Yotsuba&! (Manga)

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Name: Yotsuba&!
Type: Manga

Author: Kiyohiko Azuma

Books: 14+
Genre: Comedy, slice of life
Age Rating: n/a

Review: 
Follow the ordinary life of five-year-old Yotsuba, a strange yet adorable girl with green hair who is being raised by her adopted father.

This manga series is adorable! You get to read the surprisingly realistic stories about the everyday life of five-year-old Yotsuba. She is being raised by her adopted father, along with his goofy friends and their kind neighbors. The only character who is truly developed is Yotsuba, though the other characters are just as enjoyable in their own way, by their own right; Jumbo is a big teddy-bear, Ayumi is mature and creative, Ena is open and always smiling. Each character is so sweet to read about, and they treat Yotsuba kindly.

Yotsuba is written by the same author who wrote Azumanga Daioh. Needless to say, this series is full of humor and crazy antics. I will say, though, that many of the stories are about Yotsube learning about every-day life, much like a real five-year-old might. She learns about where milk comes from, she practices drawing, she loves her teddy bear Duralumin, and one day she pretends to be a princess after reading a fairy tale and learning that they really do exist. As someone who looks forward to having children one day, this series was so sweet and made me even more excited. 

The art is simple, yet the normal doe-eyed anime characters aren't as exaggerated, and the simple tones really fit the way this story is read. Unlike some of his other work, Azuma does a good job at differentiating the characters. It's like a funny, care-free daydream featuring a cute little green-haired fairy. Perfect for a rainy day, or when you just need something to wind down with. Suitable for all ages. 

For more from Kiyohiko Azuma, click here.

Mature Content:

• n/a

Personal Note: 
Danbo the robot made of cardboard!

Emma (Manga)

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Name: Emma
Type: Manga

Author: Kaoru Mori

Books: 10
Genre: Romance, historical, drama
Age Rating: 16+

Review:
William Jones, a noble, falls in love with a poor maid upon meeting her at his old governess' house. Against all odds, she falls in love with him, too. Will their love be able to survive the harsh strictness of class?

This was a beautifully drawn, historically accurate (to my knowledge at least) story set in old England. With rich characters and a painfully heart-wrenching romance, this was a short and easy read that I absolutely devoured. I have read the series twice already, just because I loved it so much. As a single girl who loves a sweet, non-creepy romance, this series was a wonderful find!

As mentioned above, the art was absolutely gorgeous--the author gives us a full taste of fashion from both classes, and really captures the way Emma changes from her maid outfit and nightgown, to a beautiful dress that a noblewoman would wear. I loved the fact that Emma herself was flawed, with poor eyesight and anxiety about her future and the way William sees her. I found it realistic and relatable. William was incredibly sweet, while still somewhat naive in his ways, which made it even more rewarding to see him grow into a man by the end of the book.

A huge thumbs up to the author for the pace and tone of voice used to carry out the story. Thought the ending was a bit abrupt, thankfully, the author wrote bonus short stories that quenched a lot of unanswered questions I had and resolved some conflicts. The story on a whole was interesting, and kept me interested the whole time. I especially enjoyed the way the author integrated different points of view with subtle setting changes. 

I would be careful about boys reading this series, just because of the nudity. I read it and was not overly offended; the scenes were quick and not particularly drawn any attention to. As a general rule, boys may not be as interested in this series in the first place, but it is certainly not limited to girls in the way it is told. But for younger boys it may not be appropriate for them, especially if you feel they would have more of a problem with it. Just another reminder to "be careful little eyes what you see." 

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Sexual implications from some of the characters; a couple talks about their love and sex life
• Nudity- Women are shown naked, taking baths, and their breasts and butts are fully revealed
• Drugs- Some characters are seen with a cigarette in their mouths
• Profanity- Use of "damn" and "bastard"

Personal Note: 
I just want more William and Emma scenes!

Azumanga Daioh (Manga)

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Name: Azumanga Daioh
Type: Manga

Author: Kiyohiko Azuma

Books: 4
Genre: Comedy, slice of life
Age Rating: 14+

Review:
Comic strips of life in highschool from the viewpoint of 6 girls with unique personalities. Main characters involve Chiyo the 10-year-old genius, Sakaki who secretly loves cats, Tomo the wild one, Yomi with the short temper, and Osaka the ditz.

Along with some teachers and a flying, stuffed cat, this is one manga you won't want to miss! It is one of the (if not the most) hilarious mangas I have read thus far! Having only 4 books in the series, it is a pretty fast read, and a complete volume with the entire series is now available, which I now have because I just loved this story so much. The manga is presented in a different way than others, taking on a more comic-strip style. Each mini-section has it's own title, and four panels to read. Some of the sections relate to one another and are continuations of previous segments, but most can be read alone, which is a fun option.

What's nice about this short series is that it appeals to both genders; my younger brother read them and thought they were hilarious as well. We instantly found quirks from all the characters that we could identify and connect with. Each girl possessed an exaggerated trait, such as Kagura's obsessive love of sports, and each is given time in the strips so it never feels like one character is more important than the others. The art was a bit simple, and, as Nathan pointed out, all the characters looked alike except for their hairstyles. Nevertheless, their personalities were big enough to make up for everything, and I was never confused as to which character was which.

I gave this manga a 14+ rating because the girls talk about each other's breasts a lot (especially in reference to Sakaki). Some of the teachers display immature behavior, which is not entirely realistic, and therefore can be a bit overplayed. Most of the characters might be seen as over-the-top, but it is important to remember that this manga is a work of fiction and not a true, realistic look of what high school life is like. The series on its own is meant to be comical and enjoyable in a quirky way. While there are some serious undertones in some chapters, one gets the sense that the author (who is a male and therefore not an expert on teenage female behavior) had a lot of laughs creating this. A lovely, laugh-out-loud-until-you-cry read!

For more on Kiyohiko Azuma, click here.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- The girls talk about each other's breasts, especially Sakaki's
• One teacher, Kimura, is a pervert. He likes to see the girls in shorts and talks about how cute the young girls are. None of the girls like him
• At the end of one chapter, Miss Kurosawa tells the girls some "adult information" but the reader is never told what this information is
• Homosexuality- Kaori (or Kaorin) idolizes Sakaki, and gets excited about talking to her and being near her. It is never actually said that she is gay, but the way she acts may imply it
• Drugs- The teachers drink alcohol and get drunk and talk about hangovers.
• Profanity- Use of "damn," and "ass"

Personal Note: 
Tomo: You were really good at that one song!
Yomi: Eh? Which one?
Tomo: *singing* Oh I'm the king of the swingers, oh, the Jungle V.I.P!
Yomi: I have never sang that song!

Ao Hana Ride (Manga)

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Name: Ao Hana Ride
Type: Manga

Author: Sakisaka Io

Books: 13
Genre: Drama, romance, slice of life
Age Rating: 13+

Review:
Yushioka Futaba is a cute high school student determined to be so unladylike her friends won't have a reason to be jealous. In middle-school, a misunderstanding led to the inability to express her feelings for a boy named Tahaka before he moves. Now he is back in school and goes by the name Mabuchi Kou and it turns out he liked her back? Can Futaba win his heart back or has she lost him forever?

I really loved this soap-operatic drama more than I thought I would. The only thing that really annoyed me was how fast Futaba gets over Kou and then falls for him again as soon as she broke things off with Toma. We all knoew she loves him, why try to fight it? The whole "I'm confused" act is a bit overdone and a tad unrealistic. It's used by the author to justify a love triangle that complicates things and interferes with Futaba's relationship with Kou. Despite this, I liked the drama and found myself getting sucked into the rush of feelings this series gave me. 

The characters were all enjoyable. In fact, even thought I liked Kou and Futaba together, I was rooting for Toma too. He was very sweet and cute, nothing at all like other romantic interests in books that turn out to be completely awful in order for the heroine to understand that she wants to be with her first choice after-all. I also really loved Yuri! She was the perfect friend for Futaba, and I loved their loyal relationship, with Shuko as well. Another relationship I loved was the "bromance" with Kou and Aya. This is proof that boys can be close friends without any implications of being gay. 

I read this in three days, I loved it so much. I became dedicated to the story the way one would binge-watch soap-operas and empathized with all of the characters. The art Sakisaka Io gave us was gorgeous, with typical large-eyed figures and soft strokes that came across as more realistic than comic. The general flow of things was at a readable pase; this manga is not as long as some, but it was the perfect for what it was. If it was any longer it would have been drawn out for too long. 

Personally, I think that the drama of the series and its soapy-nature will most likely not appeal to boys, though it does not have any content that would be entirely offensive to them. In fact, the strong bonds between the male characters is very inspiring and refreshing to read about. This is a good, non-offensive series for girls who love a good romance story that has a happy ending. There is an anime based off this manga, as well as a live-action movie named "Blue Spring Ride." I have yet to see either, but if they follow the manga, they are bound to be just as good.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Futaba trips and falls in one scene, and accidentally grabs onto Tomo's private parts in an attempt to steady herself
• Shuko falls in love with one of her teachers, Mr. Tanaka. It is hinted that he shares her feelings, but he does not encourage them and nothing ever happens between them
• Intense Scenes- This manga is very emotionally intense
• Violence- Kou is sometimes quite rude to Futaba and other characters
• Kou is involved in a car accident near the end of the book
• Profanity- The use of "damn" in the online versions of the manga

Personal Note: 
Since Futaba got to be with Kou, can I be with Tomo? I need an answer! Please what happened to him?!

Fullmetal Alchemist (Manga)

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Name: Fullmetal Alchemist
Type: Manga

Author: Hiromu Arakawa

Books: 27
Genre: Action, adventure, military, science fantasy
Age Rating: 15+

Review:
After the death of their mother, Edward and Alphonse Elric try to bring her back to life using alchemy, leaving Edward without an arm and a leg and Alphonse's soul attached to a suit of armor. Join them as they travel the country looking for clues on how to restore their bodies. 

I loved this series! No wonder it is one of the most well-known and well-liked. Some themes that were included human possession by Humunculi, messing with the spirit world and trading arms and bodies for hollow reflections of dead people. Though some of these ideas were based heavily on the Alchemical world these characters lived in, the morale behind these lessons was serious and thought-provoking. The whole concept of Alchemy was very well thought-out and the author included background and historical context in order to better explain the idea behind it. The actual magic was inoffensive, but some of the ideas behind it and the explanations contradicted the Bible.

There were a lot of references to evolution, magic, and God, though none of it was Biblical. One character called the power of God because he was below him and now one believed in God. One thing I did enjoy was how Arakawa incorporated Biblical the seven deadly sins into her story. It added a lot of depth and originality, even though some of the characters personifying the sins didn't always seem to posses the sin that they represented. The Humunculi were perfectly creepy and fun to hate, despite the occasional exception, like Greed. 

 The characters in this manga were well-developed and in many ways I felt connected to the Elric brothers--not because I've lost my mother or my body by magic, but because they fought desperately for what was right, and were able to empathize with the pain of those around them because of what they went through. It was heartbreaking in some ways to watch their transition from who they are at the beginning to the end, and the emotions they evoked in the reader were part of the reason I was continually compelled to read. 

This series was one of my favorites because the author simply incorporated so many wonderful genres in at once, and really took the time to plan out the story and provide adequate and interesting backstories and historical accounts that made the setting really come to life. There were several strong women in this series, which added to the array of characters that while mostly male-based, didn't seem uneven in any way. Just the fact that the author was a woman makes me want to throw my fists into the air and scream, "yeah!"

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Mild sexual tension between characters
• Magic- Many of the characters use alchemy, which is a form of magic
• Spiritual- Some of the villains compare themselves to God, one even goes as far as trying to control God because he is "more powerful"
• The use of alchemy
• Evolution- Evolutionary explanations of Humunculi, Alchemy, etc. 
• Violence-   Battles and graphic deaths (blood is drawn)
• Profanity- Use of "damn," "ass," "bastard," and "shit"
• Intense Scenes- In one scene a little girl has been cruelly mixed with her dog by the use of Alchemy
• The true forms of the seven deadly sins are quite frightening

Personal Note: 
Roy and Hawkeye <3

W Juliet (Manga)

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Name: W Juliet
Type: Manga

Author:Emura

Books: 14
Genre: Romantic comedy, slice of life, drama, gender bender
Age Rating: 13+

Review:
Ito Muira is an aspiring actress in the drama department who accidentally finds out that the new girl, Makoto Amano, is actually a man.

This was the weirdest manga ever. I mean, I enjoyed it well enough, and it was pretty funny, but it was...weird. The plot was super simple and yet the author kept trying to make things more exciting using old mermaid legends, a random time-traveling bit, and frequent, seemingly needless competitive contests between the characters. I felt that the books dragged on across too many books, and started getting tired and bored of reading them at some points. They could easily have been condensed into 6 or 7 volumes.

As for the romance, I was more interested in the side relationships of Miura's brothers and her classmates. I didn't dislike the two main characters; they were a bit odd, yes, but I did have fun reading about their story. The problem was that their character development was a bit slow, and as people, they lacked a certain depth. In many ways, the minor characters were more interesting albeit a tad cheesy. Their actions were also predictable, even in the random scenes where nothing made any sense.

I had a hard time deciding whether to give this series 2 stars or 3, because it made me laugh more than once, and I did enjoy reading it overall, but I've read better. There was nothing truly offending about the book, but I felt the romance between Ito and Makoto progressed far too quickly when it could have been developed over a period of time across the 14 books (this would have helped the pace and keep the reader's interest a little better). And the idea that they take on the characteristics of the opposite gender is a bit disconcerting.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Mild sexual tension between characters
• Makoto sleeps over at Ito's house even though he is a boy without her family's understanding. Nothing ever happens
• There are several boys who have "set their sights" on Ito and want her to be their girlfriend
• Homosexuality-- One of Ito's female classmates has a crush on her
• Nudity- Some girls lift up Makoto's shirt to confirm his gender (he is wearing fake breasts and a bra) 
• Makoto unintentionally walks in on Ito while she is swimming naked
• Magic- Mermaids and mermaid lore (including magic) is used in one volume, and in another, the characters travel through time
• Profanity- Use of the words"hell" and "damn"

Personal Note: 
This might actually make a better Anime.

Chi's Sweet Home (Manga)

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Name: Chi's Sweet Home
Type: Manga

Author: Hajime Isayama

Books: 12
Genre: Comedy, family, slice of life
Age Rating: n/a

Review:
Follow the world from a cat's perspective as she learns the meaning of home and family after getting separated from her mother.

An absolutely adorable read! Chi is a cute kitten found by a loving family who takes her in as one of the family. The art is simple, but endearing, and the author does a fantastic job of distinguishing other cats from Chi. I could always tell which one she was and did not find myself confused even when she was with her sisters. Every facial expression Chi made was dramatized and delightfully charming (not to mention so adorable!). It was fun to watch Chi grow and learn alongside her human friends.

I really enjoyed reading a series that was easy to digest. A refreshing change to many fast-paced, hard-to-follow comics that I have read. The reader was only responsible for remembering a few characters, mostly centering Chi and her family. All of Chi's relationships with other cats were sweet; I especially appreciated her relationship with Blackie, an older black cat who mentors Chi on cat behavior. The whole idea of Chi being something who needs a little instruction on how to be a normal cat was humorous, and added a great effect to the comic.

The story itself is not overly stretched out; I didn't feel numbed by filler or side stories that had nothing to do with the plot. The books were fast and easy to read, and the series ends on a happy note, leaving the reader feeling warm inside, albeit a little sympathetic towards Chi's mother. I recommend these unoffensive books to lovers of cats, and people who enjoy refreshing, out-of-the-ordinary tales featuring our furry friends.

Mature Content:

• n/a

Personal Note:

Can I please get a Chi of my own?!

Attack on Titan (Manga)

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Name: Attack on Titan
Type: Manga

Author: Hajime Isayama

Books: 25
Genre: Post-apocalyptic, dark fantasy
Age Rating: 17+

Review:
The world has been taken over by giant mutants called Titans, and the last human survivors must live inside walls that are becoming increasingly compromised. Eren Yeager joins the Survey Corp, determined to to his part on ridding the world of these monstrous beasts.

Japan's equivalent of The Walking Dead, which I have watched with my father. Although I would have to say that Attack on Titan is much scarier to me than zombies, perhaps because Titans actually eat whole people live--bones and all--and become increasingly more intelligent. The way Isayama drew the Titans with exposed muscles and warped, almost disfigured bodies was horrifyingly real. Previews of the anime shows Titans colored as human flesh may be when peeled apart. It is like watching a cadaver get up and walk, which is, needless to say, very scary. Isayama definitely succeeded in adding "creep-factor" to his illustrations.

I liked Eren as the main character, however, as a whole, I didn't find myself getting really attached to any of the characters. Many characters were actually quite annoying like Connie, and others I couldn't figure out, like Historia. Still, the story itself was interesting and well-planned; the author certainly kept his facts straight and did a lot of thinking and planning for this series! Including a lot of unexpected twists and hidden backstories. It wasn't my all-time favorite manga by any means, but considering how popular survival stories are, I can see why it has done so well.

As a believer, your child should understand that apocalyptic stories such as this one do not coincide with true Biblical prophecies. Because of its popularity, more people are likely to be interested in reading or watching this series. It has a good story-line and an abundance of characters, as well as epic battles and the fight for human survival. However, it is a bit darker and scarier than a lot of other anime. There are heavy themes and serious undertones. For these reasons, I gave it a higher age-rating.

Mature Content:

• Profanity- "Shit" and "damn" and "hell" (and "fuck" on some online-manga versions)
• Violence- Extremely violent between Titans and humans (blood is drawn)
• Eren bites himself in order to change into Titan form
• Some characters beat up other characters
• Nudity- Titans do not wear clothes, but they also do not have skin, so there are no real details
• Drugs- Some characters are shown drinking
• Spirituality- There are several cults mentioned
• Homosexuality- It is implied that Ymir and (maybe) Historia are gay
• Intense Scenes- Multiple emotional deaths (Oluo, Gunther, Armin, etc.)
• Titans are seen eating people whole, biting them in half, or tearing their limbs off
• Characters are often drawn expressing extremely intense emotions
• Titans are scary-looking: huge creatures with almost human features under rotting flesh

Personal Note:

Secret: I found Mikasa annoying.

Dragon Drive (Manga)

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Name: Dragon Drive
Type: Manga

Author: Ken-ichi Sakura

Books: 14
Genre: Adventure, science fiction, comedy
Age Rating: 11+

Review:
A boy named Reiji and his friends join an innocent virtual reality video game called "Dragon Drive," not realizing that it is actually part of a plan to destroy the world!

This manga was definitely entertaining, and aimed for younger male readers, though it could be enjoyed by older kids and adults as well. The art was generic, but it went well with the type of story Sakura was writing, and there were not annoying inconsistencies or impossible contingencies. While not as action-packed as Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Drive offered its own set of heroes and different fighting styles that progressed throughout the series.

I liked Chibi and Reiji as partners, and was disappointed to learn that Reiji's story was only nine books long before a new main character, Takumi, is introduced. Thereon, an entire new cast goes on their own adventure in the world of "Dragon Drive." An interesting idea, but I liked the first team better, just because of their dynamics and the way their relationships evolved. I felt more connected to them, and was sad when they left the story. It was okay, but I didn't necessarily like the idea of changing characters all of a sudden.

While this manga's main target is boys, I enjoyed this manga as much as anyone would, and though it wasn't one of my favorites, it was entertaining enough. The rating is more closely a 2.5 star rather than just a 2, because it shifted from "this is okay," to "this is good." I have learned since, however, that Dragon Drive isn't as well known as other video-game manga or animes based off their mangas, but it is, nonetheless, something to consider reading if one is a younger fan of manga.

Mature Content:

• Violence- Characters fight battles with their dragons
• Magic- Some characters and creatures in "Dragon Drive" posses magical abilities

Personal Note:

I wish Chibi was my dragon!

Dragon Ball Z (Manga)

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Name: Dragon Ball Z
Type: Manga

Author: Akira Toriyama

Books: 26
Genre: Martial arts, science fantasy, comedy
Age Rating: 13+

Review:
Saiyan Son Goku and his friends are back, and their enemies are bigger and stronger. Join them as they fight together using Chi to locate their enemies and defeat them in epic battles!

This series was violent and full of team fighting, much like Yuyu Hakasho, or, on a different approach, The Avengers. It had a more science-fiction approach to it mixed with humor (though it was more subtle than most). There wasn't a lot of plot to the book, but it was entertainment in the fact that it gave me something to read. True to its martial arts' nature, there was never a dull moment, and the scenes between fights were short-lived. Its main focus was the battles between Son Goku, his friends, and opponents that became stronger with time to balance out the strength of the main characters, who are all pretty much invincible.

There was some language in the series, but it didn't divert from the character development, and there were no other inappropriate scenes other than the violence. It had its funny moments, and I thought it was full of weirdly miraculous yet somehow still predictable scenarios. The way everything always worked out in Son Goku's favor was a bit unrealistic despite the many "evil defeats good" fake-outs. The Dragon Balls themselves did not really follow their own rules. There are a lot of convenient loopholes the author introduces to keep the main characters alive. You only get three wishes from the genie? No problem--just have it summoned again! The Dragon Balls can only raise someone from the dead two times? No problem--just speak Namekin! Another eye-roller was the fact that everyone kept their "true" power-level concealed until the fights progressed. Just as you think someone is about to be beaten, they laugh and say something along the lines of: "This isn't even my full power, yet! Haha, this is my REAL form!" or, "I've never been able to show anyone my true power before! Behold: my REAL form!" and then they proceed to become even stronger than they were before.

The series picked up after the whole thing with Cell was ended and Son Goku died. (To be frank, I didn't even believe that he had been killed for good even though Toriyama says so in his beginning author's note, and the cover of the volume itself has Son Goku saying goodbye. He died too many times.) I appreciated the break between fighting scenes, and it was fun to see how all the characters developed over a time-jump of seven years. To sum it all up, this was a good series, as far as action/martial arts manga go, and it will appeal more to boys than girls. That being said, I'm a girl, and I enjoyed reading them, so you never know!

Mature Content:

• Violence- Intense battle sequences
• Sexual References- Master Roshi is a pervert. He finds women attractive and sometimes touches their boobs.
• Profanity- "Piss" and "Damn" and "Bastard"
• Spiritual- The characters rely on "Chi" a type of spiritual sensitivity power
• Some of the character have magical abilities
• There is a character named "Lord of Lords" who is the "god of gods" of the planets combined
• The character Dende is referred to as "god" several times
• Many of the villians are demons

Personal Note:

Piccolo and Dende were my favorite characters.

Fairy Tail (Manga)

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Name: Fairy Tail
Type: Manga

Author: Hiro Mashima

Books: 57+
Genre: Action, adventure, comedy, fantasy
Age Rating: 18+

Review:
Join Natsu Dragneel and his friends from the Fairy Tail guild as he goes on magical adventures to find Igneel, his dragon-father. Enter a world of Wizard Guilds, magic, and epic friendship! 

This is one of my all-time favorite manga and anime series. The characters are all refreshingly different, and all have their quirks and hilarious habits. Though very strong, they are not without flaws, and many have tragic and hard backstories that are relevant to the plot and add a lot of mystery to the plot. It's one of the only series I've read that doesn't feel redundant, and no moment is dull or feels forced. The author knows his characters extremely well, and as a reader, you get the chance to read the point of view of many of the main characters, including Lucy, Happy, Erza, and Grey. 

Hiro Mashima's art is great; I absolutely love it! Each character is drawn a little bit differently, and he is consistent with appearances. I also really appreciate how Lucy's outfit is always different. It's more realistic that way. The amazing consistency Mashima has is to be praised---both in his art and in his writing. It is really interesting how he follows Lucy almost closer than he follows Natsu at times. I actually misrepresented her as the main character because she is the narrator most of the time, and is the one we follow in the beginning. It turns out later that Lucy loves to write, and it is implied that she writes down all of her adventures in Fairy Tail, which is what we, as an audience, are reading. I think that's an interesting concept.

There are some sexual references and nudity, and on the online version of the manga, there is quite a bit more profanity, including the "f" word. The women are also dis-proportioned--their breasts are far bigger than what they should be, and there are a lot of nude shots. This is why I would keep it monitored and only allow more mature kids read it. Another aspect of this story is the magic. I understand that sorcery is condemned in the Bible, so the reader should understand that there is no such thing as "magic" like that in Fairy Tail. However, none of the magic or sorcery talked about felt offensive to me, personally.

I would be careful about boys reading this series, just because of the nudity. Unfortunately, this series has a lot of appeal for men, but for younger boys it may not be appropriate for them, especially if you feel they would have more of a problem with it. Just another reminder to "be careful little eyes what you see." Both boys and girls can get into this manga; there is something for everyone. Humor, mystery, tragedy, action, adventure, suspense, drama, a hint of romantic tension...this series definitely gives you all the feels. It is a very popular manga as far as mangas go, and it's not hard to see why. If this isn't already on your list, you should seriously consider putting it there, however, please consider the fact that I gave an 18+ rating because of the increasing nudity as the saga continues.

Mature Content: 

• Sexual References- Unnaturally large breasts and a lot of extremely skimpy outfits
• Boobs/butts are sometimes accidentally grabbed by the opposite gender (sometimes they are grabbed by the same gender as well, though it's never meant to be romantic)
• Some mild sexual innuendos (Lucy using her "feminine wiles" against an enemy, Taurus commenting on Erza's boobs)
• Nudity- Sometimes clothes are ripped off (usually the women).
• Everything but the nipples and nether extremities are drawn and revealed
• Grey Fullbuster frequently strips his clothing, but nothing is ever shown and it is supposed to be funny 
• Profanity- "Damn,"  "hell," "bitch," "ass," "shit," (and "fuck" in the online versions)
• Violence- The characters frequently fight with many enemies, and even each other
• Blood is drawn (unnatural pain tolerance)
• Magic- The characters practice and preform magic
• Drugs- Some characters (Kana) drink excessively to the point of passing out
• Some characters are seen with cigarettes in their mouths
• Intense Scenes- This manga is very emotionally intense

Personal Note: 
I ship NaLu so hard, I sometimes can't concentrate! I even dream about them and have a picture of them together on my bedroom wall! I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP!

Bleach (Manga)

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Name: Bleach

Type: Manga

Author: Tite Kubo

Books: 74
Genre: Action, adventure, supernatural
Age Rating: 14+

Review:
A boy named Ichigo gains supernatural abilities when Rukia, the Soul-Reaper, accidentally gives him all of her powers. He--along with a team of fellow spiritually-sensitive friends--save the world and other people from evil.

Action-packed and kind of violent, this series is similar to Yuyu Hakashu, though with more characters, and, in my opinion, a better plot. The characters were honorable and though it was mostly action, it didn't take away from the story. There wasn't any romance or overly-fluffy scenes, but the fighting scenes were really good, which I why I believe this series may attract boys more than girls. However, I enjoyed reading all 686 chapters. It was especially fun to read them along with my younger brother, who started reading them before I did.  

This series can get a little redundant, but this series, you must remember, is a fighting manga. It does have a story-line, and an abundance of characters, many of whom are hilarious and fun to follow. Older boys will definitely enjoy the action-packed hero story and watching Ichigo get stronger and stronger in order to defeat his enemies (who also keep getting stronger).

Before reading, you should consider the fact that this book is entirely focused around the Soul Society, which is a place where the dead go. It also focuses on "spiritual powers" and "energy." Kids should know that when we die, we either go to heaven or hell and that the Soul Society is simply fiction like the series itself. The "spiritual world" can be confusing and sometimes attractive to people. It sounds like great fun to battle demons and visit the afterlife and have supernatural powers, but it isn't based on God's truth. Encourage your kids to read the Bible regularly in order to understand this better!

Mature Content: 

• Violence- The characters have a lot of battles with enemies
• Some blood and gore (loss of limbs and unnatural pain tolerances)
• Sexual References- Unnaturally-sized breasts and some skimpy outfits
• Orihime's boobs are talked about a lot
• Spiritual- Characters posses supernatural abilities
• Soul Reapers have spiritual "auras"
• The Soul Society is the world's "afterlife"

Personal Note: 
The ending somewhat disappointed me because...don't laugh...I was really looking forward to more romance. I should have known better. Bleach isn't that kind of Manga. 

Love So Life (Manga)

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Name: Love So Life
Type: Manga

Author: Kouchi Kaede

Books: 17
Genre: Romance, slice of life
Age Rating: 11+

Review:
Shiharu is a high school orphan student who loves children and plans to run her own daycare someday. She works at a daycare after school before being recruited by the uncle of two-year-old twins, Akane and Aoi to be their official babysitter. Shiharu quickly falls in love with her new friends, whom she considers family.

I really enjoyed this manga. As proof, I read all 106 chapters in just two days! It was extremely fluffy and the characters were all loveable--especially Akane and Aoi! It really made me want twins of my own someday, just like them. The plot was cute, fun, and realistic, which was a change from my normal reading. I learned quite a few babysitting tactics from this series. I will have to try them out someday soon!

I didn't recommend it for all ages is because of the age-difference between Shiharu and Seiji, who fell in love. While I personally loved them as a couple, they were 9 years apart, and that may make the reader feel uncomfortable when they realize this fact. The romance didn't take anything away from the story, and it progressed slowly. I thought the author did a fantastic job of handling it, and I appreciated Seiji's mature choice at the end when he told Shiharu they should wait until she was older to start anything.

There weren't too many characters, so it was easy to remember everyone's name and faces, which was nice. It was a great read, that was suggested to me by a good friend of mine. I am so glad she introduced me!I thoroughly enjoyed watching Akane and Aoi grow and develop as little humans. It was, as I said before, so believable! I just want to eat those two up! Well, not really, but still...squeeze them at least. 

Mature Content:

• n/a

Personal Note:
Combine Akane and Aoi with Pudding from Tokyo Mew Mew and Momiji from Fruits Basket, and you have children that I want one day.