Akira Manga Review

32. Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo Manga Review

Type: Manga
Title: Akira #1
Author: Katsuhiro Otomo
Publisher: Dark Horse

ISBN: 978-1569714980
Ages: 15 and up
Pages: 364 pages
Year: 2000
Genre: Manga, Sci-Fi

Reader's Annotation: Tokyo is dead but the power of Akira cannot be stopped.

BookTalk Ideas: Ideas about the post-apocalyptic world of Tokyo and the survival of Tetsuo and Kaneda.

Summary: This manga comic has two main characters, Tetsuo and Kaneda, set is a post-apocalypse Tokyo in the year 2019.  Their world changes as "paranormal abilities begin to waken in Tetsuo, making him a target for a shadowy agency that will stop at nothing to prevent another catastrophe like the one that leveled Tokyo. At the core of the agency’s motivation is a raw, all-consuming fear of an unthinkable, monstrous power known only as Akira". - Amazon

Critical Evaluation: This monthly reprint of the original is a very popular series.  On Amazon.com it received a full 5/5 stars from customer reviews and 4.34/5 starts on Goodreads.com website.  It is considered as being the best graphic novel manga series ever because of its narration and imagery.

Challenge Issues:

• Comic books
• Too graphic in violence

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.  

Saga Graphic Novel Review

28. Saga: Volume One by Brian K. Vaughn

Type: Graphic Novel

Title: Saga: Volume One
Author: Brian K. Vaughn
Publisher: Image Comics
ISBN: 978-1607066019
Pages: 160

Ages: 14 and up
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Reader's Annotation: Follow these two lovers, aliens from different planets and worlds, as they try to stay alive in this science fiction graphic novel series.

Summary: When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds.

Critical Evaluation:  Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults.  The art from this graphic novel is geared towards adults and can even be considered a "cross-over".  The graphic illustrations are both a combination of bigger drawings and your typical framed drawings.  Younger teenagers are warned that there are pictures of the the human body, specifically when Alana is breastfeeding her newborn baby, and even images of the act of sexual intercourse.

This graphic novel is a struggle of survival for both Alana and Maiko.  The story is quick, with breaks of violence and suspense, as they try to survive from the people of Landfall and the moon Wreath.  The storyline is funny, serious and very dramatic.  Vaughn brings both of these character through life, with witty storytelling and a fast-paced illustrations.      

Challenge Issues:  

• Issues of racism
• Too much violence
• Complex issues for adults
• References and images of sexual behavior

Challenge Ideas: 

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.  

I am Legend Book

24. I am Legend by Richard Matheson Book Review

Type: Book Review
Title: I am Legend
Author: Richard Matheson
Publisher: Orb Books (3rd Edition)
ASIN: B00E299RE0
Year: 1997
Genre: Zombies, Sci-Fi

Reader's Annotation:  Welcome to the post-apocalyptic world of Earth, where disease, war, or natural disaster has wiped out the human race. A few people live, except there are zombies that live among us.  Grab your trustiest weapon and follow me on this great reading adventure all about Zombies.

BookTalk Ideas: Ideas about being the only survivor in a world filled with zombies that want to kill you. Older adult content applicable to older teens and adults.

Summary: This novel is about Dr. Richard Neville has survived the wiping out of a disease that has turned humans into zombies. They are technically zombie vampires that cannot be in the sunlight. Richard kills the zombies during the day, and at night he gets drunk and hides in his home.  This is when the zombies come out, so he must hide.

Matheson provides the reader with an inside look into the life of a lonely man, someone who hast lost his wife and kids to the disease.  This is a great novel for older teenagers and adults who are looking for a good zombie book with some violence, but with some psychological mind games thrown in.

Critical Evaluation: This novel is very long. You get the sense of the vast amount of time that Dr. Richard Neville spent alone, and how difficult it must have been to keep surviving in this way.

Challenge Issues:

• These books have too much violence, and leave the reader thinking about violence and harm to others.  
• I know it's popular, but it needs to controlled.

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.

Divergent Book

12. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Type: Book Review Series

Title: Divergent

Author: Roth, Veronica

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
ISBN: 9780062024039

Pages: 487

Age Level: 15 and up

Reader's Annotation: Are you Divergent? Which Faction will you choose? 

Summary: Situated in a post-apocalyptic world, this book starts during Beatrice's Coronation: her selection to join her desired Faction. The world has changed, because of greed, and people are split into 6 factions:

Critical Analysis: This book is very intriguing because of the way that we follow 'Tris' grow up as a young adult and make her own choices that she has to live by.  We see her struggle to live by a certain Faction's ideals. She is strong, intelligent and very likeable as the main character of the novel. Right from the beginning, readers can tell that this book was written by a woman.  Veronica Roth creates emotion and independence in her character of Beatrice, and you can tell that this is something she may have wanted to connect with readers. Beatrice is both fragile, strong, independent, and likeable as a character.

This novel also contains very violent scenes, which may turn off people, or intrigue others who enjoy battles and violence. Becoming Dauntless changes Tris and she becomes a young woman. Her involvement with Four will keep readers interested until the very end.  This is also a romance novel, in that her relationship with Four pushes the story forward, on top of the eventual war between the Factions. 

The murder of both of Tris parents is unfortunate, but the action is so quick, that readers are not taken back by the significance of their lives. This book was interesting enough to keep readers thirst for the other two novels which follow Divergent. A must read for this new genre of Science Fiction and Romance crossover.

Challenge Issues: This book has a lot of fighting and violence for a Young Adult Book. 

Challenge Ideas:

• This book is very popular because of the ideas of a free democratic government, which Tris is willing to fight for. This ideal, which is what the United States is made up of, will make readers think deeply about those forces that are trying to hold individuals down or deprive them of their freedoms. 
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.

Catching Fire Movie

3.  The Hunger Games - Catching Fire Movie Review


Type: Movie Review
Title: The Hunger Games - Catching Fire
Director: Francis Lawrence
Company: Color Force, Lionsgate
Year: 2013
Ages: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi

Reader's Annotation: Who will Katniss Everdeen chose as her lover? Will she survive the pressure of the Capitol?

Plot Summary: The second film of The Hunger Games Trilogy, this film continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, fresh off her victory in the Hunger Games, along with her 'lover', Peeta Mellark.  They have returned home to their 12th District, and are now under pressure to be outstanding citizens of Panem. However, Katniss' distrust of the leadership of Panem has her struggling with uprising in various districts.  This film takes a twist, when they are trust into another 'Champions' of the 75th Hunger Games battle and must learn to survive yet again.

Critical Evaluation:  I loved this film better than the first.  This film takes a closer look at Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and her struggle to play the role of victor.  At the same time, she struggles with still being in love with her hometown friend, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) and yet seen in love with her 'on-screen' lover Peeta.

I think this film is better adapted to the film and is suited for ages 15 and up.  Young adults will fall in love with Katniss, root for Peeta, and also enjoy yet another Hunger Games featuring past champions from each of the 12 Districts.  Although very graphic for it's violence, this film brings out the teamwork, survival skills, and competition in all of us.  The cinematography of the city landscapes and the individual characters placed within them create a great juxtaposition of the importance that each of them represents in the world of Panem.

I have provided a link of an interactive website for the film:
http://www.thehungergamesexplorer.com/us/

Challenge Issues: 

• Excessive violence
• Post-apocalyptic world 
• Love scenes

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.