UK manga artist collects international plaudits

Paul

Paul

Ghost of Animes
Administrator
The Young Adult Library Services Association (a part of the American Library Association) have been handing out their prestigious annual awards for 2008, and rather than focus exclusively on traditional written literature, their main categories also include "<a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/08ggnt.cfm">Great Graphic Novels for Teens</a>". Naturally, several Japanese manga series (14, to be precise) made the cut, not least of all Yuki Urushibara's <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushishi">Mushishi</a> </em>(the anime adaptation of which is currently being released in the UK by Revelation Films) and (Victorian romance) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_(manga)">Emma</a> by Kaoru Mori.

In a positive twist, YALSA also happened to select some "UK manga", though not necessarily in the categories you would expect. Basically, the <a href="http://www.selfmadehero.com/manga_shakespeare/titles/romeo_and_juliet.html">Sonia Leong illustrated Romeo & Juliet</a> graphical novel <a href="http://sonia-leong.livejournal.com/115610.html">was recognized</a> as being amongst the "<a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/08bbya.cfm">Best Books for Young Adults</a>" and "<a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/quickpicks/08qp.cfm">Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers</a>", no doubt a great coup for the UK comic (and indeed, the ever-growing "UK manga") scene.
 
Well done Sonia!

Yotsuba&? Pumpkin Scissors? A bit obscure. There's obviously a couple of manga enthusiasts working at YALSA!
 
Whats not to love about Yotsuba&!.

Mushishi good chice but not sure how it does for a wider audience.
Noticed a couple of things on the list I have Alive and King of Thorn would not have expected them to have a big enough following to end up on a list like this.
 
I've meaning to check out Yotsuba&! for ages, but I can't seem to find the first volume anywhere (for a reasonable price, that is).

Think I might get the first volume of Pumpkin Scissors now!
 
Heehee, thanks for spotting this Paul! ^_^ (I'm happy to send you press releases about Sweatdrop and other things, but I don't want to send out things about myself, LOL)

I think R&J was listed in those categories because it deals with a normally quite difficult subject (Shakespeare) and tells it with a method that appeals to teens and young adults. Which is great ^___^
 
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