How can you find great, girl- and women-friendly manga for your library? Leyla Aker from VIZ Media, Robin Brenner from Brookline Public Library (MA) and Deb Aoki from MangaComicsManga and Publishers Weekly share their picks for new and classic titles that every library should have on their shelves.

1. Girl Power!How to create a female-friendly manga collection for your library
Leyla Aker, VIZ Media
Robin Brenner, Brookline Public Library
Deb Aoki, Publishers Weekly / MangaComicsManga.com
Toronto Comic Art Festival 2015

2. Manga for every reader
Shonen manga
tween/teen
boys
Shojo manga
tween/teen
girls
Seinen manga
young adult/
adult men
Josei manga
young adult/
adult women

3. What is shonen manga?
• Comics for boys / young male readers, age 8 - 18
• Appeals to both male and female readers
• Made by male and female comic creators
• Popular genres include action, fantasy/adventure, sci-fi, romantic
comedies, school life, drama/suspense
• Popular titles include Naruto, One Piece, Attack on Titan,
Nisekoi

4. What is shojo manga?
• Comics for girls / young female readers, age 8 – 18
• Read mostly by female readers, but sometimes read by male readers
• Made by mostly female comic creators
• Popular genres include romance, fantasy/adventure, romantic
comedies, school life, drama/suspense, supernatural
• Popular titles include Ouran High School Host Club, Sailor Moon, Alice
in the Country of Hearts, My Love Story!!

5. What is seinen manga?
• Comics for young adults/adults, age 16 and up
• Created with male readers as primary audience, but read by both
male and female readers
• Made by male and female creators
• Popular genres include action/adventure, suspense, horror, crime
dramas, comedies, slice of life stories
• Popular titles include Monster, Gantz, Black Lagoon, Vinland Saga

6. What is josei manga?
• Comics for young adults/adult females, age 16 and up
• Created for female readers primarily, but read by male readers too.
• Made mostly by female creators
• Popular genres include romance, drama, suspense/horror,
comedies, slice of life stories, historical fiction, supernatural, erotica
• Popular titles include In Clothes Called Fat, Midnight Secretary

7. Psst. There’s boys love manga too.
• Boys love, a.k.a. “BL,” “yaoi manga” or “shonen ai”
• (Usually) erotic boys loving boys comics for young adults/adult
females, age 16 and up
• Created for female readers primarily, but of interest to gay readers
too
• Made mostly by female creators
• Popular titles include World’s Greatest First Love, Love Stage!!
Finder

8. Comics for girls/women:
Japan vs. US
1950’s 1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 2000’s now
1950’s 1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 2000’s now

9. Comics for girls/women:
US vs. Japan

10. What do we mean by
“girl-friendly manga?”
Interesting,
empowered
female
characters
Gender-positive
/ gender-fluid,
may include
LGBTQ
characters
Storylines that
aren’t solely
about “Does he
like me?”
Women/girls who
aren’t just boobs
and panties

11. Women who are
just “set
decoration”
Gross, gratuitous
“fanservice”
Harems of girls
who inexplicably
fall for a stupid
guy
Sexual violence /
extreme, stomach-
churning violence
What do we mean by
“girl-friendly manga?”

12. How will I know?
The Bechdel Test
1. Has to have at least 2 women in it,
2. …who talk to each other about
3. …something besides a man

13. How will I know?
The Mako Mori Test
1. Has at least one female character
2. …who gets her own narrative arc
3. …that is not about supporting a man’s story

14. How will I know?
Age ratings/descriptions
For readers of
any age
May contain
mild language
and fantasy
violence, but
no swearing or
nudity
For early teens
and older
May contain
violence,
infrequent use
of strong
language,
suggestive
themes, crude
humor
For older teens
and adults
May include
intense/gory
violence,
sexual content,
strong
language,
alcohol/tobacco
or other
substance use
Suitable for
adults only.
May contain
extreme
violence,
mature themes
and graphic
descriptions

15. How will I know?
blogs / manga review websites
School Library Journal / Good
Comics for Kids
http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/
Manga Bookshelf
http://mangabookshelf.com/
Anime News Network
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/
Robot 6
http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/
MangaBlog
http://mangablog.mangabookshelf.com/
MangaComicsManga
http://mangacomicsmanga.com

16. Recommended Manga for
Kids

17. Recommended for Kids
Chi’s Sweet Home
By Konami Kanata
Vertical
11+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: A, all ages
Slice of life, cats, comedy
A kitten gets separated from her family,
and gets adopted by a couple and their
pre-school age son.
In full color, reads left to right.
Charming, slice of life stories for cat
lovers.

18. Recommended for Kids
Pokemon Adventures:
Black & White
By Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi
Yamamoto
VIZ Media / Perfect Square
8+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: A, all ages
Adventure / fantasy
Two Pokemon trainers, Black (boy) and
White (girl) travel the countryside to
discover new pocket monsters, gain
experience, make friends, and a few
enemies along the way.

19. Recommended for Kids
Yotsuba&!
By Kiyohiko Azuma
Yen Press
12+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: A, all ages
Slice of life, comedy, family life
A little green-haired girl and her adoptive
father move to a new town and make
friends and discover everyday joys of life.
A fun all-ages manga that kids and adults
alike can love.

20. Recommended for Kids
Kitchen Princess
By Miyuki Kobayashi
and Natsumi Ando
Kodansha Comics
10 Volumes (also available as four 3-
volume omnibus editions)
Rating: A, all ages
Romance, cooking, drama
Happy Happy Clover
By Sayuri Tatsuyama
VIZ Media / VIZ Kids
5 Volumes
Rating: A, all ages
Slice of life, rabbits, comedy/adventure

21. Recommended for Kids
Cardcaptor Sakura
By CLAMP
Dark Horse Comics
4 omnibus-sized Volumes
Rating: 12 and up
Fantasy/adventure. A magical book opens the
door to a world of adventure
Magic Knight Rayearth
By CLAMP
Dark Horse Comics
2 omnibus Volumes
Rating: 12 and up
Fantasy/adventure. A trio of girls try to save
a magical kingdom

22. Recommended for Kids
Young Miss Holmes
By Kaoru Shintani
Seven Seas Manga
3 omnibus-sized Volumes
Rating: A, all ages
Mystery, adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ niece
Fluffy Fluffy Cinnamoroll
By Yumi Tsukirino and Chisato Seki
VIZ Media / VIZ Kids
5 Volumes
Rating: A, all ages
Fantasy, comedy, puppies!

23. Recommended Manga for
Tweens/Teens

24. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
Fullmetal Alchemist
By Hiromu Arakawa
VIZ Media
27 volumes (completed, also
available in 3-volume omnibus
volumes)
Rating: T – Teen
Fantasy / Drama / Action
Two brothers discover the price for
trying to cheat death via alchemy, as
one loses his arm, while the other’s
soul is locked in huge suit of armor.

25. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
Nausicaä of the Valley
of the Wind
By Hayao Miyazaki
VIZ Media
7 volumes (completed, also available
in 2-volume hardcover boxed edition)
Rating: T – Teen
Fantasy / Drama / Action
A princess of an ecologically-
devastated land finds she has an
empathic bond with the insect
creatures that have terrorized her
people, and tries to use these powers
to bring peace back to her troubled
land.

26. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
xxxHolic,
Tsubasa: RESERVoir
CHRoNiCLE
By CLAMP
Kodansha Comics
xxxHolic: 19 volumes
Tsubasa: 28 Volumes
(both series also available as 3-in-1
omnibus editions)
Rating: T – Teen
Fantasy / Adventure
Two epic series that have multiple
cross-overs with each other

27. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
A Silent Voice
By Yoshitoki Oima
Kodansha Comics
7 Volumes
Rating: T – Teen
Drama / Slice of Life / Romance
A young boy torments and teases a
classmate who is hearing impaired.
But when he crosses a line, he goes
from being the bully to being an
outcast. Years later, he meets his
former classmate, and tries to gain
redemption for his sins.

28. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
Sailor Moon
By Naoko Takeuchi
Kodansha Comics
12 volumes + 2 volumes of short stories
Rating: T - Teen
Fantasy / adventure / action / romance
Codename: Sailor V
By Naoko Takeuchi
Kodansha Comics
2 volumes
Rating: T - Teen
Fantasy / adventure / comedy / romance

29. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
Attack on Titan
By Hajime Isayama
Kodansha Comics
15+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: T - Teens
Fantasy / Adventure / Drama
Library Wars
By Yumi Kiiro and Hiro Arikawa
VIZ Media / Shojo Beat
14+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: T - Teen
Drama / action / romance

30. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
Ouran High School Host Club
By Bisco Hattori
VIZ Media / Shojo Beat
18 volumes
Rating: T, teen
Romance / gender-bending / male harem / comedy
Otomen
By Aya Kanno
VIZ Media / Shojo Beat
18 volumes
Rating: T, teen
Romantic comedy / gender-bending

31. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
Sakura Hime
By Arina Tanemura
VIZ Media / Shojo Beat
12 volumes
Rating: T – Teen
Fantasy / Romance / Drama
Kamisama Kiss
By Julietta Suzuki
VIZ Media / Shojo Beat
20+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: T – Teen
Fantasy / Romantic Comedy

32. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
Kimi ni Todoke
By Karuho Shiina
VIZ Media / Shojo Beat
10+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: T, teen
Slice of life / high school romance /
drama
Skip Beat!
By Yoshiki Nakamura
VIZ Media / Shojo Beat
36+ volumes (continuing, also available
in 3-in-1 omnibus editions)
Rating: T - Teen
Romance / showbiz / drama / comedy

33. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki
By Mamoru Hosoda and Yu
Yen Press
1 volume (hardcover)
Rating: T - Teen
Fantasy/ drama / slice of life
Your Lie in April
By Naoshi Arakawa
Kodansha Comics
11 volumes
Rating: T – Teens
Drama / Music / Romance

34. Recommended for Tweens/Teens
Children of the Sea
By Daisuke Igarashi
VIZ Media / VIZ Signature
5 volumes
Rating: T - Teen
Fantasy / drama / magical realism /
nature
Pride & Prejudice
By Jane Austen, Adapted by Stacy
King and Po Tse
Udon Entertainment
1 volume
Rating: T – Teen
Romance / drama / historical / literary

35. Recommended Manga for
Older Teens

36. Recommended for Older Teens
Nana
By Ai Yazawa
VIZ Media / Shojo Beat
21 volumes (on hiatus)
Rating: OT – Teen
Romance / Drama / Rock Music
Two girls named Nana meet while
on their way to Tokyo – Nana
Komatsu is looking for love and a
chic city girl life. Nana Osaki is a
charismatic rock and roll singer who
lives life on the edge. When the two
become roommates, their lives go in
unexpected directions.

37. Recommended for Older Teens
A Bride’s Story
By Kaoru Mori
Yen Press
7+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: OT – Teen
History / Drama / Slice of Life /
Romance
Set in the Middle East, near the turn
of the 20th century, A Bride’s Story
starts off as the story of a 20-year old
woman/hunter from a nomadic tribe,
as she marries into another family,
and discovers that her groom is 8
years younger than she is.

38. Recommended for Older Teens
Wandering Son
By Takako Shimura
Fantagraphics
15 Volumes (hardcover)
Rating: OT – Teen
Slice of Life / Drama / Transgender
Two tweens, a boy and a girl, on the
cusp of puberty discover that they
share a secret: they are
transgendered. Sensitively handled
and thoughtfully told, Wandering
Son is a timely tale told from a
unique point of view.

39. Recommended for Older Teens
Loveless
By Yun Kouga
VIZ Media
12+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: OT – Older Teens
Drama / Fantasy / Romance / Gender-fluid
Paradise Kiss
By Ai Yazawa
Vertical
3 volumes (new 2-in-1 ominbus edition)
Rating: OT – Teen
Romance / Drama / Fashion

40. Recommended for Older Teens
Claymore
By Norio Yagi
VIZ Media / Shonen Jump Advanced
26+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: OT – Older Teen
Action / Adventure / Fantasy
Emma
By Kaoru Mori
Yen Press
5 volumes (10 vol. in new 2-in-1 hardcover
edition)
Rating: OT – Older Teens
Historical Romance / Drama

41. Recommended for Older Teens
Limit
By Keiko Suenobu
Vertical
6 volumes
Rating: OT – Older Teen
Drama / Horror / Suspense
Solanin
By Asano Inio
VIZ Media / VIZ Signature
1 volume
Rating: OT - Older Teens
Drama / Slice of Life / 20-something coming of age

42. Recommended Manga for
Adults

43. Recommended for Adults
Helter Skelter: Fashion
Unfriendly
By Kyoko Okazaki
Vertical
1 volume
Rating: M – Mature
Drama / Suspense / Fashion /
Horror
A beautiful actress goes to
increasingly extreme lengths to
preserve her beauty, and discovers
that the cost of retaining her looks is
perhaps more than she can afford.

44. Recommended for Adults
Ooku: The Inner
Chambers
By Fumi Yoshinaga
VIZ Media
10+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: OT – Older Teens
Historical Romance / Drama
Set in 17th century Japan, Ooku
asks a simple but complicated
question: what if a plague killed off
70% of Japan’s male population,
and the Shogun and most of the
ruling class roles are taken up by
women instead of men?

45. Recommended for Adults
In Clothes Called Fat
By Moyoco Anno
Vertical
1 volume
Rating: OT – Older Teens
Drama / Horror / Eating Disorders
20-something Noko seems to have
a great life: a good job, a loving
boyfriend. But when she begins to
believe that a few extra pounds are
keeping her from perfection, she
goes down a self-destructive path.

46. Recommended for Adults
Pink
By Kyoko Okazaki
Vertical
1 volume
Rating: OT – Older Teens
Drama / Slice of Life
Utsubora
By Asumiko Nakamura
Vertical
1 volumes
Rating: M – Mature
Suspense / Drama / Horror

47. Recommended for Adults
Dogs
By Shirow Miwa
VIZ Media / VIZ Signature
10+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: M – Mature
Action / Suspense / Drama / Sci-Fi
Gangsta.
By Kohske
VIZ Media / VIZ Signature
6+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: M – Mature
Action / Drama

48. Recommended for Adults
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
By Fumi Yoshinaga
Vertical
9+ volumes (continuing)
Rating: OT – Older Teens
Comedy / Cooking / Gay Slice of Life
All My Darling Daughters
By Fumi Yoshinaga
VIZ Media / VIZ Signature
1 volumes
Rating: OT – Older Teen
Slice of life / Drama

49. Recommended for Adults
Ristorante Paradiso
By Natsume Ono
VIZ Media
1 volumes
Rating: OT – Older Teen
Slice of life / Drama / Romance / Food
Gente
By Natsume Ono
VIZ Media
3 volumes
Rating: OT – Older Teen
Slice of life / Drama / Romance / Food

50. Recommended for Adults
Sakuran
By Moyoco Anno
Vertical
1 volume
Rating: M – Mature
Historical Drama / Romance
A Drunken Dream &
Other Stories
By Moto Hagio
Fantagraphics
1 volume
Rating: OT – Older Teen
Drama / Sci-Fi / Slice of Life

51. Questions?

52. Thank you!
Visit MangaComicsManga.com for the list,
or take a handout!