Kubo, Tite. Bleach.

KUBO, Tite. Bleach. Viz. 189p. illus, c2004. 1591164419. $7.95. JS

Ichigo Kurosaki, the hero of Bleach, has a serious attitude problem. Maybe it's because he's 15 years old; maybe it's because of his bright orange hair, which has earned him the nickname of "Strawberry"; or maybe it's because he's always being pestered by dead people. Strawberry can see ghosts, which is no big deal until the night he's visited by the girl dressed in black who tells him that a Hollow is coming to eat his family.

Hollows, just in case you didn't know, are evil spirits that prey upon the souls of both the dead and the living. The girl dressed in black is a Soul Reaper, and during the course of her battle with the aforementioned Hollow she is badly injured and forced to loan Strawberry her powers. When the loan turns out to be permanent, Strawberry is stuck with the job of being a Soul Reaper. This entails dressing in black robes and slicing up Hollows with Zanpaku-To Ghost Cutter, the sword so big it has its own name. Unfortunately, Strawberry's disdain for the traditional method of fighting Hollows--sneaking up behind them and hitting them in the head--in favor of hand-to-hand combat means that he may soon experience the spirit world firsthand.

Bleach is an enjoyable, fast-paced read; there is lots of action and comic book violence, along with some mild vulgarity. Strawberry is a likable character who will appeal to 15-year-olds everywhere. Recommended for libraries with manga collections. George Galuschak, YA Libn., Montvale P.L., Montvale, NJ

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.