June 2026 list by K. Pearson |
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As I Dream of You
by Jennifer Lee
Franny and Sam are each other's entire world. So what do you do when your world ends? Falling in love is supposed to hurt. That's what Franny and Sam, two cynical teenagers raised on tales of heartbreak and loss, have come to understand. Yet when they fall for each other, they find the reality of love is something else entirely: it's electrifying, all-encompassing, and easy. Theirs is a love that can conquer anything...perhaps even death. But Franny and Sam's quest to stay together--no matter the cost--soon blurs the line between reality and fantasy, and their shared dream threatens to turn into a nightmare.
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Barefoot Gen Vol. 1
by Keiji Nakazawa
Cartoonist Keiji Nakazawa was six years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on his hometown of Hiroshima. Shielded by a stone wall, he miraculously survived the blast. In this illustrated memoir, Nakazawa recounts his wartime childhood, his experience surviving the atomic bomb, and how the effects reverberated throughout his life. Compelled to tell his story in the memory of his family, Nakazawa turned to comics, penning his epic graphic novel series, Barefoot Gen: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima.
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The Book of Murmurs
by Candice Purwin
In this fantasy adventure, a young girl must brave a magical world of strange creatures and shivering landscapes to find her slain parents and defeat a monster who feeds off fear.
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A Cat Is a Cat in Any Life
by Ema Tohyama
Tragedy strikes a kitty in our world, and she gets a second chance at life in a fantasy world. A hero, heading home dejectedly after receiving orders to fight the demon king, crosses paths with a mysterious creature. What is this fluffy new friend, and should she pet the belly? An array of fantasyland adventurers learn about snack time, toe beans, and that (eye)balls can be toys. When the knight captain's folded-eared cat meets the hero's cat, paw-to-paw combat breaks out between the fuzz balls Then, the hero winds up working part-time at a cat cafe with...the demon king?
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Cat-Life Balance Vol. 1
by Akari Otokawa
A people-pleaser flirting with burnout discovers his antisocial coworker's secret: She only smiles when she's playing with stray cats! Now he's got a choice: Keep up the facade and keep saying yes to every extra task and happy hour, or risk his perfect work image to sneak off for some simple, frisky fun? This secret seems silly, but it brings Kurone joy. It's the start of an unlikely relationship that will lead Mamoru to start reflecting on his life and who he really wants to share it with. Is work really all there is, or can he strike a balance with the help of these fluffy new friends--and a human who might become something more?
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Colossal Vol. 1
by Rutile
A story about a young aristocrat who's about to discover that the heart may be the strongest muscle of all! Jade, a young French noblewoman, has a problem. Her parents expect her to marry a rich prince to save their dwindling family fortune. But Jade doesn't want to fall in line or in love--all she wants to do is pump iron. Jade's obsession with powerlifting and getting strong is at odds with the image of a delicate flower that society expects from her. When--in a fit of rage--she sends a fellow high-society teen, obnoxious pretty boy Nathaniel, flying through a buffet table during a ball, it looks like Jade's secret may be out! But before a scandal erupts, the quick-thinking teen comes up with a brilliant excuse: Love made her do it!
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Every Adventure Needs a Weapon! Vol. 1: The Blacksmith Life of Rudy the Obsessed
by Madoguchimoto
In the bustling dungeon town of Whale's Maw, adventurers, laymen, and monsters alike play their roles in a fascinating ecosystem. And then there's Rudy, a girl with a goal--to become the greatest smith and craft the perfect, over-the-top weapon for every occasion. Need to slay a fire-breathing bat? Need a new kitchen knife? Rudy's on it. Though whether her creations work as intended is another matter entirely...
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Exotic Animal Doctor Vol. 1
by Kano Ninomiya
Welcome to Gekko Animal Hospital, where the staff treats the kinds of patients most vets won't dare touch. Whether your pet has fur, scales, talons, or razor-sharp fangs, this dedicated team is ready to help. From a tortoise with a cracked shell to an anemic tarantula or a snake recovering from burns, they work tirelessly to provide expert care and heartfelt compassion to some of the world's most extraordinary animal companions.
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Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
The story begins with the journey of an adventurer, Robert Walton, who saves the life of a man at the North Pole. That man, Victor Frankenstein, tells Walton about his experiments with the creation of life and how he ended up at the North Pole. Through this simple plot device, Shelley was able to deal with serious real-world issues like acceptance, tolerance, and understanding, as well as the universal human need for companionship and love.
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Ghoul
by Kasey Iris
A story about a lonely Filipino American teen and her ghoulish companion puts a spooky twist on the imaginary friend. When they were little, Lyn and Meg promised to be friends forever...but now Meg is dead, and Lyn is 15 and miserable. Moving into a new condo with her family doesn't help, especially given the gossipy neighbors. But just when Lyn needs a friend the most, a monstrous cartoon ghoul climbs out of the pages of a comic book and into her life! The bizarre duo will soon discover just how many secrets lie within the walls of Forest Court Apartments.
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I Have a Secret Vol. 1
by Yoru Sumino
Five high school classmates hold secrets close to their hearts--hidden talents, unspoken feelings, and buried pain. As they collide with each other on the path to growing up, they might jostle some of those secrets free. A gentle, intriguing tale about love, life, and the things we leave unsaid.
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King Lear
by William Shakespeare
The aging King Lear of Britain has decided to abdicate his throne and divide his realm among his three beloved daughters. The largest share shall go to the one who loves him best - unfortunately, Lear mistakes empty, overblown flattery for true devotion. His error plunges the realm into war and drives Lear to rain-drenched madness.
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Magical Karina Vol. 1
by Coyuri Tono
Karina’s world unravels in a single day. Hours after her grandmother dies, a strange boy forces her into becoming a magical girl just as invisible, death‑shaped monsters begin stalking her town. Between grief, school, and her waitressing job, she can barely function — yet suddenly she’s wielding a heavy staff and fighting for her life. Now she has to decide whether she can take on one more burden: avenging her grandmother and battling creatures only she can see, even as she’s already pushed past her limit.
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A Midsummer Night's Dream
by Steve Skidmore
The King and the Queen of the Fairies are quarreling - and everyone around them must pay the price! The Duke of Athens and his bride-to-be, a company of hapless amateur actors, two pairs of star-crossed lovers... no one is safe from the wicked eye and cunning spells of the King's impish servant, Puck. Not even the Queen herself!
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My Cat's Aura Is Strong Today Vol. 1
by Utako Uguisu
Aloof tabby cat Kijineko doesn't really understand humans, especially his owners, a man and woman who, for some reason, think everything he does is cute. Kijineko's sharp inner monologue reveals the true inner turmoil of the common house cat, a divine creature who is simultaneously worshipped by humans and subjected to their cruel torture tactics, such as being forcibly sniffed. Will he--and equally aloof former stray Kuroneko--ever figure out the humans' goal? Or will something more important, like a piece of pork cutlet or a low-flying cicada, demand their immediate attention?
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Olive: Lost in Inner Space
by Vero Cazot
Wherever she is, Olive has never quite fit in, and living in a dorm room for the first time is no exception. To get away from the bullies, annoying teachers, and her parents, Olive escapes alone into her own vast world of vivid landscapes and fantastical inventions--until she gets an unexpected visit from a mysterious astronaut. Could the astronaut in her inner world be the same astronaut who recently crash-landed on earth without a trace? Night by night, Olive watches his health fade and becomes more and more certain that she has to take action. When no one believes that she knows how to save him, she joins forces with her plucky new roommate to unpack the clues from her inner world and venture on a journey to real-life countries she's never been to before--all to save an astronaut who, as far as she can recall, she's never met.
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The Roots of My Hair
by Lou Lubie
The Roots of My Hair follows the coming-of-age journey of Rose, a mixed-race woman from R union Island who struggles to love her kony (kinky) hair in a world that tells her to tame it. As she moves to mainland France to study and later to work--experimenting with different hair-straightening techniques, visiting beauty salons, and adopting social camouflage--Rose explores her Black identity by questioning the deeper issues behind her hair: race, beauty standards, colonialism, and belonging.
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To All the Boys I've Loved Before
by Jenny Han
Lara Jean's love life gets complicated. What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them...all at once? Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Covey keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved--five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed and, suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.
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To the Last Gram
by Shreya Davies
Through her school days, where she must negotiate a precarious balancing act between her culture and fitting in, to her teenage years where appetites must be managed to keep up appearances, to her early adulthood where responsibilities feel overwhelming, Divya journeys from feelings of emptiness to once again finding fulfilment within. To the Last Gram is an honest and hopeful story of feeling at odds with and finding a home in one’s community, family, and body, and of the unfurling journey to embrace the fullness of life.
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Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi Vol. 1
by Shoichi Usui
Kiyoshi Harai is the world's strongest exorcist--and its most awkward one. Equally afraid of fighting demons, making new friends, and talking to girls, this so-called ultimate exorcist has still got a lot to learn before he can reach his full potential. Having recently graduated as one of the most singular talents the Exorcist Academy has ever seen, Kiyoshi Harai is ready for his first mission-- exorcising a demon-possessed girl. The only problem? He's terrified of demons. While he might be able to find a sympathetic ear in the demon possessing the girl, will he be able to hold his ground when a far more sinister--and deadly--enemy arrives?
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Your Name. Another Side Vol. 1: Earthbound
by Makoto Shinkai
During the events of your name., Mitsuha and Taki's miraculous encounter forever changed their lives. But they weren't the only ones affected by their body swapping -- Mitsuha's friends and family have their own sides of the story to tell!
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You're Way Too Cheeky, Chigaya-Kun! Vol. 1
by Book Author
Ever since the day they met, no matter how often she tries to brush him off, Natsune always finds herself at the center of Chigaya's playful aim. His words, his smiles, his relentless teasing--each one reserved just for her. Every grin, every mischievous jab, and every casual touch feels like an arrow loosed straight from Cupid's bow, striking with unnerving precision. And the more she tries to dodge, the closer and bolder his aim becomes. As her heart races faster with every encounter, one question lingers in her mind: is his teasing truly just a joke... or does it mean something more?
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