Guide to Manga for Middle Graders

Whether you are a parent, guardian, educator, or librarian, you might find yourself at a loss when a middle grader asks for a manga recommendation if you have never read a manga before. Fear not! We are here to help.

Here's a brief explanation on what you need to know.

The biggest mistake most people make in regards to Japanese manga (and graphic novels/comic books in general) is assuming all illustrated novels are meant for children. Like all forms of fiction, manga titles range from kid-friendly narratives to more sexually or violently explicit material. Just because a manga features illustrations or childish and cutesy characters does not mean it is appropriate for children.

For the most part, Japanese manga is marketed first by audience and gender, and then by genre. While American graphic novels, and fiction for teens and children, are marketed as simply "teens and children," Japanese manga is split along gender lines: There are manga series specifically marketed towards young boys (known as shonen) and series marketed to young girls (shojo). Likewise, there are series marketed separately to adult men (seinen) and women (josei).

For a more in-depth explanation on the differences, please check out this handy Beginner’s Guide to Manga. Keep in mind the recommendations listed within the Beginner’s Guide are meant for teens and older; the list below is specifically geared towards middle schoolers ages 10 and up.

What do I need to know about manga for middle-school kids?

Middle-school children typically fall somewhere between shonen/shojo manga and a genre called kodomomuke manga, depending on their emotional maturity level. Kodomomuke is marketed to young children with titles such as Pokemon or Yo-Kai Watch—but these might not satisfy middle schoolers who are looking to read more mature storylines.

Shonen manga is aimed primarily at young boys, however, there is nothing stopping anyone else from reading them. Storylines for shonen titles typically follow a young male protagonist as he faces off against evil villains or rivals in his pursuit of greatness. 

There will be a big focus on the power of friendship and comraderie, physical strength, fighting, violence, etc. . There will be little to no romance as the focus is on the hero's journey. The role of female characters varies by manga, but they are generally relegated to love interest or platonic friend status whose entire existence revolves around the male protagonist. Again, this varies by manga. but is pretty consistent across the shonen genre. Kaiu Shirai's The Promised Neverland is one of the few instances of a modern shonen manga with a female protagonist. However, that series features an excessive amount of gore and violence, so it is not recommended for young children.

Shojo manga is aimed at young girls and will often feature romance, young love, drama, etc. There are shojo manga that feature girls going on adventures or fighting evil (similar to shonen), but these are typically aimed at high school-age teen girls and are few and far in between. Shojo manga will often feature a female protagonist on a journey towards either a specific goal or just adulthood in general.

It will follow her interactions with her close friends and family as shenanigans and conflicts ensue. Typically shojo does not feature much explicit violence, gore, or sexual situations. Part of what makes CLAMP's Cardcaptor Sakura so exceptional (aside from the beautiful artwork) is that it features a female protagonist as a traditional hero trying to tame evil forces. However, unlike shonen protagonists who generally rely on brute force, Sakura has her own way of handling each situation.

Romance and Violence

While shojo manga is known for its cutesy, fun, and light-hearted presentation of romance, please do not be fooled into thinking you can give your middle schooler any title. Like with western romance novels, shojo romances can vary in terms of how sexually explicit they are. There is also a tendency within manga love stories to pair teen girls with much older men. On average, most shojo romances focus on characters either in their last year of middle school (around age 14) or first year of high school. The age of their love interests can vary between being near their own age or in their 20s. 

Once again, just because a manga features illustrations or childish and cutesy characters does not mean it is appropriate for children. Just because you find a series with a pleasing pretty pink cover with hearts and glitter on it does not mean that it is suitable for children. It could very well include an entire story arc about falling in love with cannibal murderers.  This could potentially end up traumatizing the child (unless that child is into that sort of thing). 

It is natural for middle schoolers to start expressing an interest in reading romances as their own budding feelings are developing, and so it is important that they read about healthy relationships. With that in mind we have tried to include titles that are fun but harmless. The romances we have included may include kissing, but nothing much beyond that. 

We have extended that same consideration towards our action-themed shonen manga. Over the top humor and excessive, cartoon-y violence are a staple of manga, so that is to be expected, especially in shonen titles. Still, we have tried to include series that do not feature excessive blood and gore. Our goal was not to censure children, but rather to give them a level starting off point. We have included warnings and notes where appropriate. 

Manga and Anime

Manga and anime go hand in hand. This is because most of the anime produced within Japan is based off of a pre-existing manga series. It is not unusual for a manga to be greenlit for an anime adaptation within the same year of its first publication. In fact, most manga fans expect it, especially with shonen titles. Big shonen action series are the bread and butter of both the anime and manga world. They tend to receive the most publicity and the biggest budgets. Occassionally an original anime will come out that is not based on any pre-exisiting material, but this is not common. 

Anime adaptations vary widely in terms of how much they differ from their source material. It is common for anime to remove, alter, rearrange, or add entirely new story arcs independent of the manga. Character designs may also be altered, and a series that featured little to no nudity/sexual humor may suddenly feature a ton in the anime. Big action series will often pump up the gore and violence in their anime as well. That being said, not all changes are bad. It is entirely possible for an anime series to completely surpass its manga origins through the quality of its storytelling. 

It should go without saying that watching anime and reading manga are two entirely different experiences. Neither are better or worse than the other. They are simply different. Naturally we encourage our patrons to read as much as possible, but in the case of manga it is entirely natural to also check out anime adaptations. Most children are introduced to Japanese series through their anime adaptations first before they decide to check out the manga (EX: Pokémon, Sailor Moon, etc.). Unlike reading manga, watching an episode of an anime can be a family activity.

If you want an abridged look into what your child is  currently into, see if there is an anime adaptation available (Not every manga has an anime). Just keep in mind it might not be a completely accurate representation. Fortunately anime and manga fans are very vocal about whether or not an adaptation is accurate, so you'll be sure to find helpful reviews beforehand. 

Remember: Just because it features childish and cutesy characters does not mean it is appropriate for children.

Anything Else?

Ultimately, these are just generalties about the shojo and shonen genres. There are obviously exceptions to this rule, and the list below reflects that. We have chosen titles that we felt showed off the variety of storylines available to middle school readers. We also organized them by age group rather than by gender, so that readers can make their own decisions based on the content and their own interests rather than their gender identity. 

Depending on a library’s space constraints, manga titles meant for adults and those appropriate for children can sometimes be placed in the same area. To ensure your middle grader will not be traumatized by accidentally picking a sexually explicit manga (thinking it was meant for them), touch base with the manga librarian on staff beforehand for recommendations.

Ultimately, a child’s parents or guardians determine what is appropriate for their child, but we do encourage as much research as possible so there are no surprises. With that in mind, here is our official list: Manga for Middle Graders!

Note: This list will be updated as new series become available, so be sure to check back every so often!

All Ages

Chi's Sweet Home, Volume 1 by Konami Kanata; translation, Ed Chavez

All ages

Chi is a mischievous newborn kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, finds herself lost. Overcome with loneliness, she breaks into tears in a large park meadow, where she is rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother. The little kitty is then quickly and quietly whisked away into the warm and inviting Yamada apartment… where pets are strictly not permitted.

Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll story & art by Yumi Tsukirino; original concept by Chisato Seki; translation, Emi Louie-Nishikawa

All ages

Cinnamoroll, an extraordinary puppy who loves freshly baked cinnamon rolls and uses his long ears to fly high into the sky, is always on the lookout for a new adventure with his friends Chiffon, Mocha, Espresso, Cappuccino, and little Milk.

The Fox & Little Tanuki by Mi Tagawa; translator, Katie Kimura; retouching and lettering, Vibrraant Publishing Studio.

It is said that there are some special animals occasionally born with great powers. Senzou the black fox is one of those... but instead of using his powers for good, he abused his strength until the Sun Goddess imprisoned him for his bad behavior. Three hundred years later, he's finally been released, but only on one condition-- he can't have any of his abilities back until he successfully helps a tanuki cub named Manpachi become an assistant to the gods. Unfortunately for Senzou, there's no cheating when it comes to completing his task! The magic beads around his neck make sure he can't wander too far from his charge or ignore his duties, and so... Senzou the once-great Fox Spirit must figure out how to be an actually-great babysitter to an innocent little tanuki or risk being stuck without his powers forever!

Pokémon Adventures story by Hidenori Kusaka; art by Mato; English adaptation, Gerard Jones; translation, Kaori Inoue

All ages           

Red wants to be friends with the Pokémon as well as their trainer—can he win over the independent Pikachu? Adventures based on the bestselling video games!

Splatoon story and art by Sankichi Hinodeya; translation, Tetsuichiro Miyaki; English adaptation, Jeremy Haun & Jason A. Hurley; lettering, John Hunt; design Shawn Carrico; editor Joel Enos

All ages

The Turf Wars have started in Inkopolis, and the team that inks the most ground will be crowned the winner! Goggles and Team Blue are ranked lower than their competitors. But with some teamwork and a touch of creativity, they might just leave their mark on this tournament!
 

Super Mario Manga Mania story and art by Yukio Sawada; translation, Caleb Cook; English adaptation, Molly Tanzer; lettering, Vanessa Satone

All ages

Experience the zany world of Super Mario Bros. through manga! Join Mario and pals in crazy adventures inspired by the hit video games! This collection of short stories showcases the fan-favorite characters of the Super Mario Bros. world in new, unconventional and hilarious ways. Handpicked from years of Mario comics in Japan, this compilation has never been available in English--until now!

Yo-Kai Watch story and art by Noriyuki Konishi; original story and supervision by Level-5 Inc.; translation, Tetsuichiro Miyaki; English adaptation, Aubrey Sitterson; lettering, William F. Schuch

All ages

Nate Adams is just an average kid until the mysterious Whisper gives him the Yo-kai Watch, which allows him to see Yo-kai of all shapes and forms.

Yotsuba &! Kiyohiko Azuma; translation, Amy Forsyth; lettering, Terri Delgado

All ages

The curious and curiouser Yotsuba moves to a new town with her dad. In the process of moving in, Yotsuba encounters things like swing sets and broken door handles, which all bring about a never-ending torrent of questions and shrieks of amazement.

Yuzu the Pet Vet by Mingo Ito; in collaboration with Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd.; translation, Julie Goniwich; lettering, David Yoo

All ages

For an 11-year-old, Yuzu has a lot on her plate. When her mom gets sick and has to be hospitalized, Yuzu goes to live with her uncle who runs the local animal hospital. Yuzu's always been scared of animals, but she tries to help out. The resident Chihuahua is tiny and adorable, but acts up whenever Yuzu comes near. Yuzu just wants some peace and quiet, but what can she do?! Then an encounter with a boy and his dog turns fear into a desire to learn...

And as Yuzu works hard to understand her fuzzy friends, they begin to feel comfortable around each other. Through all the tough moments in her life, from her mother's illness to bullying at school, Yuzu realizes that she can help make things all right with a little help from her animal pals, peers, and kind grown-ups. Every new patient is a furry friend in the making! Perfect for aspiring pet vets of all ages!

Note: Don't let the cutesy artwork fool you. A dog dies of old age within the first twenty pages, and it seems like all of the pets that come to her are suffering from some pretty severe illnesses. This series is like a weird cross between Grey's Anatomy and the Littlest Pet Shop. This could be potentially distressing to sensitive children.  

Action and Adventure Ages 11 and up

Angelic Layer story and art by CLAMP; [editor, Carl Gustav Horn ; original translation by Anita Sengupta ; lettering and retouch by John Clark].

Junior-high student Misaki Suzuhara has just arrived in Tokyo to live with her glamorous TV news star aunt and to attend the prestigious Eriol Academy. But what excites her above everything is Angelic Layer, the arena game where you control an Angel-- a miniature robot fighter whose moves depend on your mind! Misaki's small, just like her Angel, Hikaru (named after her favorite manga, Magic Knight Rayearth), but her natural battle skills have been recognized by a very odd scientist, Ichiro 'Icchan' Mihara. Before she knows it, Misaki is an up-and-coming contender in Angelic Layer-- and in way over her not-very-tall head! How far can enthusiasm take her in an arena full of much more experienced fighters-- and a game full of secrets?

Cells at Work!  by Akane Shimizu; translation, Yamato Tanaka; lettering, Abigail Blackman; editing, Paul Starr

Ages 12+

"Strep throat! Hay fever! Influenza! The world is a dangerous place for a red blood cell just trying to get her deliveries finished. Fortunately, she's not alone… she's got a whole human body's worth of cells ready to help out! The mysterious white blood cell, the buff and brash killer T cell, the nerdy neuron, even the cute little platelets—everyone's got to come together if they want to keep you healthy!

Note: Mild violence

Haikyu!! story and art by Haruichi Furudate; translation, Adrienne Beck; touch-up art & lettering, Erika Terriquez

Ages 11+

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as "The Little Giant" compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else? After losing his first and last volleyball match against Tobio Kageyama, "The King of the Court," Shoyo Hinata swears to become his rival after graduating middle school. But what happens when the guy he wants to defeat ends up being his teammate?!
 

Hikaru No Go story by Yumi Hotta; art by Takeshi Obata; supervised by Yukari Umezawa

Ages 11+

Hikaru Shindo is like any sixth grader in Japan: a pretty normal school boy with a two-tone head of hair and a penchant for antics. One day, he finds an old bloodstained Go board in his grandfather's attic—and that's when things get really interesting. Trapped inside the Go board is Fujiwara-no-Sai, the ghost of an ancient Go master who taught the strategically complex board game to the Emperor of Japan many centuries ago.

 

Young Miss Holmes by Kaoru Shintani

Ages 11+

When brilliant young prodigy Christie Holmes is left in the care of servants upon her parents' departure for India, she decides to follow in the footsteps of her eminent uncle Sherlock Holmes and use her gifts for logic to solve mysteries.

Note: Mild violence. Possibly distressing images. 

Giant Spider & Me: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale story & art by Kikori Morino; translation, Adrienne Beck; adaptation, Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane; lettering and retouch, Jennifer Sharupa

Ages 12+

A young girl named Nagi and a giant spider make an unusual pair in this post-apocalyptic story. Living in the mountains is lonely, and they've managed to find each other. Join them in their strangely sweet domestic bliss as they spend their days sharing tea and throwing picnics, proving that love (and delicious food) can bring together even the most unlikely of friends.

Little Witch Academia original story by Trigger/Yoh Yoshinari; art by Keisuke Sato; translation by Taylor Engel; lettering by Takeshi Kamura

All ages

Ever since Atsuko 'Akko' Kagari saw her first Shiny Chariot magic show, she's wanted to become a real witch. Now, she's been accepted to Luna Nova Academy, a premiere magic school. While Akko doesn't come from a magical family, she's as stubborn as can be, and she won't let anything stop her from fulfilling her dream!

My Hero Academia  story & art Kohei Horikoshi; translation & English adaptation Caleb Cook

Ages 12+

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called "Quirks" at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course!

But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless? Middle-school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn't got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny.

Note: Violence, slight gore, possibly distressing images.

Phantom Thief Jeanne story and art by Arina Tanemura ; translation, Tetsuichiro Miyaki.

Ages 12+

High school student Maron Kusakabe has a secret: she's Phantom Thief Jeanne, the reincarnation of Joan of Arc. She sneaks into private art collections to steal paintings in which demons reside. Jeanne's task is to seal the demons before they can devour human hearts. So far she's been able to evade the police on her midnight outings, but now another thief has come onto the scene--Phantom Thief Sinbad--and he's trying to take the paintings before she does!

Sorry for My Familiar story and art by Tekka Yaguraba; translation by Andrew Cunningham

Ages 12+

When the demon girl Patty finds she's too weak to summon an animal familiar, she chooses a human instead. His name: Norman Volcanello--an eccentric guy with a dangerous fascination with exotic life forms. As Patty and Norman set out to find her missing father, an offbeat adventure begins!

Romance and more! Ages 11+

Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya; translation: Sheldon Drzka; lettering: Lys Blakeslee

Ages 12+

After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out… into a tent! Unfortunately for her, Tohru pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own—when embraced by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese zodiac!

Kitchen Princess by Natsumi Ando, story by Miyuki Kobayashi, translated by Satsuki Yamashita, adapted by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, lettered by North Market Street Graphics

Ages: 11+

Najika is a great cook and likes to make meals for the people she loves. But something is missing from her life. When she was a child, she met a boy who touched her heart—and now she's determined to find him. The only clue Najika has is a silver spoon that leads her to the prestigious Seika Academy. Attending Seika will be a challenge. Every kid at the school has a special talent, and the girls in Najika's class think she doesn't deserve to be there. But Sora and Daichi, two popular brothers who barely speak to each other, recognize Najika's cooking for what it is—magical. Is either boy Najika's mysterious prince?      

Mixed Vegetables story and art by Ayumi Komura, English translation by JN Productions, English adaptation by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic

Ages: 11+

Hanayu Ashitaba is the daughter of the celebrated Patisserie Ashitaba, but all she wants is to be a sushi chef. Hayato Hyuga is the son of the prestigious Sushi Hyuga, and all he wants is to be a pastry chef. It's love and leftovers in the Oikawa High School Cooking Department.

Nisekoi: False Love story and art by Naoshi Komi; translation, Camellia Nieh; touch-up art and lettering, Stephen Dutro

Ages: 12+

Raku, still searching for his childhood sweetheart whose name and face he cannot remember, is upset when his gangster father arranges a love match between Raku and a rival gang leader's daughter.

 

 

Snow White with the Red Hair story and art by Sorata Akiduki ; translation, Caleb Cook ; touch-up art & lettering, Brandon Bovia.

Ages 12+

Shirayuki is famous for her naturally bright-red hair, and the prince of Tanbarun wants her all to himself! But when she escapes into the woods of the neighboring kingdom, a young man named Zen and his two friends come to her aid. But who is Zen really…?

 

 

 

 

S.A. : Special A story & art by Maki Minami ; [English adaptation, Amanda Hubbard ; translation, JN Productions].

Her whole life, Hikari Hanazono has been consumed with the desire to win--at anything--against her school rival, Kei Takishima. Kei always comes out on top no matter what he does, and Hikari is determined to do whatever it takes to beat this guy.

 

 

 

 

 

Tokyo Mew Mew written by Reiko Yoshida ; illustrated by Mia Ikumi ; translated by Elina Ishikawa ; lettered by Andworld Design.

Ages 11+

On her first date with the cutest boy in school, Ichigo is exposed to a mysterious ray that meshes her DNA with that of the endangered Iriomote wildcat. She soon discovers that she has developed super-human abilities and enhanced agility. Her new powers are put to the test when she leads a team with four other girls, each endowed with special abilities of their own. Together, they must now protect the Earth from an alien menace known as Deep Blue.

Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy story and art by Maki Minami; English translation & adaptation, John Werry

Ages 12+

Hime Kino's dream is to do voice acting like her hero Sakura Aoyama from the Lovely Blazers anime—getting accepted to the prestigious Holly Academy's voice actor department is the first step in the right direction! But Hime's gruff voice has earned her the scorn of teachers and students alike. To make matters worse, Sakura’s grouchy son, Senri, is in Hime's class, and seems determined to stomp on her dreams.

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