Graphic Novel Challenge

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 2 by Hiroma Arakawa

Ed and Al hope to learn from the "Sewing-Life Alchemist," a man who specializes in biological transmutation. But will anyone be safe from the mysterious killer who has begun murdering state alchemists?
*****








Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 3 by Hiroma Arakawa

Ed and Al take a trip to their hometown with body guard Alex Louis Armstrong. But information they discover on their trip will send them to the most epic place of information ever: the LIBRARY.
*****

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 4 by Hiroma Arakawa

Ed and Al tracked down the secret lab that had information about the Philosopher's Stone, but will they survive what they discover there?
*****

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 5 by Hiroma Arakawa

Ed, Al, and Winry head south to seek out Ed and Al's master, and check out Rush Valley, one of the most advanced centers of auto-mail development in the country.
*****

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 6 by Hiroma Arakawa

Ed and Al tell their alchemist master their history.
*****

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 7 by Hiroma Arakawa

Al is lured into the underworld of Dublith--the Devil's Nest. What does this group of strange outcasts know? And what do they want from him?
*****

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 8 by Hiroma Arakawa

The battle continues in the Devil's Nest, but it seems that more is going on than meets the eye. (Do you get it? It's a clue! Look for the clue!)
*****

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 9 by Hiromu Arakawa

Ed, Al, and Winry decide to head back to Central to continue their investigations--and catch up with some old friends. But they've got some unwanted tag-alongs from Xing: Lin Yao and his two followers.
*****

Graphic Novel Challenge

I'm finally done with Negima!

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 22 by Ken Akamatsu

To find all of his students and escape the magical world, Negi has to masquerade as an adult and find someone who will train him to be more powerful. But will the mysterious Rakan help him? And does Negi really want his help?
*


Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 23 by Ken Akamatsu

To defeat Fate, Negi has to make a serious decision--will he gain power at any cost?
*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 24 by Ken Akamatsu

The Festival of Ostia makes the Mahora Academy Festival look like a kiddy parade, but will all of Negi's friends be able to arrive in time?
*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 25 by Ken Akamatsu

Fate emerges--and offers Negi a tempting choice. Will Negi accept, and abandon the magical world to Fate's schemes?
*

Negima!?Neo Magister Negi Magi , Vol. 1 Story by Ken Akamatsu, Art by Takuya Fujima, Adaptation by Alethea Nibley and Athena Nibley

This series is basically an adaptation of the Negima!? anime, which is an adaptation of the Negima! manga. The first volume is very similar to the first volume of Negima!, with a bit more back story on Negi and a bit less fanservice. Also, the plot is simplified and accelerated, with some alterations on characters. The crisis to find Negi's father is definitely prevalent, but the evil that Negi fights is much less dark and ominous.
--Negi Springfield is a new teacher at Mahora Academy's all-girl junior high. Unfortunately, he's only 10 years old! How will he become a great wizard like his father, and keep his magic a secret?
*

Negima!? Neo Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 2 Story by Ken Akamatsu, Art by Takuya Fujima, Adaptation by Alethea Nibley and Athena Nibley

Negi's getting a handle on teaching. But a new problem emerges: is the class in danger? Something is lurking in the shadows. The Chupucabra? A ghost?
*

Negima!? Neo Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 3 Story by Ken Akamatsu, Art by Takuya Fujima, Adaptation by Alethea Nibley and Athena Nibley

Negi will do whatever it takes to become a powerful wizard. But is this really a good idea?
*









Negima!? Neo Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 4 Story by Ken Akamatsu, Art by Takuya Fujima, Adaptation by Alethea Nibley and Athena Nibley

Negi's got trouble: Anya's attending his academy, and she's in his class!
*


Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 by Hiromu Arakawa

Trying to repair the damages in their past, brothers Ed and Al are searching to find the Philosopher's Stone. To achieve this goal, they've become agents of the government--state alchemists. But doing the military's bidding, and looking for the stone in the meantime, won't be easy, especially when their enemies are powerful--and ruthless.
*****

Graphic Novel Challenge

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 16 by Ken Akamatsu

Negi is in serious trouble. Will he ever see his students again? Is he doomed to spend the rest of his life as a ermine?
*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 17 by Ken Akamatsu

This is Negi's one shot to keep the world from changing drastically. But, does he really want the world to stay the way it is?
*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 18 by Ken Akamatsu

With the academy's festival finally over, school is getting back to normal. But in the aftermath of recent events, Negi and many of his students are carrying heavy burdens.
*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 19 by Ken Akamatsu

It's time for summer break! But while most other people Negi's age are preparing for a few months of fun, Negi and his friends prepare for a serious journey.
*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 20 by Ken Akamatsu

Negi and his students want a little relaxation before their trip, but then Negi's childhood friend Anya shows up.
*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 21 by Ken Akamatsu

Negi and his students have journeyed to the magical world, hoping for a quiet exploration for Negi's father. But, then, Fate shows up and complicates everything.
*

Graphic Novel Challenge

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 13 by Ken Akamatsu

The final rounds of the tournament are underway. Will the mages be outed? Will Negi make it to the final round? And who is the mysterious Ku:nel Sanders?
*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 14 by Ken Akamatsu

After the martial arts tournament ends, all of the competitors are being hounded by the press. How will Negi stick to his schedule without being outed on national tv as a mage?
*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 15 by Ken Akamatsu

Will Asuna find the courage to express her love? Will Negi be able to battle one of his own students?
*

Graphic Novel Challenge

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 10 by Ken Akamatsu

Negi's schedule for the three-day festival is jam-packed! How will he fit it all in, especially after he takes a nap and ends up sleeping for the entire day?
*




Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 11 by Ken Akamatsu

After Negi's first (very) full day of the festival, and after surviving the first round of the martial arts competition, Negi prepares for his first round of combat. But will Negi have the courage to face his opponent?
*


Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 12 by Ken Akamatsu

The martial arts tournament is underway, but strange things are beginning to happen. Will Negi be able to keep his magic a secret with such intense fighting going on?
*

Graphic Novel Challenge

Ok, so I took a break over the weekend...But I'm back and reading full force!

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 4 by Ken Akamatsu

Negi's class is going on a field trip to Kyoto. But this is no ordinary field trip. Feuding magicians are making the situation dangerous, and one of Negi's students is their main target. To make matters worse, is one of his students, a silent sword-wielder, a spy for the enemy?
*


Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 5 by Ken Akamatsu

Still on the field trip, Negi's perverted ermine friend is trying to get all of the girls to kiss Negi. He says it's for forming magical contracts, but this ermine is always up to no good.
*


Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 6 by Ken Akamatsu

The field trip continues, and Negi's magic is put to the test. Helped by his warrior friends, he's doing his best to keep everyone safe--and unaware of his magic. But evil mages are still after one of his students for their dastardly magical purposes.
*



Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 7 by Ken Akamatsu

Back from the field trip, Negi decides he must train intensely so that he can keep his friends and students safe. But will his training cost him his friendships?
*


Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 8 by Ken Akamatsu

Negi decides to share his past with his friend and partner, Asuna. As she, and the other students who know about Negi's magical abilities, learn about Negi's history, they commit themselves to helping him find his father.
*



Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 9 by Ken Akamatsu

Mahora Academy is caught up in the excitement of the Academy Festival. While the students busy themselves  getting ready for the activities, almost everyone in Negi's class is back to their old schemes--trying to secure Negi as their boyfriend (even though they're 14 and 15 and he's only 10). Negi could find himself trapped in love if he's not careful: rumor has it that the "world tree" can make people fall in love on the last day of the festival.
*

Graphic Novel Challenge

Laika by Nick Abadzis

The story of a Russian dog sent into space, as well as of the dog's owners and doctors.
****


Aya by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie

Set in the 1970s in the Ivory Coast, Aya is a studious teen who wants to go to university and become a doctor. Her friends, however, are more concerned with fooling around with boys.
**

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 1 by Ken Akamatsu

Negi is a ten-year-old prodigy who is sent to Japan to teach English at an all-girl boarding school called Mahora. Secretly, he can also do magic--but he's not very good at it. Hormones prevail at Mahora. This series has a lot of fan service. Readers be warned.

*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 2 by Ken Akamatsu

Negi's class has very low grades.  They must score very high on  their exams, or else!

*

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 3 by Ken Akamatsu

One of Negi's students is a vampire! And not only is she attacking the students, for some reason she's after Negi!
*

Graphic Novel Challenge

So, I'm reading all of the graphic novels and manga in the YA section during the month of October at some point before the world ends. There are almost 500 titles, so this will be quite the adventure!

After a lot of deliberation, I've decided that the easiest way to go through the section and make sure I read everything is to just start at the beginning:

(This way, I'll also force myself to read the books I'm not interested in. Negima! *cough cough*)

So, I've started in the A's,














and will work my through the alphabet. I'll be posting reviews and updates on my library Goodreads account.

Happy Reading!
Anna

Anna's Book of the Week

Summer's over and it's time to get

But don't fret, because there are still awesome books and book clubs at the Starkville Public Library.


Check out our updated YA library page for more info: Oooooo, pretty!


We've got new books at the library, and more new books coming soon, but here's a new book for you to try when you need some after-school fun:

The Raiders' Ransom by Emily Diamand

It's the 22nd century, and much of the world is under water. Technology was blamed for the collapse, and now there are no "modern" conveniences in the Last Ten Counties of England. Lilly lives in one of the fishing villages in England; she operates a small fishing boat with the help of her seacat, Cat. She hopes to earn enough to get a larger boat and make a living with her best friend Andy. But everything goes horribly wrong when raiders attack her village, killing her grandmother and kidnapping the Prime Minister's daughter. Now the Prime Minister blames the village for the attack and the loss of his daughter. He locks up the fishing captains and "recruits" the rest of the men into his army, planning to use them to begin an all-out war against the raiders. Lilly, afraid that her friend Andy will be killed in battle and that the fishing captains will be hung as traitors, steals a valuable jewel and sets off with Cat to ransom the Prime Minister's daughter and prove her village's innocence.


Other books worth reading:

Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor


http://killerpizzabook.com/

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman


http://www.mousecircus.com/bookdetails.aspx?BookID=18

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

http://www.rickriordan.com/kane_preview/




Find more amazing book titles here.  Get them HERE!

Read a book so awesome you think everyone should read it? Wasted your time with a book so awful you need to warn the world? Send me a review at yabookreviewsSPL@yahoo.com and I'll post it for you!

Book Review: Larklight Trilogy

The Larklight Trilogy by Philip Reeve

The Larklight Trilogy, by Philip Reeve, is one of the most unique three books I've ever read. It's set in the Victorian Era. Instead of Britain winning the Americans' Ware for Independence, they branched out into space using Newton's Alchemic Laws and steam-powered ships.

I rate these three books 4 out of 5 stars.

--review by Zach M.

Book Review: Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

In the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy, the spark Katniss has unleashed with her act in the Hunger Games has ignited. The book starts with a visit from President Snow six months after the Hunger Games, warning her to stay back and make her relationship with Peeta more believable. Big surprises lay in store for both Katniss and her District.

--review by M.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is a chilling dystopic novel with a subtle basis in Greek mythology. Katniss is a not-quite-ordinary girl living under the reign of the All-Powerful President Snow. When Katniss is selected for the Hunger Games, she determines to be not just your ordinary girl.

--review by M