I Am Here by Ema Toyama

I Am Here!, v.1 by Ema Toyama - 405 pages
I Am Here!, v.2 by Ema Toyama - 425 pages

Sumino is virtually invisible to everybody.  Classmates even sit on her thinking there is nobody at her desk.  The only people she connects with are the two anonymous posters on her blog.  Then one day the most popular boy at school, Hinata, notices her.  With the encouragement of her online friends, Sumino starts making herself known so that she can connect with Hinata.

This manga took a little time for me to get into it.  I was nearly two-thirds of the way through the first manga before I really started getting interested in the story.  Sumino was just too weak and annoying in the first book for anybody to root for her.  However, by the time I got to the second volume I was really enjoying the story.  The story ends kind of abruptly.  I was thinking there was going to be a third volume but I can't find any information about one.

Dandelion Hunter: Foraging the Urban Wilderness, by Rebecca Lerner

Dandelion Hunter: Foraging the Urban Wilderness, by Rebecca Lerner, 224 pages

This non-fiction book began as a blog (http://firstways.com/) and an experiment in urban foraging- the practice of eating wild fruits, nuts, berries and weeds, or harvesting them for medicine. Becky Lerner thinks she could survive an epic disaster by eating wild plants and berries, but when she challenges herself to eat only that for a week, she finds out that it is tougher to do than she realized.  But with some research and some knowledgeable friends, she finds that it can be done and can be more satisfying than she expected.  I thought this was fascinating- the writing style wasn't my favorite, and I guess I really wanted some photos, but that is why being able to refer to the blog was a nice bonus.  It's the subject matter that is so interesting.

Scanwiches, by Jon Chonko

Scanwiches, by Jon Chonko, 152 pages

This book is a sandwich lover's dream, which is perfect, because sandwiches are my favorite food.  It doesn't sound exciting, but they're delicious and versatile, so who cares.  The author has scanned dissected sandwiches of all kinds, from all around the world, and then explains what is in them, a little bit of their history, and basically makes the reader really hungry.  One sandwich that definitely made it on my "to eat" list is a bun kabab- from Pakistan, it is a spicy lentil patty with onions and chutney on a bun.  Street food is the best.

Zahra's Paradise, by Amir and Khalil

Zahra's Paradise, by Amir and Khalil, 272 pages

This book is fiction, but very much based on the true events surrounding the corrupt 2009 elections and protests in Iran.  Zahra is a mother beside herself, because her 19-year old son, Mehdi, never made it back home after the election protests.  Together with her surviving son, Hassan, they explore the corruption and violence surrounding his (and many others') disappearance, along with the power of YouTube, Twitter and blogs.

This is a powerful book, and certainly sheds some light on events that many of us may have missed if we weren't paying attention to the news.  Fans of Maus or Persepolis might enjoy this- I would just stress, though, that this one is fictional.  You can read excerpts of the book at www.zahrasparadise.com