Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

Emily, Navin, and their mother move to their mother’s great grandfather’s home after a family tragedy in a brand new town. On their first night, they decide to explore and clean the house up, as it had been abandoned for years. However, while exploring they discover this tentacled creature who kidnaps Emily and Navin’s mom and it is now up to them both to save their mother’s life and bring her back safely. Taking a mysterious Amulet before they set off on their journey, they come to discover many new creatures and friends, such as a talking robot and stuffed animal. Little do they know, the Amulet has magical powers that are able to save them in times of need. What they also do not know is that Emily and Navin are not the only ones who know about the Amulet. They have enemies doing anything it takes to get their hands on it.

Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi is a suspenseful comic with a simple plot but with an amazing execution. Each panel is beautifully drawn with utmost detail. This is a great read if you would like to enjoy reading a book with an interesting plot and great characters.

Written by Aishi, Teen Volunteer

Demon Slayer by Koyoharu Gotouge

Taking place in Japan, Tanjiro Kamado was a regular boy living with his family helping with tasks such as making food, gathering firewood, or just playing with his siblings. They have to be careful at night however, as that is when demons with a variety of powers come out. These demons will burn in the daylight, therefore the only time they can come out from hiding is during the nighttime. One evening, Tanjiro left the house to gather firewood and come back. When he finally reached his home, he could not believe his eyes. All he saw was pools of red, with his family members laying in the middle of them. The only one left was Nezuko, his younger sister; but she was not human anymore. She had been transformed into a demon. However, she was not hostile. She seemed to recognize Tanjiro and did not attack him as other demons would. Tanjiro made his decision right then and there; he would set out to try and find a cure to turn his sister back into a human to end her suffering and get revenge for his family. 

With a bittersweet start, this story follows Tanjiro, Nezuko, and friends he meets along the way on his journey for revenge. I loved this series as it had a great plot and amazing characters. If you love action with a little hint of comedy, this series would be great for you.

Written by Aishi, Teen Volunteer

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood by Hirohiko Araki

Jonathan Joestar, born into a family with natural powers passed down from generation to generation is met with Dio Brando, an orphan who was adopted into the Joestar family. While Jonathan was a gentleman who did most things right, Dio was better than him in everything else; looks, physique, personality, everything. Trying his best to stay in good relations with Dio despite everything, he felt he could not continue when he finally realized the truth behind a mysterious stone mask which fell into Dio’s hands that gave anyone who touched it superhuman powers.

This series is action packed and has lots of suspense. With a wide range of characters with different personalities and powers, this series is bound to pull you in. It may seem slow at first, but the more you read, the better the story gets. With plot twists any reader would not be able to guess, this series is an interesting read with compelling visuals and a great storyline.

Written by Aishi, Teen Volunteer

One Punch Man by ONE

Saitama, a man with the power to defeat any foe with just one punch, roams City Z hoping to find a formidable enemy that does not take just one punch to defeat. He decides to become a superhero just for the fun of it and cleanses his city one enemy at a time.

This series is filled with comedy with a little bit of action. While some readers may think this series is boring as it can become a little bit repetitive (Saitama defeats all opponents in one punch starting off), the premise of the story grows to a point where enemies do not in fact, take just one punch to defeat. With every new enemy also comes new fighting abilities and backstories of each foe, keeping the series interesting. If you want to read a light-hearted action series and get a few laughs, this would be a great read.

Written by Aishi, Teen Volunteer