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library

Reading Surge at MBMS: Library Checkouts Nearly Triple Over Three Years

Manhattan Beach Middle School

October 6, 2026

Student engagement at the Manhattan Beach Middle School (MBMS) Library is reaching new heights this academic year. According to checkout data recorded from the first day of school through October 1, MBMS students have been hitting the library shelves in record numbers, proving that a good book—or comic—is impossible to put down.

A Three-Year Surge in Reading

Book checkouts at the MBMS Library have nearly tripled—rising by 191%—over the past three years:

  • 2023: 541 checkouts

  • 2024: 918 checkouts

  • 2025: 1,099 checkouts

  • 2026: 1,575 checkouts

This year's record of 1,575 books marks a dramatic increase from the 541 books checked out during the same timeframe in 2023.

What Are MBMS Students Reading?

So, what are MBMS readers devouring this year? Visual storytelling and high-stakes fiction are dominating the checkout counter.

1. Manga — 38% of Checkouts (605 books)

Manga takes the crown as the #1 favorite genre on campus! Making up almost 40% of all library checkouts, action-packed series and fan favorites are flying off the shelves as fast as librarians can restock them.

Top 5 Most Checked Out Manga Series:

  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

  • Spy x Family

  • Komi Can’t Communicate

  • Blue Lock

  • My Hero Academia

2. Graphic Novels — 30% of Checkouts (465 books)

Graphic novels come in a strong second place, offering everything from intense fantasy quests to hilarious and relatable real-life stories.

Top 5 Most Checked Out Graphic Novels:

  • Warriors Graphic Novel: The New Prophecy Part 1 of 3 by Erin Hunter, Gibson Twist, and Sammy Savos (Fantasy)

  • Fruitcake (Book 3 of the Four Eyes series) by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza (Memoir)

  • Maus 1: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman (Memoir)

  • Act (Book 3 of the Click series) by Kayla Miller (Realistic Fiction)

  • New Kid by Jerry Craft (Realistic Fiction)

3. Fiction — 27% of Checkouts (424 books)

Traditional fiction is holding strong, driven by page-turning mystery thrillers, high-stakes games, and classic dystopian favorites.

Top 5 Most Checked Out Fiction Books:

  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

  • The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

  • Troublemaker by John Cho

  • Catching Fire (Book 2 of The Hunger Games series) by Suzanne Collins

  • The Gilded Blade (Book 3 of The Grandest Game series) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Whether you’re hunting for the next volume of your favorite series or looking for a thrilling new fiction mystery, the MBMS Library is clearly the place to be!