Comments on: Ask Tangognat – Realistic Manga for 5th graders

By: nihaogrrl

nihaogrrl — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:40:29 +0000

Thereâ€™s a similar series to this, (but is about ballet) that i would recommend reading: Swan by Kyoko Ariyoshi. Iâ€™ve recently finished all of the english series that are published by CMX Manga. Swan has TONS of drama, and romance in it, but the thing is that it has 21 novels (only 15 are in english so far) and is a sport story so it can be a bit repetitve but still dramatic in many ways. It’s also written in the 70′s, so the clothing might be a little off from today but it’s rated E for everyone.

I’m almost the same grade as your daugthers, and i loved swan.

By: Katherine Dacey

Katherine Dacey — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:20:37 +0000

You’re welcome–this is a great list! One other title occurred to me after I hit the “Submit Comment” button: AQUARIUM (Central Park Media), a one-volume anthology of shojo stories. The gender roles are a little dated (one of the characters dreams of an exciting career as a stewardess…!), but the artwork is nice, and all of the stories focus on real-world situations.

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:13:37 +0000

Thanks for the suggestions!

By: Katherine Dacey

Katherine Dacey — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:44:38 +0000

I’d second the recommendations for ME & MY BROTHERS, HITOHIRA, MONKEY HIGH, and LOVE*COM. To that list, I’d add several titles from Tokyopop’s aborted OEL line, including OFF*BEAT, SORCERERS & SECRETARIES (not a fantasy, despite the title), and ME2. The only drawback to these titles is that only one–SORCERERS & SECRETARIES–is complete; the others remain unfinished.

Another possibility is manhwa. NETCOMICS and Yen Press have both released a number of PG and PG-13 romances that are heavy on the drama, light on the comedy. Some of the best include NARRATION OF LOVE AT 17 (NETCOMICS), a four-volume coming-of-age story that revolves around a high school drama club; GOONG: THE ROYAL PALACE (Yen Press), a romance about a commoner who marries into the Korean royal family; and VERY! VERY! SWEET (Yen Press), an opposites-attract romance with a strong, sassy heroine.

One final suggestion is BE WITH YOU (Viz), a one-volume adaptation of a best-selling romance. There is a slight supernatural element (a widower finds the ghost of his beloved wife wandering in the woods near their home), but it’s quite minimal. The overall tone is very serious, which should appeal to readers who aren’t fond of wacky shojo antics.

By: Anna

Anna — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:41:43 +0000

Beauty Pop might also work (competitive hair cutting) but it isn’t very serious in tone.

By: Kiki

Kiki — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:26:57 +0000

These suggestions are great – and if I can’t use them for school I can add them to my own reading pile.

I do appreciate the warnings on content. A teen pregnancy subplot is not going to fly in my elementary library, neither will any hint of boys love – which is why I could never put out Card Captor Sakura even though I really enjoy the story and art. As I said, I’m pushing it a bit with Harlequin Pinks as it is. A teacher voiced concern that the man was shown kissing the woman when he was shirtless. We’re a conservative district.

Anyway, thanks for all the help.

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:29:34 +0000

While the tone of Imadoki would be ok, I’m guessing Penny wants to steer clear of anything with a teen pregnancy subplot.

By: badzphoto

badzphoto — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:08:34 +0000

how about “Azumanga Daioh”, “Backstage Prince”, “Imadoki”?

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:38:35 +0000

I like Venus in Love, but I’m not sure if the boy boy girl love triangle might get Penny in trouble if she recommends it to the kids in her class.

By: lys

lys — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:26:34 +0000

I’d second VB Rose (full of beautiful drawings and very sweet romance!) and Zig*Zag, as well as perhaps Venus in Love by the same author as Zig*Zag (Zig*Zag and Venus both follow the relationships and daily life of a bunch of characters, so it might appeal to the Red String reader; I’ve only read one volume of Venus so far though). Tears of a Lamb, by the same author as VB Rose, might also interest the girls. The main character is a boy, but the story is pretty interesting and well-thought-out, and the characters all have fun personalities.

Me & My Brothers is also a fun and cute story about a girl and her (not-blood-related) brothers. She’s a somewhat younger protagonistâ€”8th grade at the beginning of the book, but high school aged by recent books, and with romance beginning to develop.

Sugar Sugar Rune, about two best-friend witch girls, is a bit more fantasy-ish, with younger-aged protagonists, but still takes place partly in a school setting, and has really fun, stylish artwork.

Oyayubihime Infinity is another interesting take on “fate” and destined love, with a group of high-schoolers who are drawn together by a butterfly-shaped birthmark on their thumbs.

I just got the 2nd and 3rd (of 4) volumes of Minima! recently and loved them. Middle-school-age heroine and a talking stuffed animal. It has some good insight into its charactersâ€”Ame is a shy, quiet girl who has a hard time making friends or talking to the boy she likes, but through meeting Nicori (the stuffed animal) she begins to open up to her classmates and develop a more healthy perspective on life.