YA Manga

The term "manga" (mahn-gah) is used to describe graphic novels from Japan aimed at both adult and younger audiences. What makes them different from American graphic novels is that they read right to left, and usually feature a distinct Japanese art style. 

This list features classics, new titles, and some that you might not have heard of that are appropriate for ages 12-19—plus some specifically geared for older teens. So whether you are new to manga or have read almost everything in the genre, check out this list to discover old favorites and new obsessions.


Compiled by:
Laura W. & Fern S.
Dragon Ball

Akira Toriyama
(Manga- MANGA Dragonb 3-in-1 v. 1 Toriyam)

Legend has it that if all seven of the precious orbs called "Dragon Balls" are gathered together, an incredibly powerful dragon god will appear to grant one wish. 16-year-old Bulma is on a mission to find all seven orbs, but first she must convince young Son Goku to join her on her quest. With a monkey tail, superhuman strength and a magic staff for a weapon, Son Goku is ready to set out on the adventure of a lifetime...


Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

Kanehito Yamada
(Manga- MANGA Frieren Beyondj v. 1 Yamada)

Elf mage Frieren and her courageous fellow adventurers have defeated the Demon King and brought peace to the land. But Frieren will long outlive the rest of her former party. How will she come to understand what life means to the people around her?


From Me to You (Kimi Ni Todoke)

Karuho Shiina
(Manga- MANGA Kiminit v. 1 Shiina)

Sawako Kuronuma is the perfect heroine for a horror movie. With striking similarities to a haunting movie character she's mistakenly called Sadako by those around her. But when the most popular boy in class befriends her, she's sure to make more than just that--she's about to make some enemies too!


Fruits Basket

Natsuki Takaya
(Manga- MANGA Fruitsb Collect v. 1 Takaya)

After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out...into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. The Sohmas have a secret of their own--when embraced by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese zodiac!


The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil a Rún

Nagabe
(Manga- MANGA Girlfro v. 1 Nagabe)

In a land far away, there were two kingdoms: the Outside, where twisted beasts roamed that could curse with a touch, and the Inside, where humans lived in safety and peace. The girl and the beast should never have met, but when they do, a quiet fairytale begins.


Given

Natsuki Kizu
(Manga - MANGA Given v. 1 Kizu)

Ritsuka Uenoyama is bored with it all—with school, with his basketball club, and even with his one true passion: playing guitar. That is, until the day he finds his favorite hidden napping spot occupied by a strange boy cradling a broken-stringed guitar.


Haikyu!!

Haruichi Furudate
(Manga - MANGA Haikyu v. 1 Furudat)

Shoyo has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever, who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else? After losing his first and last volleyball match against Tobio, Shoyo swears to become his rival after graduating middle school. But what happens when the guy he wants to defeat ends up being his teammate?!


Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits

Midori Yuma
(Manga- MANGA Kakuriy Bedandb v. 1 Ioka)

Aoi Tsubaki inherited her grandfather's ability to see spirits--and his massive debt to them. Now she's been kidnapped and taken to Kakuriyo, the spirit world, to make good on his bill.


Komi Can't Communicate

Ruka Kobachi
(Manga- MANGA Komican v. 1 Odak)

Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi would love to make friends, but her shyness is interpreted as reserve, and the other students keep her at a distance. Only timid Tadano realizes the truth, and despite his own desire to blend in, he decides to help her achieve her goal of making 100 friends.


Laid-Back Camp

Afro
(Manga- MANGA Laidbac v. 1 Afro)

Rin enjoys camping by the lakeshore, Mt. Fuji in view. Nadeshiko rides her bike to see Mt. Fuji, too. As the two eat cup noodles together, what scenery will they behold? This series will make readers fall in love with camping!


Little Devils

Uuumi
(Manga- MANGA Littled v. 1 Uuumi)

When the hero Byron defeated the king of all devils, he thought his mission was over. But instead of dying, the mighty monarch was split into twelve, adorable, trouble-making children! Now Byron has a new mission: raise these little devils as if they were his own.


A Man and His Cat

Umi Sakurai
(Manga- MANGA Manandh v. 1 Sakurai)

A kitten languishes in a pet shop, unwanted and unloved. Having practically given up, the kitty himself is most shocked of all when an older gentleman comes into the store and wants to take him home! Will the man and the cat find what they're looking for..in each other?


My Brother's Husband

Gengoroh Tagame
(Manga- MANGA Mybroth v. 1 Tagame)

Yaichi is a work-at-home suburban dad in contemporary Tokyo, father to their young daughter, Kana. Their lives suddenly change with the arrival at their doorstep of a hulking, affable Canadian named Mike Flanagan, who declares himself the widower of Yaichi's estranged gay twin, Ryoji. Mike is on a quest to explore Ryoji's past, and the family reluctantly but dutifully takes him in.


Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

Naoko Takeuchi
(Manga- MANGA Sailorm Prettyg Eternal v. 1)

Usagi Tsukino is a normal girl until she meets up with Luna, a talking cat, who tells her that she is Sailor Moon. As SailorMoon, Usagi must fight evils and enforce justice, in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess. She meets other girls destined to be Sailor Senshi (Sailor Scouts), and together, they fight the forces of evil!


Silver Spoon

Hiromu Arakawa
(Manga- MANGA Silvers v. 1 Arakawa)

Time for a change of pace. Yuugo Hachiken flees the hustle and bustle of city life to enroll at Oezo Agricultural High School. At first he's just trying to outrun his problems, but instead he finds a place for himself in this quaint rural community.


Spy x Family

Tatsuya Endō
(Manga- MANGA Spyxfam v. 1 Endo)

Not one to depend on others, Twilight has his work cut out for him procuring both a wife and a child for his mission to infiltrate an elite private school. What he doesn't know is that the wife he's chosen is an assassin and the child he's adopted is a telepath.


Witch Hat Atelier

Kamome Shirahama
(Manga- MANGA Witchha v. 1 Shiraha)

In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made. Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch...until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician.


Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan

Sasami Nitori
(Manga- MANGA Wonderc v. 1 Nitori)

An adorable, full-color manga series about a young man who rescues a very special cat. Kyuu-chan loves snacks, cuddles, and bow ties, but most of all loves Hinata, the young professional who adopted this mischievous wonder cat into his home.


Manga for Older Teens
Akira

Katsuhiro Ōtomo
(Manga - MANGA Akira v. 1 Otomo)

In Neo-Tokyo, built on the former site of Tokyo after World War III, two teenagers are targeted by agencies after they develop paranormal abilities.


Bloom into You

Nio Nakatani
(Manga- MANGA Bloomin v. 1 Nakatan)

Yuu has always loved shoujo manga and yearns for the day when someone might give her a love confession. Yet when a junior high school classmate confesses his feelings to her--she feels nothing. When the next person to confess to Yuu is Nanami, a beautiful student council member, has her romantic dream finally come true?


Blue Period

Tsubasa Yamaguchi
(Manga- MANGA Blueper v. 1 Yamaguc)

Yatora is the perfect high school student, with good grades and lots of friends. It's an effortless performance, and, ultimately a dull one. But he wanders into the art room one day, and a lone painting captures his eye, awakening him to a kind of beauty he never knew.


Boys Run the Riot

Keito Gaku
(Manga- MANGA Boysrun v. 1 Gaku)

High schooler Ryo knows he's transgender, but he doesn't have anyone to confide in about the confusion he feels. he only time Ryo feels at ease is when he's wearing his favorite clothes. Then, and only then, the world melts away, and he can be his true self.


Chainsaw Man

Tatsuki Fujimoto
(Manga - MANGA Chainsa v. 1 Fujimot)

Denji’s a poor young man who’ll do anything for money, even hunting down devils with his pet devil-dog Pochita. But his sad life gets turned upside down one day when he’s betrayed by someone he trusts. Now with the power of a devil inside him, Denji’s become a whole new man—Chainsaw Man!


Delicious in Dungeon

Ryoko Kui
(Manga- MANGA Delicio v. 1 Kui)

When young adventurer Laios and his company lose all of their money and provisions in a dungeon, they decide to eat the monsters they encounter in order to escape.


Golden Kamuy

Satoru Noda
(Manga- MANGA Goldenk v. 1 Noda)

In the early 20th century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi Sugimoto searches the wilderness of the Japanese frontier of Hokkaido for a hoard of hidden gold. With only a cryptic map and a native Ainu girl to help him, Saichi must also deal with every murderous cutthroat, bandit and rogue who knows about the treasure!


Jujutsu Kaisen

Gege Akutami
(Manga- MANGA Jujutsu v. 1 Akutami)

Yuji Itadori would rather hang out with the school outcasts in the Occult Research Club. The club manages to get their hands on a sealed cursed object. Little do they know the terror they'll unleash when they break the seal.


Kaiju No. 8

Naoya Matsumoto
(Manga- MANGA Kaijuno v. 1 Matsumo)

Kafka hopes to one day keep his pact with his childhood friend Mina to join the Japan Defense Force. But while she’s out neutralizing kaiju, Kafka is stuck cleaning up the aftermath of her battles. Kafka has one more shot at realizing his dream. There’s just one problem—he’s suddenly turned into a kaiju!


Mob Psycho 100

ONE
(Manga- MANGA Mobpsyc v. 1 One)

Do you or someone you know need an exorcist who works cheap? Reigen's your guy! Well, he's a fraud, and he pays the guy who's got the real psychic power--his student assistant Shigeo--less than minimum wage. Reigen knows whenever the normally repressed kid's emotions reach level 100, it may unleash more psychic energy than either of them can handle!


The Promised Neverland

Kaiu Shirai
(Manga- MANGA Promise v. 1 Shirai)

Emma, Norman and Ray are the brightest kids at the Grace Field House orphanage. And under the care of the woman they refer to as 'Mom, ' all the kids have enjoyed a comfortable life. One day, though, they uncover the dark truth of the outside world they are forbidden from seeing.


A Sign of Affection

suu Morishita
(Manga- MANGA Signofa v. 1 Suumori)

Yuki, who's always been deaf, is used to communicating with sign language and her phone. When a tourist from overseas asks for directions, she nearly panics, until a handsome stranger steps in to help. The two feel drawn to each other and plan a date on a romantic winter's night, but Yuki's friend is afraid that she might be setting herself up to get hurt.


The Summer Hikaru Died

Mokumokuren
(Manga- MANGA Summerh v. 1 Mokumok)

Whatever came down from the mountains six months ago isn't Yoshiki's best friend Hikaru. Carrying on at school and hanging out as if nothing has changed--as if Hikaru isn't gone--would be crazy, but when it looks so very like Hikaru and acts so very like Hikaru...


Toilet-bound Hanako-kun

AidaIro
(Manga- MANGA Toiletb v. 1 Aidalro)

At Kamome Academy, rumors abound about the school's Seven Mysteries, one of which is Hanako-san. Said to occupy the third stall of the third floor girls' bathroom in the old school building, Hanako-san grants any wish when summoned.


Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror

Junji Ito
(Manga- MANGA Uzumaki Spirali Ito)

Kurôzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but by a pattern: uzumaki, the spiral, the hypnotic secret shape of the world. As the madness spreads, the inhabitants of Kurôzu-cho are pulled ever deeper into a whirlpool from which there is no return!


Vinland Saga

Makoto Yukimura
(Manga- MANGA Vinland v. 1 Yukimur)

Set in medieval England during the Viking invasions, it follows a band of Viking warriors through an epic story of vengeance, blood, tragedy, royal intrigue and more blood.


The Way of the Househusband

Kousuke Oono
(Manga- MANGA Wayofth v. 1 Oono)

A former yakuza legend leaves it all behind to become your everyday househusband. But its not easy to walk away from the gangster life, and what should be mundane household tasks are anything but!