At the Anime Club of East Tennessee, we believe that every child deserves the chance to fall in love with reading. Based in Tennessee, we are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting youth literacy through creativity, engagement, and fun.
We understand that traditional approaches to literacy don’t always reach every child, especially in a world full of distractions and digital noise. That’s why we have chosen to take a different approach: we use manga (Japanese comic books) as a powerful tool that sparks curiosity and imagination.
Our motto, “Open a new world of literacy, one manga at a time” reflects our mission to transform reading from a chore into a joyful journey. Manga’s visual storytelling, diverse genres, and relatable characters make it especially effective at engaging reluctant readers, ESL learners, and kids who might otherwise feel disconnected from books.
What We Do
- Manga Library: We operate a completely free-to-use manga library for kids, teens, and families. Our growing collection includes age-appropriate titles across a wide range of genres, from fantasy and adventure to slice-of-life and science fiction.
- Community Events: We host regular events, many of them free to attend for kids. Where kids can discover new manga, participate in literacy games and contests, and connect with others who love stories. These events are designed to be fun, inclusive, and educational.
- Donation-Driven Literacy Access: Our library thrives thanks to the generosity of our community. We accept new and gently used manga donations year-round, which helps us keep our collection fresh material for all reading levels and interests.
- Literacy Through Culture: Beyond reading, we introduce kids to the rich cultural background behind manga, helping them build global awareness and a lifelong appreciation for storytelling in all its forms.
Why Manga?
Studies show that graphic novels like manga improve reading comprehension, increase vocabulary, and engage visual learners more effectively than traditional texts alone. For many young readers, manga is the first kind of book they’re excited to pick up—and we believe that spark can lead to a lifelong love of reading.
By making literacy fun, accessible, and culturally relevant, we’re breaking down the barriers that keep too many kids from discovering the joy and power of reading.
Join Us
Whether you’re a parent, educator, manga fan, or someone who simply believes in the importance of youth literacy, we invite you to be part of our mission. Donate manga, volunteer, or help spread the word because together, we can help “Open a new world of literacy, one manga at a time“.