Dana is excited about her school trip to Japan despite the fact that she is surrounded by the Melly Mob, "in-crowd" kids who make fun of her.
Dana is certain she will be less of an outsider in Japan, home of manga and anime. But she soon discovers that it's just as difficult to fit in with a foreign culture as it is to fit in at school. And the only other manga fan that she meets refuses to talk to her. As Dana learns to meet people halfway and gains some friends in Japan, Melissa, leader of the Melly Mob, makes every effort to remind her that she's still an outsider.
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible. Also available in French as L'effet manga.
While researching Manga Touch, Jaqueline Pearce visited Japan and, like her main character Dana, she explored ancient sites as well as modern Tokyo. During the writing of the book at her home in Vancouver, British Columbia, she continued to immerse herself in Japanese culture, from history and myths to anime, manga and food. Jaqueline is the author of several books for children, including Dog House Blues and The Truth about Rats and Dogs.
"This is another excellent title in a superb series for older students with low reading skills."
"Readers will easily identify with fish-out-of-water Dana, and travel-minded teens will appreciate the tourist's-eye view of Japan."