Kamichama Karin Volume 1 - Softcover

Koge Donbo; Sentar, Lianne; Rymer, Nan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1595328475 ISBN 13: 9781595328472

Publisher: TokyoPop, 2005

Synopsis

Karin is an average girl--at best. She's not good at sports and gets terrible grades. On top of all that, her parents are dead and her beloved cat Shi-chan just died, too. She is miserable--but everything is about to change. Little does Karin know that her mother's ring has the power to make her a goddess!"--Cover, p. [4], v, 1.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

Superhero comics have often been called adolescent power fantasies that appeal to boys not girls. But consider the heroine of this manga series, whose catchphrase is "I am... God!" Orphaned schoolgirl Karin Hanazono finds emotional solace only in her pet cat. When the cat dies, Karin questions her faith in God. But soon she is befriended by sweet, pretty Himeka and her handsome but bad-tempered cousin, Kazune Kujyou. Karin realizes she is becoming smarter and stronger, and discovers that she can transform into a "goddess." She also discovers the responsibilities of maturity: she cannot change into her goddess form unless she wishes to protect someone. As in many superhero stories (but without their violence), this is a coming-of-age tale whose young hero painfully makes the transition from emotional dependence on her parents and pet to mastering the "powers" within herself. Despite Karin's romantic mooning over Kazune, this book has a strong feminist theme. Not only is Karin angered by Kazune's blatant sexism, but she also derives her "divine" power from her mother's ring. Koge-Donbo (Di Gi Charat) draws characters with typical manga cuteness, although the visual storytelling is sometimes confusing. The target audience of young girls should find this book satisfying. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 5-9–Karin is an orphan living with a not very loving aunt. She is doing poorly in school and has no real friends. After her cat dies, she feels more alone than ever. She meets strangers who help her to become a goddess using the power of her mother's ring and her own inner strength. Together, they fight an enemy, someone trying to steal their powers. Karin is an unusual superhero, at all times very human. However, the manga-style illustrations are a bit confusing and don't always support the story. Inexperienced readers might have a little trouble following the text at times and may not appreciate the art. An additional purchase.–Ronnie Gordon, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: TokyoPop
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1595328475
• ISBN 13: 9781595328472
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208