Kasumi, v.2 by Surt Lim & Hirofumi Sugimoto

Kasumi, v.2 by Surt Lim & Hirofumi Sugimoto - 216 pages

Kasumi accidentally frees the Forsaken Ones when she visits a shrine at her school.  Now she has to find the Priestess while keeping her powers a secret.

I was really getting into the story. I was looking forward to volume 3 which is previewed at the end of this volume.  However, it turns out the publisher went out of business and the third volume was never published anywhere.  Very disappointing.  It makes me wish I hadn't read these first two volumes of the series since it ends very abruptly in the middle of a giant plot between good and evil.

Kasumi, v.1 by Surt Lim & Hirofumi Sugimoto

Kasumi, v.1 by Surt Lim & Hirofumi Sugimoto - 202 pages

Kasumi has moved to a new town with her dad.  She will be attending the most elite school in town.  Unfortunately she gets in the bad side of the most popular girl in school who is determined to bully her into quitting school.  When Kasumi is forced to perform a magic show in front of everyone in school, she is humiliated and discovers a new ability to turn invisible when she holds her breath.  Now she has to keep her secret while fighting the mean girls at school.
This was an interesting manga.  The premise of superpowers mixed with a bullying story was well done.

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill - 323 pages

Jack is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Hazelwood, Iowa when his parents decide to divorce.  Hazelwood is a new experience for Jack.  It is the first time that he is ever noticed by anyone -- bullies, adults, and friends.  It also seems to be a town with secrets that all center around Jack.

This is a difficult book to explain.  However, I sometimes think those are the best kind of books.  This was a truly unique fairy tale that I really enjoyed reading.  While I guessed parts of the final outcome, I was still surprised by several elements.  I do think that some might take issue with the fact that the ending is not a happy ending - a truly unusual thing in a children's book.

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.