Woman World

 Dhaliwal, Aminder. Woman World. 2018. 259p. ISBN 9781770463356. 

In the early 21st century scientists noticed that there were less men than women. It was soon discovered that a birth defect was severely limiting the number of boys being born. Soon, there were no men left, and out of the ashes of a gendered society rose Woman World, a population of only women in charge of the planet. 

A group of women set out of the capital to build a village. Elders still remember the times when men were around, and can explain some of the cultural norms such as "that's what she said" and the impact of mall cops. Most women, however, are too young to have known any men, to they set about developing their own society in a non-gendered way. The absence of one gender has not eliminated the need for love, friendship and companionship, nor has it prevented heartbreaks and unreciprocated desires. In the end, they are humans trying to survive.

Assembling cartoons first published on Instagram, this graphic novel is entertaining and raises questions of what the world would look like if women were in charge. 

Hawkeye: Rio Bravo. Vol. 4

Fraction, Matt. Hawkeye, Vol. 4: Rio Bravo. 2015. 160p. ISBN 978-0-7851-8531-4. 

Things are getting complicated with the Tracksuit Mafia as Clint Barton continues to defend the apartment building he liberated from them in Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapons, Vol. 1. Now joined by his brother Barney, Clint finds himself and the building under relentless attack from the mobsters, led by the secret ghost face. Helped by the residents that Clint has taken under his wing, and by Kate Bishop, the new Hawkeye, Clint and Barney are ready to make a stand and stop the mob once and for all. But this time, even the amazing Hawkeye might have met his match!

Maniac Magee.

Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. 1990. 184p. ISBN 9780316807227. 

Orphaned at a young age when his parents were killed in a trolley accident, Jeffrey Magee first went into foster care with his aunt and uncle who were fighting with one another. Soon, Jeffrey realized he would be better off living on the streets than with those crazy folks, and that's exactly what he did. He not only ran away, but he ran for the sake of running. He crossed the bridge to the town on the other side of the river, and he never looked back.

Jeffrey's legend grew as other kids and even adults noticed him running through town. He made friends with an African-American girl who loves to read. He made enemies of the boys who were star athletes by demonstrating that he was faster and better than they were. His reputation grew, and his lack of fear gave rise to the name Maniac Magee. Living with Amanda's family for a while gave Jeffrey a sense of comfort, but it did not give him what he wanted more, an address.

Over the next years, Maniac Magee moves from one place to another within his new home town, never staying long but changing lives along the way. And, much to his surprise, Maniac Magee's most impactful change may be on himself!

Legend

 Lu, Marie. Legend. Book 1 of the Legend series. 2011. 305p. ISBN 9780399256752. Available at FIC LU on the library shelves and as an audiobook from Overdrive.

June is the only teen to score a perfect 1500 on the Republic's grueling entrance examination, granting her a life of privilege and wealth as one of the elite members of society. Her brother Metias, a captain in the Republic's armed forces, was proud of her for accomplishing such a feat, and she looks forward to following in his footsteps.

Day failed the entrance examination, and he has been on the run ever since. Considered a terrorist by the Republic, but scorned by the Patriots who are in open rebellion for failing to join them, Day navigates between the two factions, hoping to keep his brothers safe. When his younger brother contracts the plague, Day is forced to break into the hospital to acquire the vaccine that will help him recover.

During the daring mission, Day is confronted by Metias, the officer in command of the hospital's protection, and Metias ends up stabbed to death, while Day barely escapes with his life. Filled with rage, June vows to track down the fugitive and bring him to justice. But what if it wasn't Day who actually killed her brother? As she begins to uncover more information following Day's arrest, she discovers that the Republic is implicated in a secret conspiracy so vast no one would ever believe her. But Day would. As his execution nears, June must make a difficult choice. Renounce her life of wealth and certainty by helping Day escape, or respect order by siding with those who killed her brother. There's only one choice ...

Two engaging characters discover each other in this dystopian novel. Both of them are realistically portrayed and experience doubt and conflicting emotions. The supporting cast of characters help propel the story forward. Fans of the underdog will gobble up this story.

The story continues in Prodigy.

Black Butler, Vol. 26

Toboso, Yana. Black Butler, Vol. 26. 2018. 176p. ISBN 9781975354756. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

As Phantomhive and Sebastian return from the music hall after their unsuccessful chase for Blavat and the cult of the Blue Star in Black Butler, Vol. 25, someone at the door to Phantomhive's London residence shoots Prince Soma in the hand. Soma's butler, Agni, intervenes and protects his master by making the ultimate sacrifice and holding the door closed despite repeated knife wounds. Upon their arrival, Ciel and Sebastian are greeted by a scene of bloody chaos. Discovering that Soma is still alive, Sebastian brings him to Lady Sullivan so that he can be healed. The invader left a perplexing message on the wall, and Ciel is puzzled as to its meaning. Meanwhile, Violet recovers from his blood drain, but refuses to advance the police investigation. 

Fearing for his safety, Ciel returns to the Phantomhive Estate, only to discover that his older twin brother, the real Ciel Phantomhive, has returned in his absence, and soon the intertwined childhoods of the twins is revealed...

The story continues in Black Butler, Vol. 27.

Displacement

Hughes, Kiku. Displacement. 2020. 283p. ISBN 978-1-250-19354-4. Available on the graphic novels section of the library.

Kiku and her mother are taking a vacation in San Francisco, looking for information about the past of a grandmother Kiku never knew. Back in 1941, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during the Second World War, Kiku's grandmother, Ernestina, was interned along with her parents and most of the Japanese-American community of the West Coast in what was little better than concentration camps. 

The San Francisco of today has changed dramatically, and most evidence of this violent policy is gone. Kiku, however, finds herself transported in time back to the 1940s. She meets her grandmother, and finds herself carted off to a displacement camp. Kiku goes through two time displacements, but doesn't mention anything to her mother in case she thinks her daughter is going crazy or worse. On the third displacement, Kiku finds herself truly stuck back in time, and now she must adapt to live in the camps. Gaining a first-row seat in one of America's worst civil-rights abuse, Kiku bears witness to the pain and suffering the issei, the first generation Japanese immigrants, and their sons and daughters, the nissei, went through during the Second World War. Kiku also makes friends, and becomes part of the resistance that opposes the loss of civil liberties in the camps.

This beautifully-illustrated graphic novel provides a good look at a relatively unknown period of our history. Fans of history and of the Second World War will find the information contained in this book helpful to provide a better understanding of what Japanese-Americans on the West Coast lived through. Read We Hereby Refuse for another view of the Japanese-American experience in the camps.

The Mandalorian Armor

Jeter, K.W. The Mandalorian Armor. Book 1 of Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars. 1998. 387p. ISBN 9780553578850.

With the Rebellion now waging war against the Empire, Emperor Palpatine embraces a bold plot by Prince Xizor to destroy the Bounty Hunters Guild and then secure the allegiance of the surviving members to serve at the pleasure of the Emperor. For this plan to work, however, Xizor will need to convince the fiercest bounty hunter the Galaxy has ever known: Boba Fett. 

Thrilled at the possibility of eliminating a competing organization while earning a hefty paycheck, Fett jumps at the opportunity, and soon finds himself ensnared in a deadly game of chess, where the only way out is triumphing over your enemies, or dying brutally at their hand. A master tactician and a survivor, Fett is willing to gamble those odds!

The story continues in Slave Ship.