Graphic Novels & Books

With engrossing, innovative artwork that drives home the sophisticated themes within, graphic novels have emerged as a formidable and exciting genre. This assortment of study guides includes both fiction and nonfiction selections, including Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, a memoir about the author’s experiences growing up in Iran before and after the revolution in 1979, and Maus by Art Spiegelman, the first graphic novel to win the Pulitzer Prize.

A First Time for Everything

by Dan Santat

Publication year 2023

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Friendship, Love, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Future, The Past, Self Discovery, Community, Art, Beauty, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Children`s Literature, Romance, Biography, Coming of Age, Travel Literature

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American Born Chinese

by Gene Luen Yang

Publication year 2006

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Race, Coming of Age, Immigration

Tags Symbolic Narrative, Coming of Age, Bullying, Race & Racism, Asian History, Immigration & Refugeeism, Chinese Literature, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy

American Born Chinese is a graphic novel published in 2006 by the American author and illustrator Gene Luen Yang, who also wrote the graphic novel Boxers (2013) and the graphic memoir Dragon Hopes (2020). Through three interweaving stories that span from the 16th century to the present, American Born Chinese explores issues of Chinese American identity, anti-Asian racism, and assimilation. American Born Chinese is the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book... Read American Born Chinese Summary

Are You My Mother?

by Alison Bechdel

Publication year 2012

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Tags Psychology, Psychology, LGBTQ+, Biography

Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama is a graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel and the winner of the 2013 Judy Grahn Award for Lesbian Nonfiction. It is the follow-up to Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, which focuses on Bechdel’s sexual awakening and her relationship with her closeted bisexual father. Are You My Mother? interweaves memoir, dream interpretation, psychoanalysis, and literature to examine Bechdel’s complicated relationship with her mother.Plot SummaryThe non-linear narrative of Are You... Read Are You My Mother? Summary

Awkward

by Svetlana Chmakova

Publication year 2015

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Art, Wins & Losses, Science & Technology, Teamwork, Education, Childhood & Youth, Regret

Tags Realistic Fiction, Science & Nature, Education, Children`s Literature, Bullying, Trauma & Abuse, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

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Be Prepared

by Vera Brosgol

Publication year 2018

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Friendship, Loneliness, Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Social Class, Immigration, Religion & Spirituality, Coming of Age

Tags Humor, Action & Adventure, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

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Big Nate

by Lincoln Peirce

Publication year 2010

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Fate, Shame & Pride, Fame

Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education

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Blankets

by Craig Thompson

Publication year 2003

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Coming of Age, Sexual Identity

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Coming of Age, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

Blankets is a 2003 autobiographical graphic novel by Craig Thompson, who created both the text and the illustrations. It tells the story of Craig’s coming-of-age and first love in the context of his strict religious upbringing, and later, a departure from his childhood faith. Time magazine ranked Blankets first on its Best Comics list for 2003 and eighth on its list of Best Comics of the Decade. In 2004 it won Harvey awards for Best... Read Blankets Summary

Bone

by Jeff Smith

Publication year 1991

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Good & Evil, Family

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Humor

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Borders

by Thomas King

Publication year 1993

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Race, Colonialism, Nation, Family

Tags Satirical Literature, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

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Captain Underpants

by Dav Pilkey

Publication year 1997

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Friendship

Tags Humor, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature

Dav Pilkey’s graphic novel for children, The Adventures of Captain Underpants (1997), spawned a long list of sequels and adaptations in other media. The Captain Underpants series has won numerous awards, including the Garden State Children's Book Awards (Children's Fiction) 2000, the Buckeye Children's Book Award (Grades 3-5) 2001, and the Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Grades K-3) 2000.Plot SummaryThe story begins by introducing two best friends, George and Harold. They love to pull pranks... Read Captain Underpants Summary

Citizen 13660

by Miné Okubo

Publication year 1946

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Family

Tags Asian Literature, Japanese Literature, Military & War, Education, Education, World History, Biography

Miné Okubo’s Citizen 13660 is a graphic memoir about the Japanese American author’s experience in Japanese internment camps during World War II. First published in 1946, Citizen 13660 is told from Okubo’s first-person narrator experience, although the author draws herself in third-person in nearly every scene.Plot OverviewAfter Okubo’s mother’s passing, she lived with her brother in Berkeley, California until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. In response, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive... Read Citizen 13660 Summary

Class Act

by Jerry Craft

Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Education, Race, Self Discovery, Social Class, Equality, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Diversity, Education, Race & Racism, African American Literature, Children`s Literature, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

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Click

by Kayla Miller

Publication year 2019

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Coming of Age, Friendship, Art, Self Discovery

Tags Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Click Summary