A selection of manga for teens
Sports Reads
Haikyu! by Haruichi Furudate
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?!
The Prince of Tennis by Takeshi Konomi
Ryoma’s father was destined for greatness until he injured himself during a match, ending his career forever. His talent was passed to his son, who is determined to be the best tennis player in the world. Can a twelve-year-old gain the respect of his teammates despite his small size and young age?
Comedy
Mashle: Magic and Muscles by Hajime Komoto
Magic is everything. Everyone can use it, and one’s skill determines their social status. Mash lives in the forest, oblivious to the ways of the world. He’s grown strong thanks to his daily training. When Mash is discovered, he has no choice but to enroll in magic school. He must beat the competition without revealing his secret–he can’t use magic!
Shojo
Alice in the Country of Hearts by QuinRose
Alice is having a nap in her garden when suddenly before her there appears a young man with rabbit ears! He whisks her away to a fantastic (but dangerous) world that seems straight out of a fairy tale, but one where every resident brandishes a weapon… Will Alice ever find her way back home?
Kageki Shojo!! by Kumiko Saiki
Sarasa has always wanted to play the role of Oscar in the all-female Kouka Acting Troupe. To do that, she has to attend two years at the Kouka School of Musical and Theatrical Arts. Though Sarasa is great at making friends, her outspoken nature and grand ambitions earn her lots of enemies as well. Will she achieve her dream of stardom?
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Tohru Honda was an orphan with no place to go until the mysterious Sohma family offered her a place to call home. Now her ordinary high school life is turned upside down as she’s introduced to the Sohma’s world of magical curses and family secrets.
Slice of Life
The Evil Secret Society of Cats by Pandania
Under the direction of the purple-caped Feline Commander, the Evil Secret Society of Cats schemes against humanity in a series of humorous stories as adorable as they are diabolical. After all, the complex nature of cats is part of their charm.
Animal Crossing New Horizon: Deserted Island Diary by Kokonasu Rumba
Read the gag-filled adventures of four goofy residents living among the Animal Crossing: New Horizons characters. Includes a bonus Animal Guide with game tips!
Cosplay
Cosplay Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to the Art of Costume Play by Yuki Takasou
Learn the basics of cosplay with original designs and patterns, lists of cosplay events, photography tips and more.
Popular Action
Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami
Although Yuji Itadori looks like your average teenager, his immense physical strength is something to behold! Every sports club wants him to join, but Itadori would rather hang out with the school outcasts in the Occult Research Club. One day, the club manages to get their hands on a sealed cursed object. Little do they know the terror they’ll unleash when they break the seal…
Demon Slayer by Koyoharu Gotouge
In Taisho-era Japan, Tanjiro Kamado is a kindhearted boy who makes a living selling charcoal until his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his family and turns his sister into a demon, forcing Tanjiro on a dangerous journey to destroy the demon and save his sister.
My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi
Without any special power, middle school student Izuku Midoriya has no chance of getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, but an encounter with the great hero All Might gives him an opportunity to change his destiny.
Classics
Case Closed by Gosho Aoyama
Precocious high school student Jimmy Kudo uses his keen powers of observation and astute intuition to solve mysteries that have left law enforcement officials baffled. After being fed a strange chemical which physically transforms him into a grade schooler, Jimmy goes by Conan Edogawa and continues to help the police solve their toughest cases.
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
When Edward and Alphonse Elric tried to use alchemy to resurrect their mother, one of them lost an arm and a leg…and the other became a soul locked in a suit of armor. Now Ed is an agent of the government, using his unique powers to obey orders. While trying to restore their bodies, the brothers will face some of the world’s most ruthless alchemists.
Battle Angel Alita by Yukito Kishiro
Disgraced cyber-doctor Daisuke Ido finds the detached head of a cyborg woman with amnesia. He names her Alita and equips her with a powerful new body. A moment of desperation reawakens in her nerves the legendary school of martial arts known as Panzer Kunst. Alita decides to track down and take out those who prey on the weak.
Skip Beat! by Yoshiki Nakamura
Kyoko followed her true love, Sho, to Tokyo and supported him while he made it big as an idol. Now, he says she means nothing to him, so Kyoko sets out to become even bigger than Sho, but finds that her bitter heart may be her undoing.
Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
Usagi Tsukino is a normal girl until she meets up with Luna, a talking cat, who tells her that she is Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon must fight evils and enforce justice, in the name of the Moon and the Moon Princess. She meets other girls destined to be Sailor guardians, and together, they fight the forces of evil!
Dragon Ball Z by Akira Toriyama
Son Goku is the greatest hero on Earth. Five years after defeating the demon king Piccolo–he’s married, and he has a child, Son Gohan. But what is the real reason for Goku’s incredible strength? A visitor from outer space arrives bearing terrible news–Goku is an alien! Goku must fight his incredibly strong brother to save his family and the entire human race.
LGBTQ+
Boys Run the Riot by Keito Gaku
High schooler Ryo knows he’s transgender, but he doesn’t have anyone to confide in. The only time Ryo feels at ease is when he’s wearing his favorite clothes. One day, while out shopping, Ryo runs into the new kid. The guy who looked so tough in class has the same taste in fashion as him! Ryo now has someone he can open up to—and a way to express himself to the world.
My Love Mix-Up! by Wataru Hinekure
Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she’s written the name of another boy—Ida—on it. To make matters more confusing, Ida sees Aoki holding that very eraser and thinks Aoki has a crush on him!
Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki
When it comes to love, high schooler Chika wonders if she might be an alien. She’s never fallen for or even had a crush on anyone, and she has no desire for physical intimacy. It’s only when Chika enters college and meets peers like herself that she learns there’s a word for what she feels inside–asexual. After years of wondering if love was the answer, Chika realizes that the answer she long sought may not exist at all–and that that’s perfectly normal.
Romance
Honey So Sweet by Amu Meguro
Nao Kogure didn’t realize when she left an umbrella and a box of bandages in the rain for injured delinquent Taiga Onise, that she would meet him again in high school. Nao wants nothing to do with the terrifying Taiga, but he presents her with a huge bouquet of flowers and asks her to date him! Is Taiga really scary, or is he a sweetheart in disguise?
Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi
Years ago, Genma promised his old friend Soun Tendo that Ranma would marry one of Soun’s daughters and carry on the family’s martial arts school. Except that the girl picked to be Ranma’s bride doesn’t seem to like him, Ranma keeps getting into fights…and did we mention he turns into a girl when hit with cold water?
A Devil and Her Love Song by Miyoshi Tomori
Maria’s frank nature gains her more enemies at her new school, but her angelic singing voice inadvertently catches the attention of Yusuke Kanda and Shin Meguro. Can these boys mend her hardened heart, or will they just end up getting scorched?
Fantasy
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess by Akira Himekawa
Once upon a time, wizards tried to conquer the Sacred Realm of Hyrule. The Spirits of Light sealed the wizards’ power within the Shadow Crystal and banished them to the Twilight Realm beyond the Mirror of Twilight. Now, an evil menace is trying to find Midna, princess of the Twilight Realm, and the fragments of the Shadow Crystal to gain the power to rule over both realms.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada
Elf mage Frieren and her party have defeated the Demon King. But Frieren will long outlive the rest of her former party. How will she understand what life means to the people around her? The funeral of one her friends confronts Frieren with her own near immortality. Frieren sets out to fulfill the last wishes of her comrades and finds herself beginning a new adventure.
The Knight Blooms Behind Castle Walls by Masanari Yuduka
Rosa dreams of taking up arms as a courageous knight! To be one, she must first be a squire. Those duties around the castle are much less glorious. One moment she’s caring for the horses in the stable. Next she’s battling the task of chopping firewood or conquering a mountain of laundry. She must be ever -ready to assist the knight she serves! Her role may seem small and the tasks mundane, but each is an important step to becoming a knight. Rosa will face every challenge with the heart of a hero!
For Artists
How to Draw Manga Stroke by Stroke by 9colorstudio
Discover the joy of drawing! Manga is a fun and fantastic style of art that is wildly popular all over the world. Full of easy-to-follow tutorials, this illustrated guide gives you everything you need to create your own incredible- looking manga characters, stroke by stroke.
Bakuman by Tsugumi Ohba
Average student Moritaka Mashiro enjoys drawing for fun. When his classmate and aspiring writer Akito Takagi discovers his talent, he begs Moritaka to team up with him as a manga-creating duo. But what exactly does it take to make it in the manga-publishing world?
Let’s Draw Manga Chibi Characters by Samantha Whitten
Create your own chibi art using just a pencil, pen, markers, and paper! The step-by-step projects show you how to draw different chibi characters in any pose and from all angles. Tips and techniques for drawing chibi characters abound!
Compiled by Christy Ciota in 2024
