UnOrdinary | Review
unOrdinary
By Uru Chan
Harper Alley, c2023, $19.99
Grades 8 and up
I picked up this title for several reasons… for one, I wanted to break out of my comfort zone when reading graphic novels. I ordered it for my school’s library and wanted to better “sell” the title because it isn’t based on an anime series. Frankly, I picked it up because I liked the cover and title. It appealed to me. And for me, who is reluctant to read manga, this was a successful read.
In a world where everyone has a power, some powers are better than others. John, though, is an unordinary teen. He has no power and no ability, which makes him an outcast. This seems not to faze him at all. Seraphina, the school’s Queen Ace, gravitates to John. She doesn’t seem to care about John’s lack of ability. The duo becomes fast friends, which may be the catalyst for the jealousy of Arios, the school’s King Ace.
When Seraphina finds a copy of Unordinary, a book that has been banned, in John’s house, she borrows it. Her possession of the book in the school dorm unleashes a chain of events that puts John in danger. Other students are becoming suspicious of John’s past. Who is he? Where is he from? The clues are leading to something bigger and deeper.
The drama unfolds a bit slowly, but the momentum and worldbuilding is constant. John and Seraphina are very likable characters. We learn about Seraphina’s home life when she is suspended, which adds complexity to her story. The characters are multifaceted, with a hint of intrigue and mystery surrounding them. While much happens in the first volume, it is still very much a setup for a sequel and will leave readers begging for more.
The brightly colored graphic novel follows many of the tenets of classic manga, such as the elongated moment, but the vibrant coloring does deviate from the many translated titles brought over from Japan, which are typically black and white inked drawings. I found it interesting that word bubbles matched the characters’ hair. The artwork is bright, detailed, and draws in the eye.
While I typically am a “one and done” when it comes to manga series, I think I will check out volume two, which is due out sometime this summer; the series is also available on the Webtoon platform. The title has intrigued me enough to wonder… and I look forward to reading the next title.
Filed under: Manga, Reviews, Web Comics, Young Adult
About Esther Keller
Esther Keller is the librarian at William E. Grady CTE HS in Brooklyn, NY. In addition, she curates the Graphic Novel collection for the NYC DOE Citywide Digital Library. She started her career at the Brooklyn Public Library and later jumped ship to the school system so she could have summer vacation and a job that would align with a growing family's schedule. On the side, she is a mother of 4 and regularly reviews for SLJ. In her past life, she served on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee where she solidified her love and dedication to comics and worked in the same middle school library for 20 years.
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