Beet The Vandel Buster by Riku Sanjo Illustrator- Koji Inada Date of Publication: 2004 ISBN: 159116690X Number of Pages: 168

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Average
GENRES: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
THEMES: Good versus Evil, Coming of Age, Friendship

SUMMARY:
Many years from now, in a world much like our own, evil monsters called Vandels walk the earth in an attempt to destroy human civilization. Special individuals known as Vandel Busters have dedicated their lives to fighting these monsters and restoring peace. Beet is a young boy who sets out to become a Buster in order to end this Century of Darkness. Although Beet is always ready for action, he must learn to control his impulsiveness and train his abilities before he will be ready to fight. It is clear from the start that Beet is destined for great things, and with the help of his childhood friend Paola, anything is possible.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• likes Japanese cartoons
• likes drawing and reading stories through pictures
• has a strong sense of social justice
• wants to change the world
• enjoys action and adventure
• likes stories with monsters trying to take over

WHAT ELSE?
This is the first volume in the series, and takes some getting used to, as it reads from right to left. Surprisingly, many students have no problem with this whatsoever, and it can be wonderfully appealing to learning disabled and reluctant readers. Interestingly enough, Manga is also a wonderful choice for gifted students, who often enjoy the challenge of reading a new way, and like the multiple modalities of learning presented from both text and illustrations. It would appeal to those who enjoy the Dragonball series, as it is from the same publisher and is similar in themes and structure.

RELATED LINK:
Publisher’s Website