Full moon o sagashite by Arina Tanemura

Bibliographic Information:
Tanemura, A. (2001). Full Moon o Sagashite. Japan: VIZ Media LLC; Shojo Beat Manga Ed edition. ISBN# 9781591169284

Plot Summary:
Miksuki is twelve. She spends all of her time at home with her grandmother. She is not allowed outside because she has a malignant tumor in her throat. Her only wish is to be able to sing, but the tumor only allows her to sing very softly. Takuto and Meroko, Harbingers of Death, appear to her asking why she won’t have the surgery. She explains about her dream to sing. The Harbingers make a deal with Miksuki. They make a deal. The Harbingers will help her get to the audition and she will quietly die. Takuto gives her a pill that makes her 16 and healthy. Miksuki sneaks out and attends the audition. Unbeknownst to Miksuki, Takuto becomes one of the judges, in a different guise, so that he can guarantee her loss. When Miksuki sings, though, Takuto is mesmerized. Miksuki wins. This upsets Meroko, who is worried that Takuto will remember his past thereby getting his soul back. But without a body, his soul will turn him into a ghost. Misuki is so happy, now she can find her childhood friend, Eichi. Madoka, another girl at the audition, tells Misuki that the only reason she won was because of her looks. Misuki worries, what if Madoka is right? She also worries about how she will get past her grandmother.

Critical Evaluation:
This was my first manga reading. At first I had a difficult time with the right to left direction. But after a few pages I was able to follow without much difficulty. The story is good, one that teens, especially girls, will enjoy. The romance of wanting desperately to find Eichi, the sadness of Misuki’s cancer, and the jealousy of Meroko and Madoka will be ideas that most teens will understand. They may even be able to relate to these concepts, having experienced similar emotions. By bringing in Takuto and Meroko, Tanemura broadens her potential audience. The Harbingers of Death and Miksuki and Takuto’s interest toward each other will draw more readers into the story. I was somewhat perplexed about the side notes from the author that appear every so often. At first they were a distraction to the story, but when I got used to them I found that they added to the story, by giving background information on manga, this particular manga, and about the author.

Reader's Annotation:
Twelve year old Miksuki has a malignant tumor on her throat, but she doesn’t want the surgery to remove it because then she will no longer be able to sing and by singing she hopes to be reunited with Eichi. Takuto and Meroko, Harbingers of Death, help Miksuki become 16 and healthy for periods of time so the she can attend a singing audition.

Information about the author:
When she was 18, Arina Tanemura began her manga career. Her first short stories appeared in Ribon magazine. She has written I-O-N, a supernatural high school romance; she contributed to Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, a popular series, and worked on Time Stranger Kyoko. While she likes to keep her manga and anime separate, Full Moon was turned into anime during its fourth episode. Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne has also been adapted to TV.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/1591169283/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Genre: Manga; Fantasy

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas:
• Why does Miksuki’s grandmother keep her in the house?
• What is your opinion on Madoka? Why?
• What is her motive?
• Why do you think Takuto remembers music so fondly?
• Why is Meroko against Miksuki at first? Why does she change her mind?
• Where is Eichi? What do you think happened to him? Why?

Reading Level/Interest Level:
The publisher recommends this book for ages 13 – up.

Challenge Issues:
Death; “comic book” format

If the book is challenged:
• Listen calmly to the complainant.
• Ask if s/he has read the entire novel.
• Show positive reviews of the novel.
• Show the selection policy.
If the complainant still has issues with the book:
• Request that the complainant read the entire book if this has not already occurred.
• Have the complainant fill out a reconsideration form.
• Set up a reconsideration meeting.
• Provide the reconsideration meeting members with:
o Positive reviews
o Selection policy
o Reconsideration policy

Selection Process:
I choose this book because it was featured during the genre presentation. In addition, manga is very popular with teens.