by Machiko Ocha

This single-volume manga is a love story from the point of view of a male geek, who steps in when a drunk man harasses a beautiful woman on a train. She sends the geek a thank-you gift, and he consults other anonymous users on Japan’s hugely popular web-based forum, 2channel, for advice on what to do next. He feels totally outclassed by her, due to his extreme nerdiness, but he also can’t throw away his chance to contact her again. The other anonymous users, made up of various people around Japan, try to help him make up for his lack of social skills, dating experience, etc., giving him the nickname of “Train Man.” The story is based on events that unfolded on the actual 2channel, and despite probably being a publicity stunt, the compelling story (and its lack of copyright) has resulted in several manga, a play, a movie, and a TV series from various sources. This manga is very well translated, especially considering the complications of Japanese internet slang, etc. It’s funny and touching, and one of those rare romances that’s great for people who like love stories and people who hate love stories.

You can read the first 30 pages online at the publisher’s website.

Where to Find It

You can get it from the school library.

School	Location	Call Number	Status
Los Medanos College	Stacks	PN6790.J33 O2313 2006	AVAILABLE

Since Contra Costa libraries only have one copy of Train Man: A Shojo Manga, you might want to request it through Link+. You get the book through your local library, so you will need to have a library card.

1. Read all the directions.
2. Click here to go to the Link+ search.
3. Click "Request this item."
4. Pick your local library. This will probably be "Contra Costa Public."
5. Give them your library card number and whatever else they need.
6. When the book comes in, your library will call you.

You might want to read the rules for borrowing books before you request anything.

If you want to check on the book or cancel your order, go here.
This list was last updated February 3, 2012 at 2:22 am UTC. Click here to see newer information.

by Kaoru Mori

Emma is a generally well-researched, charming story about the life of a maid in Victorian England. She’s different from other maids because she knows how to read (and she likes to). Naturally, there is cross-class romance–she falls in love with a wealthy young man!–and lots of details about the daily life of of the period. It’s surprisingly funny in parts, too. We first saw advertisements for this during our honeymoon in Japan, and I never thought it would be released in the US, but now it has been. Despite the frilly dresses and the theme of romance, when this series was published in Japan, it ran in a magazine aimed at men. (Japan is really different sometimes.)

This is not related to the Jane Austen novel Emma.

Where to Find It

You can get it from the public library.

Library	Location	Call Number	Status
Antioch	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Clayton	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Concord	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Danville	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	Checked out, due 2/19/12
Danville	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Dougherty Station (San Ramon)	Young Adult Paperbacks	YA FIC MORI, K.	Checked out, due 3/24/12
El Cerrito	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	Checked out, due 2/21/12
El Sobrante	Young Adult Paperbacks	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Hercules	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Lafayette	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Martinez	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Orinda	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Pinole	Young Adult Paperbacks	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Pittsburg	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Pleasant Hill	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
San Pablo	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
San Ramon	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library
Ygnacio Valley (Walnut Creek)	Young Adult	YA FIC MORI, K.	In library

This list was last updated February 6, 2012 at 12:36 am UTC.