Fushigi Yugi was the first anime I ever saw, and the manga (for the most part) tells the same story. Miaka, a lackluster junior high school student, escapes the pressure of cram sessions and trying to get into a prestigious high school when she is magically transported into a book she finds at the library. During the course of this series (and there will be eighteen volumes in all), she must unite seven warriors and summon Suzaku, a phoenix-god that acts as guardian of the country she was transported to. My favorite part of this series is watching Miaka develop from a ditzy girl into a mature adult as she deals with betrayal, misunderstanding, building confidence, and (ultimately) love. Although written for young women, this story will appeal to guys as well. Fushigi Yugi has a great balance between adventure, romance, comedy and action. If you've never read shojo manga before, this series is a great place to start. I hope you enjoy it.