I really like doing manga reader’s advisory! If you want suggestions for what to read, go ahead and ask through my contact form.
Here’s a request for suggestions from Lisa, who writes:
Hello Tangognat! Can you recommend a manga for my daughter? She (we) have never read one before but would like to try. She is 11 and I´d like to surprise her with one. She loves love stories and (what can I do?) Hannah Montana and Tokyo Hotel. I´d appreciate any leads you´d be willing to give.
Well, one of the first titles that came in mind when I read your question was Sugar Princess: Skating to win. The content in it would be appropriate for an 11 year old, and for someone who hasn’t read any manga before, a short two volume series like this might be a great one to try. There’s a definite attraction between Maya and her older partner Shun, but it isn’t a full-blown love story. Here’s a preview of the manga.
I haven’t read this series, but if your daughter likes music another possibility is the series Full Moon by Arina Tanemura:
Full Moon is about a 12 year old girl who is putting off an operation on her vocal chords because she wants to sing. She’s visited by guardian spirits who help her transform into a 16 year old idol singer and starts to break into show business. I think there’s romance involved too, so this might cover the love + pop music aspect of your daughter’s interests.
An oldie but goodie is the fantasy series by CLAMP called Magic Knight Rayearth.
Three girls from modern Tokyo are summoned to a magical realm where they must team up in order to save a lost princess. There isn’t as much of a love story here, although there is a hint of romance.
Ultra Maniac is a cute series about a girl named Ayu who tries to be cool at school, only to find her reputation under attack when she befriends a teen witch named Nina. Nina decides to help Ayu with her crush, but magic makes matchmaking very unpredictable.
Continuing with the witchy theme, Sugar Sugar Rune tells the story of two witches named Chocolate and Vanilla who are sent to earth to engage in a competition – whoever can capture the most hearts will become the queen of their world. Here’s a preview of the manga.
If you have more suggestions for Lisa and her daughter, please add your comments!
I recommend CMX’s The Palette of 12 Secret Colors,” which is an all-ages title featuring a spunky heroine having adventures with her adorable bird. Plus, y’know, it’s actually funny and well done.
Gah, close tags are your friend. Sorry ’bout that.
That’s ok, I fixed it!
[...] recommends some manga for an 11-year-old [...]
[...] [Commentary] Manga for an eleven-year-old girl Link: Tangognat [...]
I’d definitely second Michelle’s recommendation for The Palette of 12 Secret Colors, as well Nari Kusikawa’s Two Flowers for the Dragon. An eleven-year-old girl might also like Apothecarius Argentum, another CMX fantasy series with a plucky heroine. There’s plenty of romantic tension in Apothecarius, but the characters can’t touch each other, since the male lead’s skin is poisonous to others.
If she’s not into fantasy, she might like Suki, an older CLAMP title about a shy teen whose next-door neighbor also happens to be her teacher. The layout is cleaner and less Baroque than most CLAMP titles, so it makes a good introduction to the medium.
I’ve got to read 12 Secret Colors and 2 Flowers, I’ve heard really good things about them.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Alina is in the middle of Tangognat´s recommendation “Full Moon”, her (our) first manga. We live in Germany and my daughter´s stronger language is German. But she has been reading this manga to me or independently.I credit that to the manga format. Up till now her independent reading has been in German. We just might have her hooked to mangas (and reading in English) at the same time. Maybe this is the answer for other bilingual parent who want to encourage their kids to read in their “weaker” language. Anyway, I will keep track of all these suggestions. Thanks again, folks!
Glad to hear that the manga is working out, Lisa.