Gr 8 Up–The rich history, captivating stories, and art style of manga and anime are thoroughly explored in this nonfiction series. Each title opens with a table of contents and introduction followed by multiple pages of text and a half page of corresponding art. “Fast Facts” pop up throughout chapters, offering quick tidbits like “Japanese animators have created over ten thousand separate anime titles” (Cultural Guide to Anime and Manga), followed by blue boxes indicating a deeper dive into a person or subject mentioned in the chapter. While only 64 pages each, these titles cover many of genres and subgenres, such as “otherworld” or “magical girls.” Manga and anime lovers will recognize the popular characters and titles referred to in this series while learning more about the creators behind their favorite genres. Although the balance of text to art may dissuade more reluctant readers, avid fans will appreciate the amount of information packed into each title. Back matter includes source notes for each chapter, further reading suggestions, and an index. 

VERDICT A quick but thorough series covering popular anime and manga topics for teens. Recommended where interest is high.