Graphic Novels for Teens?
February 26, 2024 10:56 PM Subscribe
It looks like I'm in the position where I can get my school's library to order a whole bunch of graphic novels for teens and near-native language learners. I have a smattering of ideas (Sandman, Nimona, Persepolis, Lumberjanes), and we have Maus, but not much else. I'd like to get a solid assortment of graphic novels for various reading levels and interests, fiction and non-fiction.
The library, and the school, are in Tokyo, and we have a pretty decent English library, and about a quarter of our student body is students who are native, or near-native English speakers. I work almost exclusively with the lower level near-native kids, and am hoping to stock the library with materials that might speak to them. I've got a pretty solid book list, but I'd also like to get a bunch of graphic novels for them as well.
While I'm teaching 7-10th grade, reading levels are a bit lower, from 3rd-6th on average, so comics aimed at pre-teens would be good as well. I'd love to hear any other ideas, so I can get a decent list going.
The library, and the school, are in Tokyo, and we have a pretty decent English library, and about a quarter of our student body is students who are native, or near-native English speakers. I work almost exclusively with the lower level near-native kids, and am hoping to stock the library with materials that might speak to them. I've got a pretty solid book list, but I'd also like to get a bunch of graphic novels for them as well.
While I'm teaching 7-10th grade, reading levels are a bit lower, from 3rd-6th on average, so comics aimed at pre-teens would be good as well. I'd love to hear any other ideas, so I can get a decent list going.
DC has a pretty good line of graphic novels for young adults, with the Teen Titans series by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo being a standout. Also recommended are Mera: Tidebreaker, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass, Wonder Woman: Warbringer, The Oracle Code, Shadow of the Batgirl, and Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed.
posted by roosterboy at 11:28 PM on February 26
posted by roosterboy at 11:28 PM on February 26
Superman Smashes the Klan and Catwoman: Under the Moon are both excellent YA graphic novels and may fit what you're looking for. Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely's All Star Superman isn't written specifically for that market, but includes many of the sillier, more charming aspects of Superman's Silver Age comics. Alan Moore & Ian Gibson's The Ballad of Halo Jones would be worth considering too.
posted by Paul Slade at 12:51 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by Paul Slade at 12:51 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
I should also have mentioned Locas by Jamie Hernandez.
posted by Paul Slade at 1:37 AM on February 27
posted by Paul Slade at 1:37 AM on February 27
I'm not fully clear if the students you want to cater for are international students, and maybe this is covered elsewhere, but maybe look at English translations of popular manga. Both a) as it generally caters much better for that market and b) there may be benefit in terms of them reading similar stuff to the other 75% of the school etc.
My Hero Academia, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, Yotusba&I, Chi's Sweet Home etc are the obvious ones, but there's plenty of others.
posted by Hartster at 1:41 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
My Hero Academia, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, Yotusba&I, Chi's Sweet Home etc are the obvious ones, but there's plenty of others.
posted by Hartster at 1:41 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
I’m not sure where the line is between comic book and graphic novel, but The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North was popular in our house when Little eirias was eight or nine.
posted by eirias at 1:44 AM on February 27 [3 favorites]
posted by eirias at 1:44 AM on February 27 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Hartster, thanks for the suggestion, but to be clear, nearly every student is Japanese, or has at least one Japanese parent, but has had some experience living overseas (in elementary school or something similar). The school library has some Japanese manga in English translation, and some students do read them, but language is only a part of my goal for this. I’m also hoping to get the kids to engage with other viewpoints and cultures, and the different ways other cultures approach themes and the tropes they develop.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:09 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by Ghidorah at 2:09 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell is very sweet and aimed at a teen/YA audience.
posted by unicorn chaser at 2:16 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by unicorn chaser at 2:16 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol is delightful and lightly spooky.
Older teens interested in queer themes might also enjoy Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki.
posted by terretu at 3:03 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Older teens interested in queer themes might also enjoy Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki.
posted by terretu at 3:03 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
My kids enjoyed these as tweens/young teens:
Anne of Green Gables
A Wrinkle in Time
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Little Women
Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, Guts (5 books) by Raina Telgemeier
Zita the Spacegirl
Science Comics from Macmillan
posted by belladonna at 3:48 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
Anne of Green Gables
A Wrinkle in Time
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Little Women
Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, Guts (5 books) by Raina Telgemeier
Zita the Spacegirl
Science Comics from Macmillan
posted by belladonna at 3:48 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
The Bone series by Jeff Smith is a favorite in this house.
posted by saladin at 4:21 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by saladin at 4:21 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Shaun Tan's books are all over the place in terms of age range/reading level, but Tales from the Inner City was shelved in the teen section at my last bookstore. (I would recommend that one.)
posted by BibiRose at 4:47 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
posted by BibiRose at 4:47 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
Scott Pilgrim - this class Ic series holds up well imo
Amulet - maybe a little young but very fun and influential
One Trick Pony - classified as YA but hit pretty hard to me
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:16 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Amulet - maybe a little young but very fun and influential
One Trick Pony - classified as YA but hit pretty hard to me
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:16 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
American Born Chinese is a classic for this age group!
posted by stinker at 5:31 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by stinker at 5:31 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Most popular at my public library (readers mostly 5th-8th grade): Babysitters Club graphic novels, Raina Telgemeier, Heartstopper, Amulet series, Warriors cats graphic novels.
posted by songs about trains at 6:36 AM on February 27
posted by songs about trains at 6:36 AM on February 27
Two non-fiction recommendations:
The graphic novel adaption of Anne Frank's diary by David Polonsky is wonderful, and very accessible for this age group.
Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked The World is entertaining and informative. My daughter has re-read it many times.
posted by snarfois at 6:37 AM on February 27
The graphic novel adaption of Anne Frank's diary by David Polonsky is wonderful, and very accessible for this age group.
Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked The World is entertaining and informative. My daughter has re-read it many times.
posted by snarfois at 6:37 AM on February 27
Oh yeah I will heartily second Science Comics! My kiddo is much younger but still gets a lot out of them. To my delight, I get a lot out of them, and I'm a highly trained scientist! They have very high quality and up-to-date info, as well as great art. Some of them also have pretty fun stories too, these are a no-brainer imo, they make science almost as fun as fiction.
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:59 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:59 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Skews a bit younger, but I still as an adult found Little White Duck: A Childhood in China to be worthwhile.
I always recommend Lynda Barry, maybe One! Hundred! Demons!
Also think about They Called Us Enemy and Year of the Rabbit.
posted by gudrun at 7:40 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
I always recommend Lynda Barry, maybe One! Hundred! Demons!
Also think about They Called Us Enemy and Year of the Rabbit.
posted by gudrun at 7:40 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis
(girl who grew up in a remote island convent in a fictionalised 1580s England gets drawn into royal intrigue)
The Nameless City trilogy by Faith Erin Hicks
(in a city occupied by an army, two young people become friends: one a street kid native to the city and one the son of an officer in the occupying army)
Shaun Tan was mentioned above: I recommend The Arrival, a wordless comic about immigration, beautifully drawn
Sandman: I would maybe just get A Season of Mists for now? The first collection is (I think) too graphic for teens (thinking of the "diner of death" issue).
Similarly: the first half of Halo Jones is great, but read the "war story" arc carefully before purchasing
The Tea Dragon Society: fun, fluffy, light, beautifully drawn
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
(a memoir of childhood and adolescence in Tehran at the time of the 1980s revolution)
I'll probably think of a few more later! Meanwhile, have fun.
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:42 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
(girl who grew up in a remote island convent in a fictionalised 1580s England gets drawn into royal intrigue)
The Nameless City trilogy by Faith Erin Hicks
(in a city occupied by an army, two young people become friends: one a street kid native to the city and one the son of an officer in the occupying army)
Shaun Tan was mentioned above: I recommend The Arrival, a wordless comic about immigration, beautifully drawn
Sandman: I would maybe just get A Season of Mists for now? The first collection is (I think) too graphic for teens (thinking of the "diner of death" issue).
Similarly: the first half of Halo Jones is great, but read the "war story" arc carefully before purchasing
The Tea Dragon Society: fun, fluffy, light, beautifully drawn
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
(a memoir of childhood and adolescence in Tehran at the time of the 1980s revolution)
I'll probably think of a few more later! Meanwhile, have fun.
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:42 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
The Arrival by Shaun Tan is one of my favorite books ever. He's mentioned above. It's a wordless graphic novel that tells the story of immigration. The artwork is STUNNING.
posted by Snowishberlin at 7:58 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by Snowishberlin at 7:58 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Is it cliche to add The Watchmen?
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:43 AM on February 27
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:43 AM on February 27
My granddaughter and I really enjoyed Emily the Strange: the lost days, by Rob Reger.
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:51 AM on February 27
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:51 AM on February 27
I liked Papergirls
I also like The Lunar Chronicles, which has a graphic novel spinoff series called Wires and Nerve
I also like Hilda and Phoebe and her Unicorn, but they are about younger kids, so I'm not sure if it's what you're looking for.
(Caveat: I'm an adult and don't actually know any teens)
Finally, I'm going to suggest Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy. (Disclaimer: I know the author. But, I would love this series dearly regardless.)
posted by elizabot at 11:01 AM on February 27
I also like The Lunar Chronicles, which has a graphic novel spinoff series called Wires and Nerve
I also like Hilda and Phoebe and her Unicorn, but they are about younger kids, so I'm not sure if it's what you're looking for.
(Caveat: I'm an adult and don't actually know any teens)
Finally, I'm going to suggest Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy. (Disclaimer: I know the author. But, I would love this series dearly regardless.)
posted by elizabot at 11:01 AM on February 27
For the nerdier types (talks about deep parts of math and logic): Logicomix
About John Lewis and the American Civil Rights movement: the March trilogy
posted by TimHare at 11:06 AM on February 27
About John Lewis and the American Civil Rights movement: the March trilogy
posted by TimHare at 11:06 AM on February 27
Just some random ones that my kids have read. Most of these skew a little younger, but aren't for "little kids."
El Deafo
Roll with It
This Was Our Pact
Witch Boy
posted by that's candlepin at 12:24 PM on February 27
El Deafo
Roll with It
This Was Our Pact
Witch Boy
posted by that's candlepin at 12:24 PM on February 27
I'm always going to recommend The Magic Fish: I believe it's classified as middle grade, but I've actually taught it in a college course and it resonated with many of my students. (I had many who were enthralled by the illustration style, which is gorgeous.) I'd also second John Lewis's March, and add that the sequel series might be good to have available as well! Alongside the previously-recommended "They Called Us Enemy," I'd recommend We Hereby Refuse (it also tells a story of Japanese American incarceration: it focuses on three stories of Japanese Americans who resisted the draft or incarceration).
posted by lavenderhaze at 2:49 PM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by lavenderhaze at 2:49 PM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Lumberjanes! From the same writer as Nimona, about a supernatural themed Girl Scouts group.
posted by creatrixtiara at 10:46 PM on February 27
posted by creatrixtiara at 10:46 PM on February 27
Maybe this is me just riding my own hobby-horse and projecting it onto your question, but i wonder if the Flight anthology series edited by Kazu Kibiushi isn't perfect for this. It's aimed more or less at this age group; it's got lots of creators already mentioned including Vera Brosgol and Kibiushi himself; the emphasis is very strongly on the art, so the prose is usually not too long or complex (which also represents a nice contrast to manga -- I mean, black and white art on a small page can certainly be beautiful, but what Flight is doing will hit quite differently); and it's an anthology, so there's lots of creative voices and styles and low commitment for any particular story.
posted by dick dale the vampire at 12:03 PM on February 28
posted by dick dale the vampire at 12:03 PM on February 28
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posted by yueliang at 11:10 PM on February 26