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There will be a big focus on the power of friendship and comraderie, physical strength, fighting, violence, etc. Storylines for shonen titles typically follow a young male protagonist as he faces off against evil villains or rivals in his pursuit of greatness. Shonen manga is aimed primarily at young boys, however, there is nothing stopping anyone else from reading them. Kodomomuke is marketed to young children with titles such as Pokemon or Yo-Kai Watch-but these might not satisfy middle schoolers who are looking to read more mature storylines. Middle-school children typically fall somewhere between shonen/shojo manga and a genre called kodomomuke manga, depending on their emotional maturity level. Keep in mind the recommendations listed within the Beginner’s Guide are meant for teens and older the list below is specifically geared towards middle schoolers ages 10 and up.
ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 13 TRAINER ENGLISH SERIES
Likewise, there are series marketed separately to adult men ( seinen) and women ( josei).įor a more in-depth explanation on the differences, please check out this handy Beginner’s Guide to Manga. While American graphic novels, and fiction for teens and children, are marketed as simply "teens and children," Japanese manga is split along gender lines: There are manga series specifically marketed towards young boys (known as shonen) and series marketed to young girls ( shojo). Just because a manga features illustrations or childish and cutesy characters does not mean it is appropriate for children.įor the most part, Japanese manga is marketed first by audience and gender, and then by genre. Like all forms of fiction, manga titles range from kid-friendly narratives to more sexually or violently explicit material. The biggest mistake most people make in regards to Japanese manga (and graphic novels/comic books in general) is assuming all illustrated novels are meant for children. Here's a brief explanation on what you need to know. Whether you are a parent, guardian, educator, or librarian, you might find yourself at a loss when a middle grader asks for a manga recommendation if you have never read a manga before.
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