2009 Readers Poll: Best New Shojo Manga
2009 was a great year for manga, and there was a lot of memorable, romantic, funny and sweet shojo manga titles that made their debut. There were vampires, yokai and hilariously dysfunctional high schools, but the one title that was the clear winner in readers' hearts was Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You by Karuho Shiina.
See more of the best manga of 2009
Author and Artist: Karuho Shiina
Publisher:VIZ Media
for Kimi ni Todoke Vol. 1
With her long black hair and slightly scary demeanor, Sawako tends to be avoided by her classmates because they fear that she'll give them the evil eye. But what they don't realize is that Sawako is really just sweet and shy to a fault. Then Sawako meets Kazehaya, a guy who's almost everything she's not: he's happy, outgoing and popular, and much to her surprise, he seems to like her too.More »
Author and Artist: Aya Kanno
Publisher: Shojo Beat / VIZ Media
for Otomen Vol. 1
At his high school, Asuka Masamune is thought to be the epitome of manliness. He's handsome, athletic and cool. But beneath his stern and strong exterior beats the heart of an otomen, a guy who excels at cooking and crafts, while having a weak spot for all things cute and sparkly. For years, his secret has been safe -- but all that changes when he meets and falls in love with Ryo, a super-cute girl who has absolutely no aptitude for sewing, cooking or anything girly.More »
Author and Artist: Hiro Fujiwara
Publisher:TokyoPop
for Maid Sama! Vol. 1
Misaki is strong and smart so it's little wonder that she's class president. But Misaki has a secret: she works at a maid café. When she's seen in her frilly apron by her class rival Takumi, Misaki thinks that her hard-fought rep is ruined. But her hunky classmate has other things in mind as he finds himself attracted to the maid/president.More »
Author and Artist: Miki Aihara
Publisher: Shojo Beat / VIZ Media
for Honey Hunt Vol. 1
While it seems like Yura lives a glamorous life as the only daughter of a beautiful actress and a famous composer, only Yura knows that the façade of family togetherness is just an act. She rarely sees her globe-trotting mother and father, but Yura says nothing because, well, it'd be bad publicity. But all that changes when her parents go through an ugly divorce, and normally shy Yura decides to prove herself by becoming an actress on her own terms.More »
Author and Artist: Kanoko Sakurakoji
Publisher: Shojo Beat / VIZ Media
for Black Bird Vol. 1
Misao has been able to see spirits for years, but now that she's 16, she learns that demons are irresistibly attracted to the scent of her blood. Her only hope is her childhood sweetheart, Kyo. Trouble is, Kyo's a tengu -- a winged demon who also wants to claim Misao as his bride.More »
Author and Artist: Kaoru Tada
Publisher:Digital Manga Publishing
for Itazura na Kiss Vol. 1
Kotoko has a crush on Naoki, the smartest, most handsome boy in her class. But she ends up crushed when he turns down her love letter with a stinging retort, "I don't like stupid girls." But fate has other things in mind...More »
Author and Artist: Ken Saito
Publisher:CMX Manga
for The Name of the Flower Vol. 1
After the sudden loss of her parents, shy and sweet Chouko withdraws into herself. After staying with several relatives, Chouko arrives at the house of her cousin Kei, a semi-reclusive novelist. Kei is gruff and somewhat anti-social, but as Chouko busies herself by doing housework and tending the Kei's garden, she slowly comes out of her shell. As they two grow closer, both start to wonder if their relationship can be something more...More »
Author and Artist: Julietta Suzuki
Publisher:TokyoPop
for Karakuri Odette Vol. 1
Odette is an android, but she's eager to understand what makes her different from humans. To learn more, she asks her creator to enroll her in high school -- but discovers that being a human is kind of... well, kind of complicated.More »
Author and Artist: Kazuko Furumiya
Publisher:TokyoPop
for Bloody Kiss Vol. 1
Kiyo is a poor but hard-working high school student who inherits a mansion from her grandmother. But her windfall is less than wonderful when she finds out that the once grand estate is falling to pieces and on top of that, she also gets two roommates who just happen to be vampires. To make things even more complicated, one of them is determined to make her his bride (a.k.a. sole blood donor). But Kiyo's a spunky gal, and she's not going to let that happen without a fight.More »
Author and Artist: Jun Yuzuki
Publisher:Del Rey Manga
for Gakuen Prince Vol. 1
When high school hunk Azusa Mizutani gets transferred to mostly-female Jyoshioka Gakuen, he discovers that he's the new 'meat' thrown to the sex-crazed student body. The only thing protecting him from this lusty female mob is mousy, honor student Rise Okitsu, the one girl who doesn't want to seduce him.More »
See more of the best manga of 2009
WINNER - Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You
Author and Artist: Karuho Shiina
Publisher:VIZ Media
for Kimi ni Todoke Vol. 1
With her long black hair and slightly scary demeanor, Sawako tends to be avoided by her classmates because they fear that she'll give them the evil eye. But what they don't realize is that Sawako is really just sweet and shy to a fault. Then Sawako meets Kazehaya, a guy who's almost everything she's not: he's happy, outgoing and popular, and much to her surprise, he seems to like her too.More »
2nd place - Otomen
Author and Artist: Aya Kanno
Publisher: Shojo Beat / VIZ Media
for Otomen Vol. 1
At his high school, Asuka Masamune is thought to be the epitome of manliness. He's handsome, athletic and cool. But beneath his stern and strong exterior beats the heart of an otomen, a guy who excels at cooking and crafts, while having a weak spot for all things cute and sparkly. For years, his secret has been safe -- but all that changes when he meets and falls in love with Ryo, a super-cute girl who has absolutely no aptitude for sewing, cooking or anything girly.More »
3rd place - Maid Sama!
Author and Artist: Hiro Fujiwara
Publisher:TokyoPop
for Maid Sama! Vol. 1
Misaki is strong and smart so it's little wonder that she's class president. But Misaki has a secret: she works at a maid café. When she's seen in her frilly apron by her class rival Takumi, Misaki thinks that her hard-fought rep is ruined. But her hunky classmate has other things in mind as he finds himself attracted to the maid/president.More »
4th place - Honey Hunt
Author and Artist: Miki Aihara
Publisher: Shojo Beat / VIZ Media
for Honey Hunt Vol. 1
While it seems like Yura lives a glamorous life as the only daughter of a beautiful actress and a famous composer, only Yura knows that the façade of family togetherness is just an act. She rarely sees her globe-trotting mother and father, but Yura says nothing because, well, it'd be bad publicity. But all that changes when her parents go through an ugly divorce, and normally shy Yura decides to prove herself by becoming an actress on her own terms.More »
5th place - Black Bird
Author and Artist: Kanoko Sakurakoji
Publisher: Shojo Beat / VIZ Media
for Black Bird Vol. 1
Misao has been able to see spirits for years, but now that she's 16, she learns that demons are irresistibly attracted to the scent of her blood. Her only hope is her childhood sweetheart, Kyo. Trouble is, Kyo's a tengu -- a winged demon who also wants to claim Misao as his bride.More »
6th place - Itazura na Kiss
Author and Artist: Kaoru Tada
Publisher:Digital Manga Publishing
for Itazura na Kiss Vol. 1
Kotoko has a crush on Naoki, the smartest, most handsome boy in her class. But she ends up crushed when he turns down her love letter with a stinging retort, "I don't like stupid girls." But fate has other things in mind...More »
7th place - The Name of the Flower
Author and Artist: Ken Saito
Publisher:CMX Manga
for The Name of the Flower Vol. 1
After the sudden loss of her parents, shy and sweet Chouko withdraws into herself. After staying with several relatives, Chouko arrives at the house of her cousin Kei, a semi-reclusive novelist. Kei is gruff and somewhat anti-social, but as Chouko busies herself by doing housework and tending the Kei's garden, she slowly comes out of her shell. As they two grow closer, both start to wonder if their relationship can be something more...More »
8th place - Karakuri Odette
Author and Artist: Julietta Suzuki
Publisher:TokyoPop
for Karakuri Odette Vol. 1
Odette is an android, but she's eager to understand what makes her different from humans. To learn more, she asks her creator to enroll her in high school -- but discovers that being a human is kind of... well, kind of complicated.More »
9th place - Bloody Kiss
Author and Artist: Kazuko Furumiya
Publisher:TokyoPop
for Bloody Kiss Vol. 1
Kiyo is a poor but hard-working high school student who inherits a mansion from her grandmother. But her windfall is less than wonderful when she finds out that the once grand estate is falling to pieces and on top of that, she also gets two roommates who just happen to be vampires. To make things even more complicated, one of them is determined to make her his bride (a.k.a. sole blood donor). But Kiyo's a spunky gal, and she's not going to let that happen without a fight.More »
10th place - Gakuen Prince
Author and Artist: Jun Yuzuki
Publisher:Del Rey Manga
for Gakuen Prince Vol. 1
When high school hunk Azusa Mizutani gets transferred to mostly-female Jyoshioka Gakuen, he discovers that he's the new 'meat' thrown to the sex-crazed student body. The only thing protecting him from this lusty female mob is mousy, honor student Rise Okitsu, the one girl who doesn't want to seduce him.More »