Miki Falls: Spring by Mark Crilley

HarperCollins. 2008.
(Age: 10-14) This graphic novel is a simplified version of the Japanese Manga comic novels, adapted to Western tastes.
Miki is a young Japanese student beginning her senior year at High School and is much like her counterparts here. She is attracted to, and mystified by, a new male senior student who refuses all contact with other students. Showing much determination and courage, Miki manages to befriend him and finally learns his secret. It is a page turner but the plot is based on the weird premise that there is only a finite amount of love to go around!
This graphic novel would suit upper primary and reluctant or poor secondary student readers.
It is in grey and white but the pictures are large and the print easy to read. There is a lot of variety in each page without it having a too busy feel. The language is minimal whilst introducing students to a sprinkling of reasonably sophisticated words. The artwork seems competent to me, with much emphasis on eyes and hair in faces and minimal treatment of mouths and noses. There are a few Japanese temples in the backgrounds but otherwise the setting and culture could be any western city.
Kevyna Gardner