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Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2022) Nominations Round-Up, Winter

Each quarter, the Selected Lists teams compile the titles that have been officially nominated to date. These books have been suggested by the team or through the title suggestion form, read by multiple members of the team, and received approval to be designated an official nomination. At the end of the year, the final list of nominations and each Selected List’s Top Ten will be chosen from these titles.

The Apothecary Diaries, v.2. By Natsu Hyuuga. Art by Nekokurage. Square Enix Manga, $10.99 (9781646090716).

Maomao’s adventures as the official royal test taster continue! In this volume, Maomao faces the intrigues of the royal court while dealing with poisoning attempts against the Emperor’s wives.

Asadora! v.4. By Naoki Urasawa. VIZ Media / VIZ Signature, $14.99 (9781974722969).

A lighthouse has been attacked by something resembling a giant creature, and Asa is called in by the government to find the monster before the Tokyo Olympics. With the monster’s reappearance, Asa continues the search for her family.

Blue Flag, v.8. By KAITO. VIZ Media, $12.99 (9781974720941).

The conclusion of Blue Flag sees almost everyone’s secrets revealed and concludes the main characters’ romantic arcs.

Blue Giant Omnibus, v.1-2. By Shinichi Ishizuka. 2020. Seven Seas Entertainment, $19.99 (9781645058649).

Dai is graduating soon, and while his friends are all cramming for exams, he spends every day playing his sax. Dai is going to be the world’s greatest jazz musician, and to be the best, he will need more than just passion.

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2022) Featured Review of Himawari House by Harmony Becker

Himawari House by Harmony Becker
First Second / Macmillan
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
ISBN: 9781250235565

A young American, Nao, travels across the globe to attend school in Japan and to reconnect with her Japanese heritage. There, she discovers that her desire to fit in is complicated by her Americanness but finds a makeshift sense of belonging with other foreign exchange students Hyejung and Tina, who are also forging their own paths far away from home.

This coming-of-age story accurately captures the joys and pangs of young adulthood and the uncertainty of being caught between two worlds. Teens will find Nao, Hyejung, and Tina’s search for belonging, friendship, and identity both timeless and familiar. The art is at turns humorous and tender, and every character feels fully realized. A strength of this book is Becker‘s effective use of language (often phonetically described) to dismantle reductive and stereotypical ideas of bilingual speakers or speakers with accents. Instead, characters that speak in dialect, with accents, or with uneven syntax are shown to be just as deeply human, complex, and radiant as native or majority language speakers.

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2022) Nominations Round-Up, Fall

Great Graphic Novels Roundup Art — Due to the large number of nominees, not all titles are shown here. See full list below.

The Apothecary Diaries, v.1. By Natsu Hyuuga. Art by Nekokurage. 2020. Square Enix Manga, $10.99 (9781646090709).

Maomao is a palace servant who was sold into service to the Emperor. After saving one of the Emperor’s heirs, she is promoted to food taster, where she is able to use her skills as an apothecary.

Artie and the Wolf Moon. By Olivia Stephens. Lerner Publishing Group / Graphic Universe, $16.99 (9781728420202).

Artie discovers that her mother is a werewolf and that she has abilities of her own. While attempting to discover what happened to her missing father, she comes across other supernatural enemies.

Asadora, v.3. By Naoki Urasawa. VIZ Media / VIZ Signature, $14.99 (9781974720118).

When she was young, Asa survived a devastating typhoon, but on the same day saw a mysterious footprint in the town where she lived with her family. Now older, Asa becomes involved in a mission to stop the creature who made the footprint.

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2022) Featured Review of A Quick and Easy Guide to Consent by Isabella Rotman and Luke Howard

Quick and Easy Guide to Consent Cover Art

A Quick and Easy Guide to Consent by Isabella Rotman and Luke Howard
Limerence Press / Oni Press
Publication Date: October 27, 2020
ISBN: 9781620107942

The latest in the Quick and Easy Guide series, this volume covers the complicated concept of consent in an easily digestible comic book. The peppy narrator, Sergeant Yes Means Yes, or Sarge, takes readers through a variety of scenarios teens may find themselves in, discussing how to make the scenarios safer and more comfortable for everyone involved. The guide defines consent (complete with examples of what does and does not count as consent), and provides ways to discuss wants and needs with potential partners. The backmatter even includes helpful charts to help readers define their boundaries, interests, sexual activities, and STI risk reduction.

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2020) Nominees Round Up, October 31 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Great Graphic Novels nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch by Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish
Archie Comics
Publication Date: December 10, 2019
ISBN: 978-1682558058

In this reboot of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sabrina Spellman has just moved to Greendale with her aunts Hilda and Zelda and their sassy talking cat (and former wizard), Salem. Sabrina blondes up her naturally white hair in an attempt to fit in better, but this falls to the bottom of her priority list when she is attacked by monsters outside of the high school. As Sabrina works to solve the mystery of the monsters and the surging magic in Greendale, she also catches the attention of love interests Harvey and Ren, makes friends with Jessa, and incurs the wrath of mean girl Radka. Continue reading Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2020) Nominees Round Up, October 31 Edition

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2020) Nominees Round Up, August 29 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Great Graphic Novels nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, vol. 2 by Yuhki Kamatani
Seven Seas
Publication Date: July 23, 2019
ISBN: 978-1642750614

Having finally come to terms with his sexuality, Tasuku starts visiting the drop-in-center more often and begins feeling more at home there. Through insults and prying questions, Misora Shuji (who also frequents the drop-in-center) wrangles into an unlikely friendship with Tasuku. Misora enjoys dressing in girls clothing, wigs and makeup. Not sure what this means for Misora’s gender identity, he lashes out at others as he wrestles with figuring out if he just enjoys dressing up as a girl or if he identifies as female. Tasuku, who understands Misora’s struggles is kind to him and they soon become friends. However, during one evening festival where Misora is encouraged by Tasuku to dress in girl’s clothes, Misora is inappropriately touched and lashes out at Tasuku, calling him names and revealing secrets Tasuku would rather keep private. Misora stops visiting the drop-in-center altogether, while the classmate Tasuku is crushing on just might have found out Tasuku’s secret.

Continue reading Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2020) Nominees Round Up, August 29 Edition

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2020) Nominees Round Up, May 30 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Great Graphic Novels nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

Femme Magnifique: 50 Magnificent Women Who Changed the World edited by Shelly Bond
Black Crown
Publication Date: September 25, 2018
ISBN: 978-1684053209

Are you ready to meet some awesome women who have done unbelievable things for our world, our species, nature, animals, food, space, music and more? In this brilliant anthology, editor Shelly Bond brings readers the stories of 50 magnificent women who affected change no matter the challenges or barriers they encountered along the way. Each individually illustrated story is three pages long, which doesn’t seem like enough to get the essence of each woman, but the vignettes are a perfect introduction to women who live their lives on their own terms, and encourages readers to seek out even more information on the profiles which affect them the most. From Kate Bush and Michelle Obama, to Aida Page and the Broad City gals, there are a variety of talents, interests, stories and diversity to engage any reader in the wonderful works women have done, many with little or no recognition at all (looking at you Rosalind Franklin).

Continue reading Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2020) Nominees Round Up, May 30 Edition

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2020) Nominees Round Up, April 4 Edition

Lucy Dreaming by Max Bemis
BOOM! Studios/Boom Entertainment Inc
Publication Date: January 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1684153015

Thirteen-year-old Lucy has an otherworldly dream that feels real. She later learns that her parents worked on multiverse science when she was in the womb, genetically passing on the ability to travel to other timelines while she sleeps. Lucy’s best friend turned make-out partner, Welsey, has the same ability, gained in the same manner, but uses it to a different end. Lucy faces a threat in the dream world that she needs to fight in order to save the lives of people she loves in the waking world.

Continue reading Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2020) Nominees Round Up, April 4 Edition

Women in Comics: Star Wars

With the latest Star Wars movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story, coming to theaters later this month, it seems like a great time to explore Star Wars comics. In the years since the first Star Wars movie was released, there has been a huge range of licensed books and graphic novels set in the Star Wars universe and many of these stories have been created by women. This list features a few of these comics. Star Wars fans will see some familiar characters and a few new ones as well, but throughout there is the same sense of adventure that is found in the movies. Whether you and your patrons are getting ready for the new movie or want more stories after seeing it, this list will have something to fit your need.

Han Solo cover Captain Phasma cover Rogue One cover

Han Solo by Marjorie Liu with art by Mark Brooks – Let’s start the list with a perfect read for Han Solo fans waiting for the new film to come out. In this action packed story, Han is convinced to help the Rebellion one more time and has a chance to compete in a race along the way. Liu’s story captures everything fans love about Han Solo and offers a thrilling addition to his legend. Brooks’ art captures the action perfectly contributing to a sense of tension and suspense throughout the story. Continue reading Women in Comics: Star Wars

Women in Comics – Monsters, Ghosts, and the Supernatural

With so many people starting to prepare for their Halloween celebrations, it seems like a good time to highlight some comics about monsters, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures. Not all of these comics are scary. Some are creepy, some are funny, and some are cute, but if you love supernatural characters, this list is sure to have a book that will keep you glued to the last page.

Nightlights Cover Baba Yaga's Assistant Cover Answer the Call Cover Continue reading Women in Comics – Monsters, Ghosts, and the Supernatural