D.N. Angel, Vol. 1 by Yukiru Sugisaki

This first installment of a Japanese manga series is about a boy named Daisuke Niwa.  On his fourteenth birthday, not only is he rejected by Risa, the girl he loves, but he learns that Risa is the trigger that causes him to transform into Dark, the notorious Phantom Thief.  This curse will only end when Daisuke’s first love, Risa, returns his love.  To make matters more complicated, Dark is attracted to Risa’s twin sister Riku, who has the same transforming effect on Dark as Risa has on Daisuke. 

This is the first manga book I have read and I loved it!  And it wasn't too hard to get used to reading backwards!  I will definitely be reading more of this series. 

The 39 Clues

My 10-year-old nephew Andrew got me started reading the 39 Clues series.  Each book in the series is written by a different author, although some authors have written more than one book in the series.  It is about orphans Amy and Dan Cahill who learn that many of the most influential, prominent, intelligent, and artistic figures in the world are descended from one of the four branches of the Cahill family.  When their grandmother Grace dies, her will lays out a challenge to all of her relatives.  Dan and Amy accept the challenge of hunting the 39 clues that, once found, will give them the power to influence and shape the world.  But they are only two kids competing against more wealthy and more knowledgeable relatives who are ruthless in their search. 

These are exceptional books filled with imagination and mystery.  The series starts with Maze of Bones written by Rick Riordan.