Inuyasha - The Thunder Brothers (Vol. 4)
Two new characters join the cast of this engaging series and create  complications. Shippo, an orphan fox spirit, meets Kagome and Inu-Yasha in  the Warring States period. In Japanese folklore, foxes are shape-shifters and  illusionists; Shippo uses these talents to help defeat the Thunder Brothers.  A more conventional but potentially more dangerous addition is Hojo, a  handsome upper classman at Kagome's school, who's concerned about her recent  absences. His understated good manners contrast sharply with the prickly  Inu-Yasha--just as Kagome is beginning to recognize his good points. In  "Mischievous Little Soul," Kagome takes great risks to rescue the unhappy  spirit of a little girl killed in a recent fire. Inu-Yasha appears just in  time to provide some much-needed help and explanations in a moving story that  recalls the more emotional installments of Takahashi'sMaison Ikoku.  (Unrated: suitable for ages 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery)--Charles Solomon