While the protagonist in books for teens is generally a teenager, there are some exceptions to the rule. For example, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit features an adult protagonist, a female warrior. If your middle schooler likes anime, manga and/or fantasy, reviewer Jean Hatfield recommends Moribito, a Japanese fantasy by Nahoko Uehashi. In announcing the selection of Moribito as the 2009 Mildred L. Batchelder Award winner "for the most outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States," the American Library Association press release stated, "The book tells the story of Balsa, a skilled female warrior, who accepts the task of protecting a young prince from otherworldly demons and his father's assassins....'This sophisticated and complex Japanese epic is filled with political intrigue, mystery and danger,' said Batchelder Committee Chair Sandra Imdieke."
(Cover art courtesy of Scholastic, Inc.)
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