Haikyu!!

• Author: Haruichi Furudate
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2016-2021
• Volumes: 45

Perfect for sports fans, Haikyu!! is all about volleyball. This behemoth series is massively popular world wide with 45 completed volumes, an anime adaptation, and a plethora of toy merchandising. Haikyu!! follows the journey of Shoyo Hinata as he follows his dream of becoming a star volleyball player just like his hero “the Little Giant”. This series goes into the rules and game of volleyball in great detail while still bringing that exciting competitive atmosphere present in sports media.

A Silent Voice

• Author: Yoshitoki Oima
• Publisher: Kodansha
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2015-2016
• Volumes: 7

Heartbreaking and inspiring in the same measure, A Silent Voice is a well known manga series that deals with some extremely heavy topics like bullying and suicide. Six years ago a young boy named Shoya bullied his classmate Shoko so much she left school. Now Shoya finds himself in her place as a victim. When the two meet again, both must struggle with the trauma of the past and the present.

The easiest way to get A Silent Voice is probably through a box set. At seven volumes, the completed series doesn’t take up a ton of shelf space. This series now has an anime adaptation.

Witch Hat Atelier

• Author: Kamome Shirahoma
• Publisher: Kodansha
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2019-present
• Volumes: 12

Coco wasn’t born with magic, but she wants to be a witch. When she inadvertantly turns her mother to stone, she’s taken in by a mysterious magician named Qifrey. To learn enough magic and save her mother, Coco must become a magician’s apprentice, but older darker magic might be at play.

Witch Hat Atelier is a teen title that can be enjoyed by younger audiences. With it’s truly unique art style, Witch Hat feels cozy and mysterious at the same time. This series is currently ongoing with 12 volumes.

Silver Spoon

• Author: Hiromu Arakawa
• Publisher: Yen Press
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2018-2020
• Volumes: 15

Silver Spoon is a fifteen volume completed manga series by the legendary mangaka Hiromu Arakawa. A departure from the fantasy themes of Full Metal Alchemist, Silver Spoon tells the story of Yuugo Hachiken who has decided to attend an agricultural high school instead of a prestigious high school in Tokyo. Silver Spoon is a hilarious slice of life story that goes to great lengths to explain the circle of life, commercial agriculture, and the food industry in Japan. This series has been adapted into an anime.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

• Author: Kanehito Yamada
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2021-present
• Volumes: 11

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has been somewhat of a surprise hit over the past two years, continued by its currently running anime adaptation. With bittersweet undertones, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End asks the question: what happens when the journey is over and you’ve long outlived all your friends? Frieren is a story of immortality, love, grief, and the knowledge that sadness can only feel so encompassing when one has been loved and loved in return.

Yona of the Dawn

• Author: Mizuho Kusanagi
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2016-present
• Volumes: 42

One of the more popular shojo manga currently in publication, Yona of the Dawn is a 42 volume series that follows Princess Yona after her father is killed by one of her closest companions and she is forced to flee for her life along with her guard Hak. Yona of the Dawn is a historical, fantasy, romance with some excellent art and story progression. Great for fans of series like Sailor Moon, Snow White with the Red Hair, Red River, and Dawn of the Arcana.

Akane-Banashi

• Author: Yuki Suenaga
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2024-present
• Volumes: 8

Currently eight volumes with a rapid release schedule, Akane-Banashi is a manga that follows Akane Osaka on her journey to learn the traditional Japanese art of Rokugo. After watching her father lose his change to become a rakugoka years ago Akane vows to get revenge and succeed in the art of storytelling herself. To do so, she needs to train and learn from the best. Akane-Banashi does an interesting job of fusing the competitive atmosphere of a sports manga with the informative history of a somewhat niche art.

My Love Mix-Up

• Author: Wataru Hinekure
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2021-2023
• Volumes: 9

Complete at 9 volumes, My Love Mix-Up is a comedic romance that really embraces the idea of going with the flow and miscommunication. Highshooler Aoki has a crush on his classmate Hashimoto, but one day a mishap with an eraser leads Aoki to accidentally confess to Ida, his male classmate. Instead of clearing up the understanding immediately, Aoki and Ida somehow end up dating each other. My Love Mix-Up is super fun and heartwarming. Aoki and the other three main characters are charming and interesting.

Tamon’s B-Side

• Author: Yuki Shiwasu
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2023-present
• Volumes: 5

Tamon’s B-Side is an absurdist romantic comedy that follows Utage Kinoshita, a high schooler and mega fan of Tamon Fukuhara, her favorite boy band member. While working her summer job, Utage realizes that her client is actually Tamon! However, Tamon’s real life personality is far different from his on stage persona. Tamon’s B-Side currently has five volumes with a rapid publishing schedule. The story and characters are genuinely over the top, but it adds well to the story. This series was recently confirmed for an anime adaptation, so expect a boost in popularity at some point.

Even Dogs go to Other Worlds

• Author: Ryuuou and Hana Ichika
• Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment
• Age: Teen 13+
• Publication Date: 2023-present
• Volumes: 4

Even Dogs go to Other Worlds is a four volume fantasy, slice of life isekai story in which Takumi finds himself and his dog Leo transported to another world. Here he finds he has the special skill “herb cultivation” and Leo has transformed into a magical creature. This manga series is an adaptation of a light novel series of the same name. Overall the story is heartwarming and cozy.