Library Wars (Manga) series by Kiiro Yumi

Find it on the graphic novels shelf: GRA YUM

I discovered the Library Wars manga series through blind date with a book, I am so glad my friend got me to take part in the program. Library Wars takes place in Japan in the near future, where the government has created the media betterment act, giving people the right to remove books, magazines, newspapers and other media which they consider harmful to society. They send out employees of the Media Betterment Committee (MBC) to gather up any media that they see as harmful and destroy it.

The libraries formed the Library Freedom Act in opposition to the MBC and with the help of local communities, established their own army, called the Library Forces, to fight against the MBC and protect books. Libraries are the only protected places from the MBC whilst the bookstores aren't. A girl named Iku Kasahara was at the bookstore when the MBC showed up, removing all the books on their list. Her favourite book, the one that she happened to be buying at the time, was on the MBC's list. She receives help from a Library Force agent who is able to save her book.

Admiring the agent's work, she graduates from university as a Librarian, joins the Library Forces and is the first girl to be accepted as an agent. After training hard and proving to be a great agent she is placed into the elite team alongside another newbie, Hikaru Tezuka as well as Atsushi Dojo and Mikihisa Komaki, both second class agent Librarians. Iku faces many challenges, some life threatening, others playing with her heart. Learning lessons along the way and overcoming some of the biggest obstacles she has ever faced!

- Antoinette Dagher (7C)

Thanks Antoinette for this wonderful review. We're so glad that you found this series through "Blind Date with a Book" which we will be running again in Book Week this August - Mrs Crisafulli