VIZ Media's Brave Story Wins!

BRAVE STORY, written by Miyuki Miyabe and published domestically by VIZ, has won the 2008 Batchelder Award by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC).

The award, established in 1966, is a citation given to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States. The Association for Library Service to Children gives the award to encourage American publishers to seek out superior children's books abroad and to promote communication among the people of the world.

BRAVE STORY tells the adventures of Wataru, a meek and unassertive 10 year-old elementary school student with mediocre grades and little aspiration. Things get worse for the boy when his father runs off with a mistress. Shocked and depressed, Wataru's mother is hospitalized after a failed suicide attempt. Bewildered and seemingly alone, Wataru finds refuge in a half constructed building in his neighborhood that is supposedly haunted. But the building actually is the entrance to an alternate world called Vision, filled with fantastic creatures both fierce and friendly. Wataru must master magic techniques and collect hidden treasures on his journey to the Tower Of Destiny where a goddess of fate awaits, who it is believed, can make wishes come true. With winged dragons, corkscrew wolves and other intriguing life forms around every corner, Wataru realizes the task may be tricky. Before long, he acquires a band of loyal cohorts, including Kee Keema, a quirky lizard, and Meena, a circus cat. Only when Wataru has completed this journey and collected five elusive gemstones will he posses the Demon's Bane, which is the key to unlock the future. And to complicate matters Wataru must also outwit a merciless rival from the real world. Charity, bravery, faith, grace and the powers of darkness and light are the provinces of each gemstone and Wataru must learn important lessons about each during his quest. When finally brought together, the stones have the power to finally reunite Wataru's family.

Author Miyuki Miyabe is renowned in Japan as a successful author of a diverse collection of science fiction, mysteries, historical fiction, social commentary and juvenile fiction. BRAVE STORY drew tremendous acclaim upon its publication, selling more than half a million copies in Japan, and was also turned into a critically acclaimed animated and as spawned a video game for the Sony PSP as well.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.