Series: Bleach, Volume 1
Author: Tite Kube
Published by: Viz Media, LLC
ISBN: 978-1591164418
Genre: Manga, Action, Adventure, Paranormal
Reading Level / Interest Age: Ages 14 and up
Author Profile:
“Kubo never took drawing seriously until he was 17, and after reading the manga Saint Seiya, which influenced him to become a manga artist. His first one-shot was "Ultra Unholy Hearted Machine", written for the Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1996. He wrote his first manga Zombiepowder, which was also published in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1999. It ran a short 27 chapters before being canceled in 2000. According to the author's commentary, Kubo was in a state of severe emotional trauma when he wrote it. Kubo later stated that he was not used to the magazine weekly serialization and used to pay more attention to his editor's comments rather than his own ideas.
Kubo initially expected the serialization of his next series, Bleach, to continue no longer than five years. The original story concept was submitted to Weekly Shōnen Jump shortly after the cancellation of Zombiepowder, but was rejected. Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball, saw the story and wrote a letter of encouragement to Kubo. As of June 2013, Bleach has reached 556 chapters, and an anime adaptation began running in Japan in 2004. The manga was named a winner of the Shogakukan Manga Award for its category in 2004. Kubo and Makoto Matsubara have co-authored two novelizations of the Bleach series, which were published by Shueisha under their Jump Books label. A Bleach movie was released in Japan on December 16, 2006, followed by a second movie in 2007, a third in 2008, and a fourth in 2010.” From – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tite_Kubo
Reader's Annotation:
Ichigio Kurosaki never thought his ability to see spirits would take him anywhere. However, after an encounter with a “Soul Reaper,” Ichigo realizes there may be more to his strange ability and it just might be time for him to accept his fate.
Plot Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki has always known two things, that he has a hot temper and that he is able to see spirits who are unable to rest in peace. Ichigio’s sixth sense has not disrupted his life too much, that is until he meets Rukia Kuchiki. Rukia is a “Soul Reaper” and member of a mysterious group called the “Soul Society” that hunts and destroys soul-devouring monsters called Hollows, ensuring the deceased find peace within the Soul Society. The two join forces and when Rukia is injured in battle, she attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he will be able to defeat the Hollow and save his family. What neither of them expects is that Ichigio will absorb all of it, turning him into a full-fledged Soul Reaper. As Rukia regains her own powers, Ichigio is quickly thrust into a world where dangerous spirits lurk and it is now his job to protect the innocent from the Hollows and help spirits find peace, a task Ichigo is not so sure he wants.
Critical Evaluation:
This being the first in the series, Kubo does an excellent job of developing the groundwork for the subsequent installments. Ichigo is a compelling hero and while he may fit the mold of most action heroes in terms of characterization, someone who is rough, fight prone, and a resolute loner but with a good heart, what makes him a believable hero is his reluctance to accept his fate and the fact that while he may have no desire to be a hero because of the risk and the moral dilemma that comes from killing something that was once human, at the same time it is impossible for him to sit idly by. Ichigo is a conflicted character and his ability to see the gray area makes him introspective and more than just the typical hero type. Rukia is another fascinating character because she is such a wonderful balance to Ichigo and while her characterization is often based on the tough, sure, intelligent, sword wielding soul reaper, Kubo is able to humanize her too by giving her flaws, such as her horrendous drawing skills, that make her relatable to readers and someone for female readers to admire. The only character who is a bit curious but not yet truly developed is Chad, who in the first installment comes across as a sort of gentle giant that develops a fondness for a little parakeet. Chad’s story is never really told in this first volume, however, he remains an interesting mystery and one that I hope is further explored in later installments.
While the characters are compelling, this is only further enhanced by the plot that is fast paced and has a forward momentum that moves fluidly. While at its heart this is an action manga with its fair share of sword wielding and monster slaying, it is also nicely balanced with both comedic moments and scenes filled with sorrow. This combination creates a well-rounded plot that is not too much of one thing and has the potential to attract a diverse audience. Readers can cheer as Rukia takes down a Hollow, laugh as Ichigo plays baseball with pepper bombs and empathize as Orihime recollects fond memories of the older brother who saved her from their abusive parents. These ups and downs are what keep the story going and what will encourage readers to continue with the series.
Curriculum Ties:
- Ethics / Decision making
- Japanese Culture
Challenges / Issues:
- Religious themes
- Suggestive images
- Violence
Defense of Challenges / Issues:
- Have a clear understanding of the library’s selection policy as well as copies available in order to identify specific points of the policy to challengers in order to strengthen defense.
- Express the library’s dedication to intellectual freedom and open access as outlined in the ALA Library Bill of Rights. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill
- Know the material being challenged in order to show that you understand the content and how the challenged material works in context with the rest of the text.
- Have access to both supportive and critical reviews from reliable sources, such as School Library Journal or VOYA. Provide challenger’s with these reviews through either hard copies or by including reviews in the catalog records of library materials.
- Have the ability to explain the rationale behind the inclusion of materials in the library’s collection by discussing an item’s literary merits, intended audience, and offering a brief summary.
- One of the most important lines of defense is to be an active listener and to stay calm. Pay attention to the patron’s concerns, do not interrupt, and do not take his/her challenge personally. Additionally, even if you do not agree with the challenge, still speak to the patron with understanding and compassion. Make sure to respectfully outline the library’s selection policies as well as the principles outlined in the Library Bill of Rights. If the patron is still adamant about the removal of the text, offer a “Request for Reconsideration” form, outlining the patron’s concerns that can be presented to senior library staff.
Book Talk Ideas:
- Discuss the traditional Japanese belief of spirits coexisting with humans and how Kube translated that into the storyline.
- Talk about Ichigo’s reluctance to accept his fate as a Soul Reaper.
Why this Book?
As someone new to manga, Bleach was recommended to me by a teen patron as a place to start. Thankful for the recommendation, Bleach is an excellent choice for those unfamiliar with manga because the storyline is succinct and clear with few sidebar distractions that are common in other stories. Additionally, the flow of the story is fluid making it easier to understand precisely what is going on. The fact that it is already popular with teen readers, also certainly helps.