Ito, J. (2001). Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror. San Francisco: Viz Media, Inc. ISBN: 9781421513898
· Plot Summary
Kirie Goshima lives in the Japenese town of Kurozu-Cho with her mother, younger brother, and father. Her father is a potter by profession, a local favorite with a reputation for his wonderful creations. Kirie has been dating a boy named Shuichi, whose father commissions Kirie's to create a bowl in a spiral pattern. He explains that he has lately been very taken with objects that contain spirals, and begins amassing an enormous collection, eventually becoming so obsessed with spirals that he bends his own body into the form of one just before dying. Soon, it becomes clear that spirals are showing up everywhere, and running the townspeople mad, including Shuichi's mother. When it is revealed that the ashes of those deceased from spiral-related incidents are being used in Mr.Goshima's wares, it is up to Kirie and Shuichi to save themselves amid a citizenship gone insane.
· Critical Evaluation
A definite walk on the dark side, and not recommended for younger tweens. The illustrations are beautiful, if often disturbing, and the storyline makes it hard to put this story down. This is the first in a series.
· Reader’s Annotation
Suitable for older tweens, but should be reviewed in advance by an adult.
· Information about the author
Junji Ito was born in Gifu-Ken, Japan and was influenced by the horror manga of Umezu. Ito's literary career began while he was working as a dental technician, with a short story submitted to a manga periodical. He has also written the Tomie series, and been published in several mainstream horror magazines.
· Genre
Manga
· Booktalking Ideas
The use of pattern in art.
Devices of Japanese manga literature.
· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 7-9/Ages 12-14
· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I found this title while looking with my daughter for a recently published series. She enjoys manga, and while I have read a couple of series too, I wanted something for this assignment that was outside the usual popular manga books for this age group.
