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Shugo Chara! Jewel Joker, Vol. 1

Kodansha. (Shugo Chara!). Mar. 2026. 176p. pap $13.99. ISBN 9798888777107. Gr 6
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Gr 6–In a follow-up sequel that looks remarkably like the original series, Amu and her fellow Guardian Tadase are transferred to Arcana Academy, a boarding school where every student has a Guardian Character, or at least an egg, to solve mysteries and deal with more eggy shenanigans. The first volume jumps right in with new characters, including a cat-themed video streamer, and a new challenge: winning the school’s competitive ­ribbon-chasing game, which pits its four houses—Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades—against one another. Amu’s roommate also appears to be a ghost. There’s a lot going on here, including a new Guardian Character for Amu, and the art is even more crowded and chaotic than in the earlier series, with the four cute Guardian Characters bouncing around, offering commentary in a welter of screentones, jewels, ribbons, and special effects.
VERDICT A solid choice for fans of the original series, but this reads very much like a sequel and may be hard for newcomers to get into.

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