Twenty-Four Seconds from Now. . .: A LOVE Story

Stars: 4 for writer's craft, but not more because I am not sure where it fits into the classroom setting because of the content. ?? Up for discussion with classroom teachers.

My Thoughts: 

This is another Jason Reynolds story. I had to read it. The premise is interesting and novel (fresh). Neon, the main character is freaking out. Twenty-four seconds from now, he and Aria are going to have sex, but he is finding it difficult to get out of the bathroom.

Like Reynold's other books like Long Way Down, and Miles Morales: Suspended, this is a novel that in real time is taking very little time (an elevator ride, or 24 seconds). The way Reynolds draws this out and  pushes the narrative envelope is both dizzying and immediately engaging. 

The male point of view on this very monumental moment in a young person's life is new. I am not sure if I have every read something like this. Neon is a catch. Aria is lucky.

The title lends itself to the structure as Reynolds explores Neon and Aria's story through 24 months, weeks, days, minutes and seconds. Again, he has done something similar in Long Way Down, but as a writer he continues to push his craft.

Reynolds has said in interviews that he is grateful for YA author Laurie Halse Anderson who advocated for him with her publisher and is his mentor. I feel like what he emulates from Anderson is really the ability to infuse even minor characters with full bodied voices and characteristics. The artistry in Anderson's Speak come alive in this novel.

However, here is my conundrum. As a language arts education professor who book talks only YA books to my alum and current middle and secondary teacher education candidates, my focus is on bringing diverse books into the classroom and creating a canon of literature that speaks to their very diverse students as "mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors." So where would this novel fit in? There is craft, for sure. But at the end of the day, this is not just about first love, but the focus is really on the first time. It does not judge, it does not shame, but the DO and the IT is undeniable. So yes, I can book talk this, but as far as spending their own money to get this into the classroom. . . how many and for what purpose?

From the Publishers:

Twenty-four months ago: Neon gets chased by a dog all around the parking lot of a church. Not his finest moment. And definitely one he would have loved to forget if it weren’t for the dog’s owner: Aria. Dressed in sweats, a t-shirt, hair in a ponytail. Aria. Way more than fine.

Twenty-four weeks ago: Neon’s dad insists on talking to him about tenderness and intimacy. Neon and Aria are definitely in love, and while they haven’t taken that next big step…yet, they’ve starting talking about…that.

Twenty-four days ago: Neon’s mom finds her—gulp—bra in his room. Hey! No judging! Those hook thingies are complicated! So he’d figured he’d better practice, what with the big day only a month away.

Twenty-four minutes ago: Neon leaves his shift at work at his dad’s bingo hall, making sure to bring some chicken tenders for Aria. They’re not candlelight and they definitely aren’t caviar, but they are her favorite.

And right this second? Neon is locked in Aria’s bathroom, completely freaking out because twenty-four seconds from now he and Aria are about to…about to… Well, they won’t do anything if he can’t get out of his own head (all the advice, insecurities, and what ifs) and out of this bathroom!

Publication Information:

Author: Jason Reynolds

Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books (October 8, 2024)

Print length: 253 pages

Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider Man Novel (audiobook)

 

Stars: 4 stars for being a boy book magnet and a catchy listen.

My Thoughts:

Jason Reynolds has a style that appeals to middle level readers because he is able to capture the voice of inner city youth. This audiobook is about Miles' day in suspension, well after he saves the world from a super baddy, but that seems to be how it goes for him. Nothing is ever easy peasy for our young superhero. I don't know if trouble finds him or that he is literally the only one that can protect his neighborhood. If you don't like termites, this one will make you itchy.

The same characters in the Morales as Spiderman franchise are still here and Reynolds adds in his angsty, crush obsessed, teen writer voice by using a mixture of quick pacing, poetic stylings, repetition of key terms and humor. 

If older teens are looking for a similar pacing and drawn out angst as this, have them try Reynolds' Twenty-Four Seconds from Now. . .: a LOVE story.

The audiobook itself with the two voices of Guy Lockard and Nile Bullock makes this short read at almost 4 hours fun and engaging. I stayed in the parking lot so I could finish.

From the Publisher:

Miles Morales is just your average teenager. He has unexpectedly become totally obsessed with poetry and can never seem to do much more than babble around his crush. Nothing too weird. Oh! Except, just yesterday, he used his Spidey superpowers to save the world (no biggie) from an evil mastermind called The Warden. And the grand prize Miles gets for that is…

Suspension.

But what begins as a long boring day of in-school suspension is interrupted by a little bzzz in his mind. His Spidey Sense is telling him there’s something not quite right here, and soon he finds himself in a fierce battle with an insidious…termite?! His unexpected foe is hiding a secret, one that could lead to the destruction of the world’s history—especially Black and Brown history—and only Miles can stop him. Yeah, just a typical day in the life of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Publication Information:

Author: Jason Reynolds

Narrators: Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (May 2, 2023)

Listening Length: 3 hours 53 min

Shimazaki in the Land of Peace 1

 

My Thoughts:

This is not really right for my audience, but this is definitely disturbing. It starts off with a violent air hostage situation by some radical Japanese militants. They kill most of the innocent hostages, but take some of the children to brainwash them into their own political cult. Shingo Shimazaki, one of the boys that were kidnapped, is raised to be a covert operative for these international terrorists. This book starts 30 years from the initial kidnapping and Shingo has escaped the organization and headed back to Japan to try and live a peaceful life. 

Of course Shimazaki is highly trained and people will come for him, but he does get to blend in for a little while.  The other volumes will continue to see how long he can stay in Japan and try to live a normal life. However, he is a weapon, so there will be violence for sure. 

From the Publisher:

Seamlessly mixing secret agent-type action with slice-of-life vignettes and fish-out-of-water comedy, "Shimazaki in the Land of Peace" is the charming alternate history political thriller you never knew you were dying to read. Utterly unique, with stunning artwork, this hit series promises to keep the thrills and surprises coming even as it warms even the coldest heart.

Shingo Shimazaki was kidnapped as a boy by the LEL, an international terrorist organization who turned him into an elite covert operative in their war against the international community. After thirty years, he has finally escaped their clutches and returned to his native Japan. All he wants now is to live in peace…but what will happen when his past catches up to him? The acclaimed, action-packed slice-of-life adventure begins here!

Publication Information:

Author: Gouten Hamada

Illustrator: Takeshi Seshimo

Publisher: Vertical Comics (November 26, 2024)

Paperback: 200 pages

Huda F Wants to Know? A Graphic Novel

 Stars: Like her other Huda F graphic novels, this is a 4 stars on voice and humor of the character. It is a very middle school voice. 

My Thoughts:

The character Huda F is a memorable voice in graphic novels, similar to middle school characters from Jin Wang from American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang and the characters from Jerry Craft’s New Kid series. Huda is also similar in self involved angst to Sherman Alexie’s character Junior in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. 

In this book, Huda finds out that her very Muslim parents are getting a divorce, and her junior year in high school starts imploding. Everything starts to tank, including her grades, her relationships with her friends and her mental health. Although there is a young female counselor in church, Huda refuses to accept that she needs help until her mom finally sends her to the counselor. 

The back of the book includes mental health resources for readers. This book continues to focus on getting rid of the stigma of getting mental health services, especially for communities of color. 

From the Publisher:

Huda Fahmy is ready for junior year. She’s got a plan to join all the clubs, volunteer everywhere, ace the ACTs, write the most awe-inspiring essay for her scholarship applications. Easy.

But then Mama and Baba announce the most unthinkable news: they’re getting a divorce. 

Huda is devastated. She worries about what this will mean for her family, their place in the Muslim community, and her future. Her grades start tanking, she has a big fight with her best friend, and everything feels out of control. Will her life ever feel normal again? Huda F wants to know.

Publication Information:

Author: Huda Fahmy

Publisher: Dial Books (April 1, 2025)

Length: 224 pages

Pride Audiobook

 

Rating: 4 stars for a good romance to heartbreak and back again journey

My Thoughts:

This is a remix of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice done by Haitian born writer Ibi Zoboi and read former slam poetry champion and award winning author of Poet X, Elizabeth Acevedo. 

In the gentrifying neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, there comes a black family with economic privilege, the Darcys, moving into Zuri Benitez's neighborhood. The Darcy brothers are fine specimens of gentility. The two older Benitez sisters are famous in their neighborhood for being both beautiful and smart. As a reader, I know the story. I know there is going to be issues with cultural identity, class, gentrification, first love, misunderstanding, broken hearts. . .this is still Pride and Prejudice. But what I love is that the update stays true to the neighborhood. These kids really could be living across the street from each other and come from two different worlds. This is a more realistic, American version of Pride and Prejudice, still with the romance, but also more familiar in its culture and class clashes. This is a great update that should actually be read first. 

From the Publishers:

Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable.

When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.

But with four wild sisters pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick s changing landscape, or lose it all.

In a timely update of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, critically acclaimed author Ibi Zoboi skillfully balances cultural identity, class, and gentrification against the heady magic of first love in her vibrant reimagining of this beloved classic.

Publication Information:

Author: Ibi Zoboi

Narrator: Elizabeth Acevedo

Publishers: Harper Collins Publishers (September 18, 2018)

Grade level: 7-9

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe

 

Stars: 5 for being the kind of book that is a mirror and a sliding glass door.

My Thoughts:

This middle grade mixed voices, mixed form collection is definitely a mirror and a sliding glass door dedicated to the young people who had to shoulder the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically in New York, but really across the United States.  In my own little bubble in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it was easy to be in my own bubble, but I was also watching my own students on Zoom disappearing behind shut cameras, closed doors, muted mics because they were also in charge of their younger siblings, etc. 

Although my husband and I had jobs, and mine was doable online and at home, our own adult children were having to make money delivering door dash and monitoring their own children's education at home. We were lucky that no one in our family got sick and/or died because my adult children have asthma or immuno-compromised diseases like lupus. Still this piece, taking place in a large, overcrowded city like New York where some young adults have lost both of their parents is chilling and heart breaking. This artwork of a novel brought all the feelings of helplessness and isolation back.  This historical fiction book (yes, they are middle grades, this is already historical for them) will remind readers to hold on tight to their friends, to their freedom to wander, as well as their freedom to gather together. The prose is lyrical and heart breaking. 

Pair this with other multi voiced middle grade books like the multi author anthology On the Block: Stories of Home edited by Ellen Oh,  and/or Recognize: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life edited by Wayde and Cheryl Wilson.

From the Publisher:

Grief, pain, hope, and love collide in this short story collection.

In New York City, teens, their families, and their communities feel the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the fear and loss, these teens and the adults around them persevere with love and hope while living in difficult circumstances:

• Malachi writes an Armageddon short story inspired by his pandemic reality.
• Tariq helps their ailing grandmother survive during quarantine.
• Zamira struggles with depression and loneliness after losing her parents.
• Mohamed tries to help keep his community spirit alive.
• A social worker reflects on the ways the foster system fails their children.

From award-winning author Mahogany L. Browne comes a poignant collection of interconnected prose, poems, and lists about the humanity and resilience of New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publication Information:

Author: Mahogany L. Browne

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (March 11, 2025)

Print length: 153 pages

The Sunbearer Trials (Book 1)

 

Stars: 4 for fast moving fantasy, world building extraordinaire and an end too soon.

My Thoughts:

I was a little slow to pick up this fantasy book, but it is magical and fast paced. The storytelling and world building is refreshingly exotic. The trials are out of our best dystopian stories like Hunger Games and Maze Runner. Add in different classes of beings, from teenage gods to half deities, everyone with strengths and weaknesses in a trial where the loser is the ultimate sacrifices and you have the start of this fabulous book. Inspired by Mexican culture, this is an exciting and fast read. Don't forget to get book 2 before you get to the end. Otherwise, it will be a very frustrating wait. 

When book talking this book, in this political climate, you have to reveal that the main character as well as other characters are trans. Although this is a LGBTQIA+ book, that is not the theme of the book and I don't think it should be a hindrance, however, in full transparency, it is present. For students that enjoyed Percy Jackson and other Rick Riordan Presents books like Tristan Strong books or Pahua, this is an older version of their same comfortable genre. Give them these next step books. 

From the Publisher:

“Only the most powerful and honorable semidioses get chosen. I’m just a Jade. I’m not a real hero.”


As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the chaotic Obsidian gods at bay. Sol selects ten of the most worthy semidioses to compete in the Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all—they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body melted down to refuel the Sun Stones, protecting the world for another ten years.

Teo, a seventeen-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of the goddess of birds, isn't worried about the Trials . . . at least, not for himself. His best friend, Niya is a Gold semidiós and a shoo-in for the Trials, and while he trusts her abilities, the odds of becoming the sacrifice is one-in-ten.

But then, for the first time in over a century, the impossible happens. Sol chooses not one, but two Jade competitors. Teo, and Xio, the thirteen-year-old child of the god of bad luck. Now they must compete in five trials against Gold opponents who are more powerful and better trained. Worst of all, Teo’s annoyingly handsome ex-best friend and famous semidiós Hero, Aurelio is favored to win. Teo is determined to get himself and his friends through the trials unscathed—for fame, glory, and their own survival.

Publication Information:

Author: Aiden Thomas

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (September 6, 2022)

Print length: 413 pages

Only This Beautiful Moment

 

Stars: 5  This has the potential to be a literature circle option

My Thoughts: 

This may be the template that Randy Ribay used for his own intergenerational trauma and love note book Everything We Never Had. Like Everything, this is about three generations of males in one family. They also share each person's story as a young man, but they do intersect in each otherʻs family as the grandson, the son/father, and Baba. 

This one holds so many secrets and so many cultural and historical barriers for this family, both in America and in Tehran that it feels like a documentary of one family with the backdrop of old Hollywood and 1970s Tehran. 

In the classroom:

If using this in the classroom for a literature circle, pair this with Everything. In addition,  add something in multiple voices that are also a reflection of the historical reality in which it is set even if it does not span generations by using Traci Chee's We Are Not Free and Nick Brook's Promise Boys. Promise is the only one set solely in a fictional time and place. It is also a murder mystery with lots of voices so it allows you as the teacher to differentiate the content while still keeping the same student learning objectives for each group (SLOs). Just some food for thought. 

From the Publisher:

2019. Moud is an out gay teen living in Los Angeles with his distant father, Saeed. When Moud gets the news that his grandfather in Iran is dying, he accompanies his dad to Tehran, where the revelation of family secrets will force Moud into a new understanding of his history, his culture, and himself.

1978. Saeed is an engineering student with a promising future ahead of him in Tehran. But when his parents discover his involvement in the country’s burgeoning revolution, they send him to safety in America, a country Saeed despises. And even worse—he’s forced to live with the American grandmother he never knew existed.

1939. Bobby, the son of a calculating Hollywood stage mother, lands a coveted MGM studio contract. But the fairy-tale world of glamour he’s thrust into has a dark side.

Set against the backdrop of Tehran and Los Angeles, this tale of intergenerational trauma and love is an ode to the fragile bonds of family, the hidden secrets of history, and all the beautiful moments that make us who we are today.

Publication Information:

Author: Abdi Nezemian

Publisher: Harper Collins (May 9, 2023)

Print length: 398 pages

Ex Marks the Spot

 

Stars: 4 for being as comfy and delicious as your favorite pajamas

My Thoughts:

This devour-worthy story has mystery, a great scavenger hunt and enough regret and drama to keep readers surprised. While Gemma always thought she had no family besides her mom, a surprise visit from a lawyer about an inheritance in Taiwan from her recently deceased grandfather puts her in a tailspin. Not only does she need the "inheritance" for her college, but she needs to figure out how to get to Taiwan. Of course her high school academic rival (and her ex) is running a summer program to Taiwan. Gemma must swallow her pride and dig up some pitiful story to get a spot on the Taiwan trip.

Gemma hates Xander, but luckily, Xander (Alex) does not hate her, so he uses his enormous charm with his family to accept her at the very last minute. The two teens were not ready for the "blood feud" type of resentment between  Xander's mom towards Gemma's mom, but between Gemma's grandfather's riddles  and Gemma's utter inability to speak anything but English, she has to learn to trust Xander and clue him in on what she is trying to do. She really is a fish out of water. Together, they travel around Taiwan and learn more about both of their grandfather's lives. The most interesting part of this book is not the romance between Xander and Gemma. That is inevitable. The real hook is the story of these two families. It is the misunderstandings, the hidden lives, the loss of relationships, and the understanding of a loved one even after they are gone. 

From the Publisher:

For Gemma's whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.

There's just one major problem: to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather's home in Taiwan. And the only way she can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it's about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.

Publication Information:

Author: Gloria Chao

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (December 31, 2024)

Paperback: 384 pages

Grade level: 7-9

We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya, book 1)

 

Stars: 4 for world building, and a powerful female protagonist

My Thoughts:

In a sweeping Arabic desert of shifting sands and ancient magic, Faizal also builds in hidden identities, political intrigue and ecological darkness. The characters are both heroic and deeply flawed, which makes them interesting and complex. I feel like only in a YA with young adult characters can this kind of character building of both heroic and non heroic/immature actions be done by the same person in a plausible way. 

The power of this book is in Faizal's adept world building as well as the ability to want to invest in the characters. It needs to be a movie.

From the Publisher:

People lived because she killed. People died because he lived.

Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya―but neither wants to be.

War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds―and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.

Publication Information:

Author: Hafsah Faizal

Publisher: Square Fish (reprint edition: December 1, 2020)

Paperback: 480 pages

Grade level: 4-7

The Weirn Books, Volume 2: The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon

 

Stars: 3

My Thoughts:

I saw the Weirn Books on my NetGalley feed and thought I was reading part of the Nightschool Weirn series which I enjoyed. The Nightschool series by Chmakova is for an older manga audience. This is not the same series. This one is for upper elementary and lower middle students. The art is still clean and distinctive. I kept looking for vampires but there are none. This one is less likely to be banned. The story is cute, but I did not read volume 1, so I probably missed some background on the other characters (which is why I kept looking for the vampires).  

If you give your students time to read in middle school, this is a good series to have because it has the manga stylings, without the sexualized female bodies or inappropriate situations of other manga that considers YA like adult without the porn. 

From the Publishers:

After her terrible adventures in the Silent Woods, Na’ya’s world seems to have returned to normal…that is, except for the nightmares that keep haunting her. What she needs is the power to protect everyone in case the evil scientist returns, and she has the perfect solution―she’ll turn into a dragon, once and for all! With help from Ailis and Jasper, everything seems to be going according to plan. But what’s that dark shadow slithering around the spell-casting range…?

Publication Information:

Author, Illustrator: Svetlana Chmakova

Publisher: JY (October 15, 2024)

Paperback: 224 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1975311278

Grade level: 3-7

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The Other Side of Tomorrow, Graphic Novel

 

Stars: 5 for beautiful illustrations and a story that is not familiar to American YA and middle grade readers (yet). The last star for a 5 is in the ability to use this in your English or social studies classroom as a learning resource. 

My Thoughts:

The marketers say this book is similar to Illegal  and When Stars are Scattered which are both about harrowing immigration stories. Besides the topic of migration, these are all graphic novels told from the point of view of young people who are searching for families and/or searching for better lives. In addition, the three of these are atypical in that they are not coming from Central or South America.

In this case, the story is told by two narrators, Yunho, whose mother escaped to China and Myunghee. The two are seen separately at first as they care for an elder, but they soon start traveling together to escape from North Korea. 

Yunho does eventually find his mother, and the three of them stick together, but the ups and downs in this graphic novel are just stressful. Just when things seem to be looking up, and even when they are in other countries, horrible things happen. 

Like the other books, the historical (maybe contemporary) non fiction in this will help students get interested in researching more. The other aspect of this particular graphic novel is the striking artwork. Artwork is its own form of text. If teachers want to learn more about that, check my post on the picture book Where Butterflies Fill the Sky. There is a link to learn more about enhancing literary engagement though pictures and graphics using the peritextual literacy framework.

Finally, the graphics are so stunning because they are by Deb J.J. Lee. If you have not read Lee's graphic memoir, In Limbo, well you must. Their tone comes through in their use of light and dark shades, white and black spaces. All of that skill is brought to this graphic novel too which is why it is so stunning. I did not even realize that this is a graphic novel in verse because the pictures tell the story first and then I read the words.

From the Publisher:

Perfect for fans of Illegal and When Stars Are Scattered, this poignant and moving graphic novel in verse captures the dangers and hope that come with fleeing North Korea and reaching for a brighter future through the lives of Yunho and Myunghee.

From never knowing where they’ll find their next meal to avoiding soldiers lurking at every corner, many North Koreans have learned that sticking around can be just as deadly as attempting to flee . . . almost. 

Both shy, resourceful Yunho and fierce, vibrant Myunghee know this. So when they each resolve to run away from the bleak futures they face, it’s with the knowledge that they could be facing a fate worse than death.

While Yunho hopes to reunite with his omma, who snuck across the border years ago, Myunghee is reaching for dreams that are bigger than anything the regime would allow her to have. The two are strangers to each other until a chance encounter unwittingly intertwines their fates and Myunghee saves Yunho’s life.

Kept together by their dreams for a brighter future, they face a road plagued by poisonous jungle snakes, corrupt soldiers, and the daily fear of discovery and imprisonment. But with every step toward freedom, there is also hope. Will it be enough for both of them to make it to safety without losing each other along the way?

Publication Information:

Author: Tina Cho

Illustrator: Deb JJ Lee

Publisher: HarperAlley (November 12, 2024)

Paperback: 224 pages

Grades: 3-7

Otaku Vampire's Love Bit, Volume 1

 

Stars: 4 for cute factor plus a little bit of tension to make it interesting

My Thoughts:

Hina Alucard is a hermit of a vampiress in Romania who still lives with her dad. She has not been out of the house in 30 years and will only drink blood from blood bags. Despite her age, she eternally looks and acts like a very young, sheltered girl (mostly because she has not left her house/castle in 30 years). Her father is desperate. He gives her a BlueRay of an anime series Vampire Cross and Hina is instantly love struck by the Mao character.

She becomes so obsessed with Mao and collecting Mao merch that she moves to Japan so she can really focus on her obsession with Vampire Cross and anything Mao related. In Japanese terms, she becomes an otaku with a very singular obsession not just on anime, but for Mao. She hoards so much merchandise that her apartment becomes a dusty nest of boxes.

Being an otaku in Japan is not unusual so we are introduced to the idea of anime show cafes which cater to otaku like Hina by offering a special menu just for the day of anime inspired food or drink items. When customers purchase this, they get a souvenir coaster to take home. They also sell raffle tickets with prizes. The last ticket gets a special prize. Hina would love to go to these events, but as a vampire, she cannot eat human food. Instead, she needs to find a friend. That proves difficult because she is socially awkward, until she bumps into her neighbor Kyuta whose blood smells so sweet AND looks like Mao.

He reluctantly seems to go along with her schemes even if he is appalled at the dust in her apartment from the boxes and her hoarding habits of buying multiple items that look exactly the same and just leaving them in their boxes.  

Hina is also not aware that Kyuta has his own vampire mistress in his apartment who is keeping him as a slave. Tension 1. Kyuta's mistress is none too happy about this outsider taking up Kyuta's time. She feels like she is a very high ranking vampire in Japan, so even if she finds out that Hina is also a vampire, she will destroy her.

Tension 2. Hina away from Kyuta is so awkward and naive that she gets herself lured into situations that she should not be in. With her frequent calls to her father in Romania, father vampire lord is sending a babysitter, bodyguard, party pooper to Japan just when Hina is starting to socially figure things out in her own way. 

Volume 1 ends on a cliff hanger with another obsession worthy character, so this is a definite series to grab a hold of.  The kawaii factor and the badass factor are both in this manga. No sex or violence, or nudity. It is middle school friendly.

From the Publisher:

Hina Alucard is a modern vampire who drinks blood from bags instead of from humans. But she’s also a complete shut-in who hasn’t left the house in 30 years. In an effort to reach her, Hina’s dad does something that changes her life—he gives her a DVD of the Vampire Cross anime! Hina is instantly obsessed, especially with the character Mao. But it’s difficult to fangirl as hard as she wants from her bedroom in Romania, so now Hina is out of the house and off to Japan to live her otaku dream!

Hina’s so busy collecting Mao merch that she almost doesn’t feel bad about missing out on the Vampire Cross cafes. If only she had a human friend who could eat all the themed food for her! But connecting with humans isn’t easy until Hina literally bumps into her neighbor Kyuta, a prickly boy who looks just like Mao. Having her best friend live next door will be so convenient! Now if she can just convince him to actually be her friend…

Publication information:

Author: Julietta Suzuki

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC (October 1, 2024)

Paperback: 176 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1974747283