Though trends in genre and vocabulary continue to evolve, the base knowledge offered here is a valuable starting point.
A thorough primer on history and trends in these storytelling formats.
If anyone is looking to understand the basics of anime and manga—Japanese animated films and comics—or needs more convincing about their tremendous popularity and importance in terms of art, story, and culture, this short read will be of help. Henderson’s overview begins by covering their historical roots and goes through to their global reach and future. Core vocabulary and jargon such as waifu and isekai are explained clearly and are backed by key examples which may be of use to readers as new reading or watching recommendations. The author not only highlights creators, studios, and titles, but takes the time to explore why audiences are drawn to this material through the lenses of identity, escapism, visuals, and storylines. Current events, from recent triumphs at the box office, plans for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the strain of the Covid-19 pandemic, are also briefly touched upon. Even as it highlights the positives, the book does not shy away from discussing the dark side of the industry, including the poor working conditions that creators and artists endure, from a demanding and strict work culture to a profit structure badly in need of reform.
Though trends in genre and vocabulary continue to evolve, the base knowledge offered here is a valuable starting point. (picture credits, source notes, further research, index) (Nonfiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-67820-092-3
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship.
A battered girl and an injured rugby star spark up an ill-advised romance at an Irish secondary school.
Beautiful, waiflike, 15-year-old Shannon has lived her entire life in Ballylaggin. Alternately bullied at school and beaten by her ne’er-do-well father, she’s hopeful for a fresh start at Tommen, a private school. Seventeen-year-old Johnny, who has a hair-trigger temper and a severe groin injury, is used to Dublin’s elite-level rugby but, since his family’s move to County Cork, is now stuck captaining Tommen’s middling team. When Johnny angrily kicks a ball and knocks Shannon unconscious (“a soft female groan came from her lips”), a tentative relationship is born. As the two grow closer, Johnny’s past and Shannon’s present become serious obstacles to their budding love, threatening Shannon’s safety. Shannon’s portrayal feels infantilized (“I looked down at the tiny little female under my arm”), while Johnny comes across as borderline obsessive (“I knew I shouldn’t be touching her, but how the hell could I not?”). Uneven pacing and choppy sentences lead to a sudden climax and an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Repetitive descriptions, abundant and misogynistic dialogue (Johnny, to his best friend: “who’s the bitch with a vagina now?”), and graphic violence also weigh down this lengthy tome (considerably trimmed down from its original, self-published length). The cast of lively, well-developed supporting characters, especially Johnny’s best friend and Shannon’s protective older brother, is a bright spot. Major characters read white.
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship. (author’s note, pronunciations, glossary, song moments, playlists) (Romance. 16-18)Pub Date: Nov. 28, 2023
ISBN: 9781728299945
Page Count: 626
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
A winning game of feelingsball.
A former football star, who never thought she’d play again after she came out as transgender, steps back onto the field for one last season to help her team win state.
Grace Woodhouse used to know where she belonged. She had Division I schools lined up to recruit her, but that was before what happened during playoffs last year, before she came out as trans, and before she quit the team. Although her single father and new friend group support her, Grace feels lost as her senior year begins. When one of her old teammates asks her to help him with his technique, she quickly realizes that he and the other captains are hoping for more than her expertise from the sidelines—they want her to rejoin the team. Grace can’t resist the opportunity to play again, but her return draws unwanted national attention that makes her question her future and who she wants to be. Flashback chapters written in the second-person present tense bring Grace’s past to life, which helps maintain momentum and makes her emotional journey feel more immersive. A heartfelt, goofy, and diverse cast of secondary characters surround Grace, who’s white, as she navigates self-doubt, friendship, complicated feelings for her ex-girlfriend, and what she wants to do after graduation. Overall, this coming-of-age sports narrative is honest, gentle, and hopeful.
A winning game of feelingsball. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781646145027
Page Count: 344
Publisher: Levine Querido
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
PERSPECTIVES
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