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.

This One Summer

by Mariko Tamaki

Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Memory, Nostalgia, Femininity, Childhood & Youth, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Family, Mothers

Tags Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

This One Summer is a Canadian young adult graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by her cousin, Jillian Tamaki. Mariko Tamaki has written several graphic novels, and has worked for both Marvel and DC Comics. This One Summer was originally published in 2014 by Groundwood Books, and follows the summer experiences of two young girls approaching adolescence and watching their parents cope with the various pressures of adulthood. The novel has been the... Read This One Summer Summary

Trampoline

by Robert Gipe

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Music

Tags Realistic Fiction, Women`s Studies, Modern Classic Fiction

Trampoline is an illustrated novel written by Robert Gipe. Ohio University Press published the novel in 2015. The story takes place in the fictional Canard County, located in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. The narrator, Dawn Jewell, tells the story of the holiday season when she was 15 years old. Dawn is intelligent, creative, and thoughtful. She lives with her grandmother, whom she calls Mamaw, because her own mother, Momma, is too addicted to drugs... Read Trampoline Summary

Understanding Comics

by Scott McCloud

Publication year 1993

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Art, Perseverance, Education, Language

Tags World History, Arts & Culture

A lifetime student of graphic arts and highly regarded artist himself, Scott McCloud first published Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art in 1993. The book is a graphic nonfiction work—literally a comic book about comics as an art form. Soon after its publication, the book began to garner extensive praise, and it continues to be well received three decades later. Understanding Comics received several awards including the Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book as well as... Read Understanding Comics Summary

Unflattening

by Nick Sousanis

Publication year 2015

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Education, Order & Chaos, Community

Tags Philosophy, Science & Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Arts & Culture

Unflattening began as the first comic-form dissertation at Columbia University, where Nick Sousanis completed a doctorate in education in 2014. It was published by Harvard University Press in 2015 and functions as an argument for visual thinking in teaching and learning. In 2016 the book received the further accolade of the American Publishers Award for Professional and Scholarly Excellence.In a Paris Review interview with Timothy Hodler, Sousanis cited Scott McCloud’s 1993 Understanding Comics as a... Read Unflattening Summary

Uzumaki

by Junji Ito, Transl. Yuji Oniki

Publication year 2000

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Death, Fear, Order & Chaos, Fate, Community, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Japanese Literature, Psychology, Science & Nature, Natural Disaster

... Read Uzumaki Summary

Vietnamerica

by GB Tran

Publication year 2011

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Family, Fathers, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Immigration

Tags Vietnam War, Military & War, Immigration & Refugeeism, World History, Biography

... Read Vietnamerica Summary

War Brothers

by Sharon McKay

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Friendship, War, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Military & War, Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Realistic Fiction, World History

... Read War Brothers Summary

What If? 2

by Randall Munroe

Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Animals, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Environment, Plants, Food, Objects & Materials, Place, Space, Education, Order & Chaos, Science & Technology

Tags Science & Nature, Humor, World History

... Read What If? 2 Summary

White Bird

by R. J. Palacio

Publication year 2019

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Disability, Death, Safety & Danger, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Friendship, Memory, The Past, Fear, Family, War, Grief, Conflict, Fathers, Justice, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Politics & Government, Trust & Doubt, Hope, Gratitude, Loneliness, Loyalty & Betrayal, Appearance & Reality, Nation

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Dramatic Literature, World War II, Holocaust, Military & War, World History

... Read White Bird Summary

Wonderstruck

by Brian Selznick

Publication year 2011

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, World History, Action & Adventure

Wonderstruck (2011) by Brian Selznick is a graphic novel for children and young adults. The book follows the story of Ben, a deaf boy traveling to New York in 1977, and Rose, a deaf/mute girl traveling to New York in 1927. The stories overlap and weave together, as both Ben and Rose seek family and belonging. The book was adapted into a feature-length film, for which Brian Selznick wrote the screenplay. Plot SummaryThe novel has two... Read Wonderstruck Summary