Kat & Mouse #1

Two sharp-eyed students in matching blue uniforms — one fair-haired and confident, the other dark-haired and wide-eyed — stand poised for investigation against a moody purple backdrop, a microscope at their side hinting at science-class shenanigans. Tokyopop's Kat & Mouse: Teacher Torture Vol. 1 kicks off Alex de Campi and Federica Manfredi's middle-school mystery series with a cover that perfectly captures the duo's mismatched-but-determined energy. If school-age sleuthing with a manga flair sounds like your kind of fun, this 2006 opener makes a great starting point.