya Nakahara
Copyright: 2007
Price: $8.99
Publisher: Viz Media
ISBN: 978-1-4215-1344-7
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Summary: Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani are still fighting with each other and still walking home after school together. These mixed signals only confirm to their friends what a cute couple Risa and Otani would make. By chance in Volume 2, Otani’s ex-girlfriend re-enters his life and she has something to say. In volume 3, with a new school year come new feelings, new students and crushes.
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Thoughts: The series is picking up for me. Unlike traditional shojo [“soap opera”] mangas I’ve read (only a few, but the big titles), the main characters still haven’t kissed by the end of Vol. 3. This is driving me NUTS, but as I read, I can see more of the charm of this manga and how teens could like it. I’m going to continue reading since it seems the library system has up to vol. 13 out of what seems to be 17 volumes. I hope this is worth the time.
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Will Teens Like It? The more I read, the more I see middle school and early high school students enjoying this. Why? Teens are awkward about their height, their looks, and their feelings for others. All of this is touched upon in the manga.
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Things to be aware of: SPOILER: There is a transvestite. Usual teen drama.
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Bonus: Vol. 2 and 3 were checked out of my library system.

When I talk about “Soap Opera” mangas, I am generally thinking about the popular classic title Mars which is 15 volumes in length (and I own) and other titles that are shojo and deal with real world issues (Tramps Like Us; the short lived Honey Mustard, and such).

GROG - Black Jack Vol. 1

Title: Black Jack Vol. 1

Author: Osamu Tezuka

Illustrator: Osamu Tezuka

Copyright: 2008

Publisher: [I returned the lib copy. SORRY]

Price: $16.95

ISBN: 978-1934287-27-9

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Summary: Dr. Black Jack is an unlicensed doctor, but when others are in a tight situation or need help, he is there to offer his services and work medical miracles. In this collection of stories, readers are introduced to Black Jack who performs eye transplants, brain transplants, skin transplants, and even repairs a machine that thinks it is human. He performs all of this coolly and calmly, asking for money from those who can part with it and offering assistance to those who can’t. Readers are also introduced to parts of his past and how he can help without the aid of medicine.

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Thoughts: This is a great classic, though it should not be read anywhere near meal time (if you are squeamish like me). The art of Osamu Tezuka is a very familiar style, especially to those who know of Astroboy. The stories collected in this volume range from touching, to gross, to scary, but Black Jack always prevails (except in one, very moving story). Each snippet seems to conceal a hidden lesson for the reader and provoke discussion. This title is a must have as it is a classic and “cornerstone” to manga (most of what Osamu Tezuka wrote is considered classic).

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Will Teens Like It? Older teens and adults will enjoy this title.

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Things to be aware of: Some racist portrayals. Earliest copyright is the 1970s, but there is an unfortunate stereotype in this book.

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Bonus: When I saw that they were republishing Black Jack I was excited! I wanted to read this title in high school, but the high school copy disappeared. Osamu Tezuka is a classic name I have run into over and over and his work has yet to disappoint.

This copy was a library copy.

GROG - Love.com Vol. 1

Title: Love.Com: Lovely Complex Vol. 1
Author: Aya Nakahara

Illustrator: [Same]
Copyright: 2001 (First Printing 2007)

Publisher: Viz Media

Price: $8.99

ISBN: 978-1-4215-1343-0
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Summary: Risa Koizumi is the tallest girl in her class. Atsushi Otani is the shortest boy in his class. Somehow, Koizumi and Otani often wind up together and fighting, which provides lots of entertainment to their classmates. In this first volume, Koizumi and Otani are stuck in summer school and decide it is time to find someone to “go out with.” The winner does whatever the other one says, but in working together, will they discover something more?
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Thoughts: Obviously, this title is a “shojo” title in that it is a love story between tall, boyish girl and small, effeminate guy with lots of drama ensuing. Surprisingly, to me, the title is weak and doesn’t “stick out” like other shojo titles I’ve read. The art of this work is just like every other shojo title (which is fine by me) and the plot is the same. It feels like a title that may disappear in a few years. More reviews to come as I read the series.

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Will Teens Like It?: Teens who love shojo will want this title, otherwise, it’ll probably be skipped.

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Things to be aware of: The usual teen drama, i.e. discussions on sex.

GROGs - The Novel is Silent

GROGs or 'Graphic Novel Reviews on the Go' is another feature you’ll find on this blog.

Developing a library graphic novel collection is difficult, at least to me. To be honest, I’ve found that while it is helpful that graphic novels are being reviewed, the reviews are not helpful. I’ve discovered that there is this difference between what a graphic novel reader thinks is cool and what a librarian thinks is good. As an avid reader, I’ve been on both sides, but have seen that this divide exists, so GROGs are my attempt to build a bridge between those that are recommended and those that are loved.

GROG reviews are basically the same as the ROGs in set-up and such. Same idea for the review, different format being reviewed.

November is NaNoWriMo

Have you heard of NaNoWriMo? It seems teen authors may or have in the past taken part in this national writing campaign. Do you know what it is? NaNoWriMo is short for “National Novel Writing Month,” which, if I remember correctly was started by a small group of writers needing a way to write. NaNoWriMo is pretty simple: write a 50,000 word novel about anything and then you can say you wrote a novel. The point is just to write, write, write and about quantity and not quality. Although, that’s not to say quality work isn’t written. Heck, a few NaNoWriMo projects have been published as books.

Why should you care? The short answer: teens. How often have you seen an article about a teen writing group? Seen a program write up on hosting a writing group? Writing workshop? I’ve seen quite a bit from ideas in professional works to an article in Voya. Teens write. I used to be a prolific writer as a teen to help sort through my anxieties and problems. NaNoWriMo now provides a division for younger writers such as teens and some schools have even hosted their own NaNoWriMos and it is simple if you just tell writers to scramble the word and do a word count.

Programming Connections: Does your library have a writing group? See if teens can become involved. Offer writing workshops this month, author visits, or host a writing group once a week this month.

You get the idea. :)

Early Late Night Revelations

Movie nights are one of my favorite programs to host at the Public Library (this being the one I work at). As a program, it is a relatively a simple program to run. All the is required is a movie license, food, the movie, a projection system, and of course: TEENS. Lately, it seems my programs have been low in attendance, but that’s not what this post is about.

I’ve been down lately, which is surprising to many as I’m a peppy, bubbly person in real life. I hosted a move night on Friday night, and had an average attendance. After the program though, a teen and I ended up in a somewhat animated discussion. When his parent came to pick him up, he grew self-conscious and thought he was taking to long. His father actually seemed fine waiting a few more minutes while we wrapped up our discussion and I checked the teen’s books out with his new library card. The teen left, possibly “turned on” to the library as a concept, and before his dad left, he turned to me and thanked me for the programs at the library.

And this is why I chose this path.

ROG - Information Part 2

As you may remember, I mentioned I was going to start posting "Reviews on the Go" for books, movies, whatever. The book reviews portion is going over a slight makeover (even though I haven't gone that far with book reviews) and instead of just "ROG - Book", book reviews will be "BROG" (Book Review on the Go). The concept is the same ,but there was only a name change.