Top 10 Graphic Novels of April: Manga Edition

Number 1: Stepping on Roses by Rink Ueda




In this fabulous love manga,  a girl named Sumiko Kitamura, is penniless. Her brother Eisuke is a gambler and keeps bringing home orphaned children, but the problem is that they have no cash. Sumiko is usually left at home to take care of these children. When her adopted sister, Tomi, becomes ill with a fever, Sumi finds that no doctors will help her as they are poor and no one is willing to give her money for medicine to save Tomi. Then as Sumi is crying on the road a handsome man gives her a handkerchief and some money before disappearing. Then in another attempt to earn money, Sumiko tries to sell her self on the street,  only to be picked by Soichiro Ashida. He is a very wealthy young man who tells her to marry him and she can have as much she wants for the kids. Even though it is a fake marriage, the two start to develop feeling for each other. This book is set in Yokohama, Japan 1892. I personally liked t because it was so sweet and show how people can become grown to each other. As the characters start to fall in love, you will fall in love with the book too!

Genre: Romance, Shojo 

Number 2: Oishinbo by Akira Hanasaki

Oishinbo is a long-running cooking manga written by Tetsu Kariya and drawn by Akira Hanasaki.

This wonderful book is about food, as you can see by the cover, and the quality of food. In this book you learn about real cooking techniques, and you get whole lot of information on what is healthy and well raised livestock and vegetables. This book really opened my eyes to what most food companies do: for example what " organic" really means and what is healthy produce from farms. In America we seem to skip over that detail; however this book is very educational and a blast to read. If you like food than this is the book for you! WARNING: Causes Extreme Hunger ;)

Genre: Culinary, Comedy, Educational 

Number 3: Chobits by Clamp 

The series tells the story of Hideki Motosuwa, who finds an abandoned persocom, personal computer,  named Chi in the garbage. As the series progresses, they explore the mysteries of Chi's origin together and questions about the relationship between human beings and computers.  Hideki's feelings intensify for Chi regardless of her being a persocom and despite his friends' painful experiences involving other persocoms. Chi becomes aware of her purpose through a picture book series called A City with No People which she finds in a bookstore. These picture books awaken Chi's other self, her sibling Freya who is aware of their past and helps Chi realize what she must do when she decides who her "person just for me" is. Together, Chi and Hideki explore the relationship between human beings and persocoms, as well as their friends' and their own. I loved this book because this situation could quite possibly in the future. It was also interesting to see a robot develop feelings for a human. WARNING: Contains Mature Content ( However its not that bad) 

Genre: Sci- Fi, Romance, Comedy

Number 4: Azumanga Daioh by Kiyohiko Azuma

Azumanga Daioh chronicles the everyday lifein an unnamed high school of six girls and two of their teachers:Child prodigy, Chiyo Mihama, and her struggle to fit in with girls five years older; reserved Sakaki and her obsession with the cute animals who seem to hate her; spacey Ayumu "Osaka" Kasaga,  Koyomi "Yomi"  Mizuhara's aggravation at an annoying best friend; Tomo Takino, whose energy is rivaled only by her lack of sense. Last but not leasr the sporty Kagura and her one-sided athletics rivalry with Sakaki; their homeroom teacher Yukari Tanizaki, and her friend, PE teacher Minamo  "Nyamo" Kurosawa. This book is really random, but is also really funny. It reminded me of my group of friends at my old school, and all the random stuff we would do that's probably why I like it so much . This book is for people who like to have a good laugh at everyday situations. 

Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy 

Number 5: Mixed Vegetables by Ayumi Komura 

Mixed Vegetables is a manga about a girl, Hanayu Ashibata, who wants to become a sushi chef; however her father wants her to take over his famous little bakery. Hayato Hyuga is the son of the prestigious Sushi Hyuga, but he wants to be a pastry chef. They go to Oiwaka High School together. Hanayu knows she will break her parent's heart if she does not continue the bakery and become a pastry chef, but thinks if she marries Hayato, they will understand her decision. I loved this book because of its cute little romance that blossoms between the two.  They two characters are pot rayed beautifully in how they want to be committed to each other. If you like food and romance then this book is a must read for you.

Genre: Culinary, Romance, Comedy, Shojo