The Wandering Schoolgirl

To say that I know very little about anime is being kind. I know practically nothing about it. I don't know what the difference between anime and manga is. I don't know who any of the characters are or what the heck they do with those big huge swords, much less how such itty-bitty teeny girls could hold a sword that big anyway.

By the third page of The Wandering Schoolgirl I had already come across a new word (and let me tell you, that's really rare for me): cosplaying. Luckily, the authors (Gary L. Gallegos and Louis C. Gallegos) kindly supply a definition in the next frame. If you're curious, cosplaying is dressing up as your favorite anime character.

Breanna, a 16 year-old schoolgirl, is talked into attending an anime convention dressed as the schoolgirl (her cosplay costume) by her younger sister (incidentally, my only complaint about the book is that the younger sister looks older). While there, she is magically transported to the real anime world to try and save a princess from the evil governors that have taken her over. Her only companion is her sister's Hey Piggy backpack, which is magically transformed into a talking, singing, bouncing, advice giver in the anime world.

At first confused, Breanna gets into the swing of things and even manages to defeat one of the wizards. Meanwhile, back at home, her sister and Uncle (and her sister's friend) are all searching for her.

Told in comic book style, the illustrations are crisp and detailed, which is hardly surprising since both of the authors once worked for Walt Disney Feature Animation. I recommend this book for anime and manga fans or any young girls who have ever wanted to be transported to a magical world. Appropriate for ages 8+.