Ju-on: Video Side Volume 1
Grade 10 Up–This is the manga adaptation of the Japanese horror movieJu-On, which was later remade for American audiences asThe Grudge. Although fans of the movies will recognize some similarities–the house is haunted by the spirits of a mother and son who were murdered–the rest of the plot is different. The films focus on the house, while most of the action of the novel takes place at the local school. Much more attention is given to the new family here. The book opens with the murder of a woman and her son. Their house is soon sold to a new family. Each of the family members sees a creepy little boy and, soon after, each is attacked by a multitude of cats. The tale doesnt follow a linear time line, which lets readers learn more about the house and the grudge. The real-estate agent tries to sell the house, despite warnings about the evil there, and the prospective buyer dismisses the incidents as nothing more than childish pranks. The black-and-white artwork perfectly conveys the sense of foreboding. The eeriness and horror are conveyed in bold strokes, especially in the scenes at the school, where the mothers ghost is encountered.–Erin Dennington, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.