Kekkaishi, Volume 8

Starred review from April 1, 2007
Yoshimori and Tokine are rival kekkaishi, or barrier masters, who are pledged to protect mystical Karasumori Forest from demon ayakashi who want to absorb the site's power. When a mysterious band of powerful ayakashi attempts to take over the forest, Yoshimori vows to seal off permanently access to the forest's power before the ayakashi succeed. In Volume 8, Gen, a half-human, half-ayakashi operative sent by the Shadow Organization to help protect the forest, breaks a taboo by allowing his ayakashi side to take over during a fight. As Yoshimori works to keep Gen from being expelled from the Shadow Organization, Gen flashes back to his childhood and the first time the ayakashi within him manifested itself. Full of all the action, adventure, humor, angst, and rivalry that make Bleach such a crossover hit, Kekkaishi is just as much fun, only aimed at a slightly younger audience. With clear yet beautifully detailed artwork, easily identifiable characters, and only mild language and minimal fan service, this series is a great transition story for younger teens moving toward more intricate story lines. Highly recommended for teen collections.Eva Volin, Alameda Free Lib., CA

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.