Matsumoto, Tomo. Beauty is the Beast.

MATSUMOTO, Tomo. Beauty is the beast . Viz. 184p. illus, c2005. 1421502895. $8.99. JS

Eimi Yamashita has just moved into her new dorm, and she must now pass the initiation test: sneak into the boys' dorm and steal a pair of nameplates, lf she is caught, she will be expelled. Eimi sneaks into the boys' dorm, and of course is spotted immediately. She manages to hide in the room of Wanichin, an older boy. Wanichin is tall, a bit older, and exotic looking, with a mysterious, somewhat dangerous air. Most people are scared of Wanichin, but Eimi likes him. Could there be romance? I think Hell would freeze over first, but I'm not a 14-year-old girl, so pay no attention to me.

Beauty is the Beast is a shojo manga--shojo means girl, this manga's intended audience. The stories, which focus on Eimi and her dorm mates, are light and enjoyable. Eimi is bubbly and likable and something of an airhead; Wanichin, despite his reputation, behaves like a perfect gentleman. The art focuses on the characters: everyone is attractive and has a great body (except for Eimi, who seems to be younger). Beauty contains mild sexuality based on the fantasies of young teenage girls; there is kissing, handholding and non-graphic talk about sex. One of the stories features an underwear thief, who is a middle-aged man. There is also mild violence, including one reference to corporal punishment. Recommended for libraries with manga collections catering to girls. George Galuschak, YA Libn., Montvale PL, Montvale, NJ