Kekkaishi Volume 8 by Yellow Tanabe

Kekkaishi by Yellow Tanabe is a Manga series that is usually published in Asia and North America. With detailed graphics, it reads more like a comic book than a novel. The story is about Yoshimori Sumimura who is a student by day and a demon hunter by night. This being the 8th volume in the series, the entire collection is based on events that happened over five-hundred years ago. A great feudal lord with the help of two of his students, defeated an evil demon who tried to destroy the Earth. Now, hundreds of years later, Yoshimori and his friend Tokine Yukimura, heirs to the Klan of the Hazama, must use their powers of an ancient technique called Kekkai to capture, defeat, and destroy any all demons who threaten the safety of the world. As Yoshimori and Yukaimura realize, demons have many strengths and abilities. Thus, they too must increase their power and knowledge of Kekkai in order to defeat the never-ending threat.




A thrilling series for young adults, it is a manga series that will undoubtedly appeal to both girls and boys, in high school and middle school, who are interested in reading Manga style pieces of fiction. I would definitely recommend this book to students who are interested in Japanese anime and who are practicing artists. The images presented are elaborate and detailed, which give the reader a vivid experience as to what is occurring in the story.



The Kekkaishi Series is turning into a phenomenon with followers from all across the world. It has even gained popularity to the point where in 2006 a television series was created and continues to be a success.


Listed here is a sample clip of the T.V. Series.



Truly a thrilling series, of which it has received the recognition it deserves by being nominated for the Great Graphic Novels List for 2008.

Vampire Knight: Book One by Matsuri Hino

The first installement of many books, Matsuri Hino's Vampire Knight is a very visual and telling tale of two people who's joobs it is to fight Vampires, while keeping the fact that they exist a secret.


Two friends, Yuki and Cross and Zero Kiryu are tasked with protecting the students at Cross Academy. However, it is not strangers that the two warriors must fend off, but other students. In fact, Cross Academy has two schools: A day school and a night school. The students who attend the cademy during the day are cheerful boys and girls, with very few cares in the world. In fact, they are naive of the dangers that await them on a daily basis. You see, the Night class is their enemy. The night class is not comprised of ordinary students, but of vampires who have their eyes on the day class students.

Yuki and Zero are tasked with keeping the two classes separate and avoiding any conflict that might arise between them.


I like this book for many reasons. First, it's a graphic novel. Thus, there are many illustrations that pull the reader into the story. Second, I love reading about vampires and so do my students. In fact, my third reason for liking this book is the fact that it is part of a long series, with no end in site. At my school, anime has become the newest fad. Everyone is either reading graphic novels, or watching anime television. Ths, this book is an excellent way to get my students to read more.


I believe this book would be better suited for high school students rather than elementary and some middle school students, simply because of the nature of the text. Besides having blood-sucking vampires and warriors with sharp deadly blades, it also has some inferences to sexual behavior. In fact, in parts that discuss how Yuki and Zero meet, their are hints as to how deep and meaningful their relationship is.


Still, I would definitely recommend this book to any anll who are interested in reading an exciting and heart-pounding graphic novel.

Re-Gifters by Mike Carey

re-gift
-to give an unwanted gift to someone else: to give as a gift something one previously received as a gift.

What goes around comes around is certainly one way to describe this fun action filled read. Jen Dik Seong, or Dixie, to her high school friends, narrates this story. She lives in LA's Koreatown and studies hapkido, the Korean martial art, which she has begun to show great promise in. Now, if only she could get her ki, or "harmonious essence" back. Dixie, you see, has been somewhat distracted lately by a "major" crush on Adam, a California surfer boy, who also studies hapkido with her.
Adam, of course (in keeping with his surfer boy reputation) is oblivious to Dixie's affection which she desperately tries to show him until finally she musters up enough courage to give him a special gift at his party.
But, where did Dixie get the money for this gift? Her family, after all has been struggling to make ends meet since losing their store in the Rodney King riots. Her father, however, has always put aside money for Dixie's hapkido; it is a part of their culture and that is very important to their family. The money in the end is from her father who has saved it for Dixie to enter an upcoming hapkido tournament. Needless to say, Adam re-gifts the present to someone else which begins a re-gifting cycle and Dixie is left struggling to find money to get back into the tournament.

I have to admit I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did for I usually have little interest in graphic books. My eyes have been opened to a new genre. Even though it was fairly predictable, I was impressed at how well rounded the characters actually were, Dixie especially. She is spunky and a lot of fun in her telling of her crush on Adam and the typical "first love" feelings she is experiencing. She is very easy to connect to. I am sure both middle school to high school students would enjoy this book.
The graphics were full of energy and had great facial expressions. The Korean culture prevailed throughout which may also be of interest for those teaching in the history and/or social studies area.

Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey

In the time of Merlin, the magician, he predicted that the 21st queen of the Wilde Island would become leader of her people, regain the ancient and honored name of Pendragon and bring peace to her kingdom. Rosalind, the main character of the story, is just that person. However, she possesses a curse that if discovered would surely taint her rule. Blessed with beauty, intelligence, and kindness, she is cursed with the finger of a dragon. Destined to marry, she searches the land to find a cure. However, to no avail. Still, another curse plagues dear Rosalind. Every person she pleads for help with are soon found dead with no explanation. In a short time, Rosalind finds herself trapped and helpless as she tries to discover her true destiny and the purpose of her strange connection with the mysterious dragons.

Dragon’s Keep is indeed a mystical adventure story that will definitely appeal to middle school and high school girls interested in reading about dragons, magic, and the unimaginable. Written with a female main character, it allows a new take on the roles of women and princesses in a time where men had ruled for hundreds of years. With elements of the fabled legend of King Arthur, Merlin the Magician, and the kingdom of Camelot, Janet Carey successfully weaves together, the elements of fantasy, history, and magic into an unbelievable story that is filled with surprises and new revelations on every page. It is a great story for teens who are interested in reading novels about dragons and other mystical creatures.

Dragon's Keep has also been placed on the shortlist of Children's Books of the Year for 2007. I recommend this book to any middle school and early high school kids who enjoy reading fantasy.