Firstly, I forgot to mention before that though it's not impossible to read manga, it is difficult. Second year's can probably read a little, but by the end of being a third year you should be able to mostly read them.
HOWEVER! A friend introduced a cute and hilarious series called Yotsubato! (よつばと!), and the content is simple enough that I can understand most of it, only having to look up a few words. So basically, if you're at least a second year student and especially if you have a greater knowledge of vocab (or at least a dictionary), then you can read it! I just bought the second one today, and as of right now there are only about 12 in the series. A link to the first book on Amazon Japan: http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%88%E3%81%A4%E3%81%B0%E3%81%A8-1-%E9%9B%BB%E6%92%83%E3%82%B3%E3%83%9F%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9-%E3%81%82%E3%81%9A%E3%81%BE-%E3%81%8D%E3%82%88%E3%81%B2%E3%81%93/dp/4840224668/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1392993587&sr=8-3&keywords=%E3%82%88%E3%81%A4%E3%81%B0%E3%81%A8
Amazon for America: http://www.amazon.com/Yotsubato-Vol-1-Japanese/dp/4840224668/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392994118&sr=1-1&keywords=yotsubato+japanese
If you so wish, it is also in English and all you have to do is search "yotsubato" in books on Amazon. Oh, most manga have furigana in them--the small hiragana by kanji to show their readings. However, most short novels do not, or don't have many. So it's going to be a while before I can really read Howl's Moving Castle or the original 6 Kiki's Delivery Service books that the Miyazaki film is based on.
Actually, that may have been it. The only other things I can think of right now are classes, but there's nothing really new. I guess I'll go create a new page, maybe write on my Japanese page, or just sleep. Maybe sleep, because I'm beginning to feel a bit tired out. I couldn't focus last night on studying, so I got up by about 4 am this morning to study and it's about midnight now, so for now, I'm signing off.
HOWEVER! A friend introduced a cute and hilarious series called Yotsubato! (よつばと!), and the content is simple enough that I can understand most of it, only having to look up a few words. So basically, if you're at least a second year student and especially if you have a greater knowledge of vocab (or at least a dictionary), then you can read it! I just bought the second one today, and as of right now there are only about 12 in the series. A link to the first book on Amazon Japan: http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%88%E3%81%A4%E3%81%B0%E3%81%A8-1-%E9%9B%BB%E6%92%83%E3%82%B3%E3%83%9F%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9-%E3%81%82%E3%81%9A%E3%81%BE-%E3%81%8D%E3%82%88%E3%81%B2%E3%81%93/dp/4840224668/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1392993587&sr=8-3&keywords=%E3%82%88%E3%81%A4%E3%81%B0%E3%81%A8
Amazon for America: http://www.amazon.com/Yotsubato-Vol-1-Japanese/dp/4840224668/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392994118&sr=1-1&keywords=yotsubato+japanese
If you so wish, it is also in English and all you have to do is search "yotsubato" in books on Amazon. Oh, most manga have furigana in them--the small hiragana by kanji to show their readings. However, most short novels do not, or don't have many. So it's going to be a while before I can really read Howl's Moving Castle or the original 6 Kiki's Delivery Service books that the Miyazaki film is based on.
Actually, that may have been it. The only other things I can think of right now are classes, but there's nothing really new. I guess I'll go create a new page, maybe write on my Japanese page, or just sleep. Maybe sleep, because I'm beginning to feel a bit tired out. I couldn't focus last night on studying, so I got up by about 4 am this morning to study and it's about midnight now, so for now, I'm signing off.