Mars manga series, by Fuyumi Soryo [YA manga]
by Wendy, 12th grader
Most high-school dramas are full of shallow characters and overused plot devices. Not so with Mars. Spanning fifteen books, this manga series follows the characters of Kira, a shy artist, and Rei, a wild playboy. Sounds cliched and overdone, but these two are actually some of the deepest and most profound characters I have ever read about as their relationships, personalities, and pasts gradually emerge. Full of drama and twists and turns, Mars provides some interesting perspective on issues like love (of course!), bullying, sexual harassment, and humanity. Don’t look for sugar-coating high school life, though — it doesn’t get more nitty gritty than this.
