SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

July 16, 2018 by Lori Henderson

Review: Juana and the Dragonewt’s Seven Kingdoms Volume 1

July 16, 2018 by Lori Henderson   Leave a Comment

JuanaAndTheDragonewts7Kingdoms1_frontcover_SevenSeas

Nid, a young adult dragonewt, finds a creature that can only be a thought-to-be-extinct Muernandes, or human, seemingly hatching from an egg. Feeling responsible for the girl, Juana, he decides to try to take her to the place she calls home, a land far to the north of the dragonewt kingdoms. They start on a journey that is filled with wonder, sadness and danger, where nothing is what it seems.

Juana and the Dragonewt’s Seven Kingdoms Volume 1
By Kiyohisa Tanaka
Teen
Seven Seas Entertainment, January 2018
ISBN: 978-1626927490
180 pgs, $12.99USD

Juana and the Dragonewt’s Seven Kingdoms  is a coming of age manga set in the far future, where humans have all but vanished from the world, leaving only their artifacts. Rising to take their place are the Dragonewts, or Guardunes, reptilian beings who have become the dominant species, taking after their predecessors in many ways.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The story follows Nid, a timid yet impulsive young male dragonewt, living on his own. To earn a living, he goes out into the wastes, gathering human artifacts to refurbish and sell. His only two friends are Zeddan, who he also works for, and Remi, an odd seamstress that intimidates Nid, though there isn’t much that doesn’t. He hates confrontations and will do anything to avoid them, causing him to act without thinking. He feels like an outsider with his own people, especially since he is harassed by the townsfolk because of his carnivorous lineage.

Juana is the young human girl Nid finds. She appears to be 6-7 years old, and the opposite of Nid in many ways. She speaks only Spanish, so Nid (and the reader) can’t interpret her words, but she still finds ways to be understood. She isn’t timid, and she will make her needs known. She is fiercely loyal to Nid, treating him like a big brother, seeking comfort from him when scared and keeping him calm in a crisis.

A lot of time is spent setting up the dragonewt world and developing Nid as a character. Because we are shown most of this, it does take a while for the story to get moving. But the characters and their world are interesting enough to make it worth the wait. Nid and Juana are relatable, and watching them start their journey is a lot of fun, even as Nid’s naivete makes you wince leading up to the volume’s cliffhanger.

Tanaka’s art is filled with as much playfulness and energy as her characters. Much of Juana’s communication is done through her actions and expressions, which Tanaka carries off well. The same can be said of Nid’s fears and doubts coming through. There is also a great variety of dragonewts, with many unique looks and even serpentine bodies or extra limbs.

Juana and the Dragonewt’s Seven Kingdoms Volume 1 is a fun read, even if its world-building does take some time to get Juana and Nid going on their journey. It makes for a richer and therefore more satisfying story, one which am I eager to continue.

Filed under: Manga

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
adventurefantasyMangaTeen

About Lori Henderson

Lori Henderson is a mother of two teenage daughters and an avid reader. She blogs about manga at her personal blog Manga Xanadu as well as contributing and editing for Manga Village. She blogs about all things fandom (mainly Doctor Who) at her other personal blog Fangirl Xanadu. She's been at it so for over 5 years now and counting!

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Azuki Manga | Interview

by Lori Henderson

February 2023

Insomniacs After School, vol. 1 | Review

by Lori Henderson

January 2023

My Sister, the Cat, vol. 1 | Review

by Lori Henderson

January 2023

SHY, vol. 1 | Review

by Lori Henderson

November 2022

Romantic Killer, vol. 1 | Review

by Lori Henderson

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

U.S. Gov: ‘All Books Must Have Round Corners’

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day – Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Swim Team

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Write What You Know. Read What You Don’t, a guest post by Lauren Thoman

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Graphic Novels for Cat Lovers

10 Graphic Biographies Bring Notable Figures to Life | Stellar Panels

Funny Books for Unfunny Times

Shoujo Manga: Let's Hear It for the Girls | Mondo Manga

13 Graphic Novels To Look Forward to in 2020 | Stellar Panels 

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023