Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Volume 1

July 1, 2011

Gr 7 Up-Rikuo Nuro's grandfather is the leader of a notorious clan of supernatural creatures, and he wants his grandson to take over for him when he retires. The demons that he's been chosen to lead are called yokai, and they feed on the fears of humans. Rikuo has one-quarter yokai blood running through his veins. When this part of him awakens, he finds himself transforming into a powerful warrior and the future leader of the yokai, even though he's torn between his humanity and his duty. In this first installment of the series, readers learn that not all yokai are happy about the teen's possible rise to power, and an especially vicious yokai and his clan try to wipe Rikuo out. The story consists mainly of exposition and action, with a little story line in between. This is most likely to set up subsequent volumes in the series. The black-and-white artwork supports the battle sequences nicely, using bold strokes and large expressions of emotion throughout. Fans of fast-paced, action-based mangas will enjoy this one.-Kimberly Castle, Stark County District Library, Canton, OH

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