A handy guide for kids receiving their first smartphone.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Narumi Sasaki/ Popoko
What They Say
Getting your first smartphone means joining an online world that’s full of exciting opportunities—but also real-life risks. This book, written by a former police detective and expert on digital crime, helps you become a smart, safe digital citizen.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Four sixth-grade friends have just received their first smartphones. They’re excited about connecting to social media and beyond, but are they aware of the risks of going online? Never fear–former police detective Narumi is here to keep the kids out of trouble!
How to Connect, Share, and Play Safely Online is a pretty self-explanatory title. As for the subtitle, A Manga Guide for Preteens, Teens, and Parents, the characters are 12-year-olds so the narrative is more for preteens than teens. Ideally, a preteen and their parent/guardian would read it together as there are numerous topics such as rules/limits on device use and online purchasing that advise young readers to consult with their families. But even though it’s geared toward younger kids, the book can still be handy for teens as it offers advice on what to do and who to contact if they become victims of Internet crimes or cyberbullying. The guide can also serve as a primer for seniors unused to navigating technology and social media.
The book was written by Narumi Sasaki, a former Japanese police detective who now educates students on how to stay safe online. The guide has been translated for an English-speaking audience, and the data sections use statistics from the United Kingdom and the United States. The Helplines page contains contact information for resources in the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as a few international agencies. By and large, the transition to English is seamless, but some dialogue bubbles and a decision flowchart come off as awkwardly structured because they were intended for vertical lines of Japanese characters.
After an introductory section where we meet the characters and get basic information about devices and social media, there are six chapters:
- How to Spot Risky People Online
- When Insults Become Defamation
- Cyberbullies and Online Harassment
- Identity Theft and Other Internet Crimes
- Internet Manners
- Essential Off-Line Information for Parents and Kids
Each chapter begins with a manga mini-story involving our child characters and the topic of the chapter. Whenever the kids are about to cross the line into risk or destructive action, Officer Narumi pops in to intercede. It is kind of hokey how Narumi abruptly inserts himself into a screen or group chat to educate the kids on the consequences of their actions. However, the manga depict relatable real-life scenarios to make warnings and advice more relevant and easy to remember.
The manga is followed by pages of text that expand on the chapter topic. These include tips on how to protect yourself, red flags to watch out for, and advice for victims. Each chapter concludes with a five-point wrap-up that summarizes the main takeaways. While not in manga format, these text portions contain illustrations and graphics that make it easier for young readers to digest.
As we all know, the Internet is a fast-changing landscape. This book is copyrighted 2025, and included in its list of popular social media is TikTok, which, as of the writing of this review, is at risk of being banned in the United States. However, the basic advice and skills outlined in the book are applicable across the spectrum of social media platforms.
Introductory chapters are printed in color. The rest of the book is in black-and-white. While there is much discussion about sex crimes and predators, the edgiest that the visuals get are teenage girl wearing a bra and a mooning prankster.
In Summary
If you are giving a child their first smartphone, you may consider giving them this book as well. With artwork and characters aimed toward a preteen audience, this manga can help guide family discussions about safe and appropriate smartphone use and even raise topics parents are unaware of. And even though it is designed to educate children, the book can be useful for anyone unfamiliar with technology and social media. (I personally know senior citizens who would benefit from reading the identity theft chapter!)
Content Grade: A-
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B
Age Rating: All Ages
Released By: Tuttle Publishing
Release Date: April 22nd, 2025
MSRP: $14.99
