Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Graphic Novels Overview, Part One: Format Guide

What is a Graphic Novel

The graphic novel is a distinct literary format that employs sequential art in the form of comic-strip-style illustrations throughout a book-length work to tell a complete narrative. Unlike traditional written books, graphic novels use shorter sentences and rely heavily on images to communicate the story. The sequential art in graphic novels is not just a complement to the written text; it is the driving force behind the story. The artwork is essential to the graphic novel format, much like the importance of visuals in a children’s picture book. The artwork in graphic novels collaborates with the text to create a cohesive storytelling experience. Unlike illustrated children’s picture books that often embellish the written text, the artwork in graphic novels collaborates with the text to create a cohesive storytelling experience. Graphic novels are longer than comic books and provide a cohesive storyline within a single volume.

Graphic novels, like comics and manga, use panels to organize the narratives. These panels are often presented as boxed segments that contain scenes or parts of scenes in the story and are divided by blank space known as the “gutter.” Graphic novels also use speech and thought bubbles, emanata, and captions to tell a story to readers. Unlike most comic books and manga series, graphic novels are usually published as regular bound books. They are more likely to be standalone works, but like other novels, they can be turned into a series.

Definitions by The Graphic Library

Comic books: are serialized stories featuring comic drawings, generally following the adventures of superheroes, villains, etc. These are usually presented in a single-issue, paperback format.

Graphic Novel: A story told with sequential, illustrated panels.

Original Graphic Novel (OGN): a story published in a full-length graphic novel without being published as single-issue floppies first.

Online Resources

Books to Learn More

Awards

-Stephanie Mahar

Stephanie’s Favorites

Huda F Are You?
by Huda Fahmy
Publisher: Dial Books
Release Date: November 23, 2021
Reading Level: Gr. 7-9
ISBN: 9780593324318

The Legend of Auntie Po
by Shing Yin Khor
Publisher: Kokila
Release Date: June 15, 2021
Reading Level: Gr. 5-9
ISBN: 978-0525554899

Squad
By Maggie Tokuda-Hall & Lisa Sterle
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: October 5, 2021
Reading Level: Gr. 9-12
ISBN: 978-0062943149

Other Ever Afters: New Queer Fairy Tales
by Melanie Gillman
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Release Date: September 20, 2022
Reading Level: Gr. 7-9
ISBN: 978-0593303184

Almost American Girl
By Robin Ha
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: January 28, 2020
Reading Level: Gr. 8-12
ISBN: 978-0062685094

The Magic Fish
By Trung Le Nguyen
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Release Date: October 13, 2020
Reading Level: Gr. 7-12
ISBN: 978-1984851598

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me
By Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Reading Level: Gr. 8-12
ISBN: 978-1626722590

Mooncakes
By Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu
Publisher: Oni Press
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Reading Level: Gr. 8-12
ISBN: 978-1549303043

Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey
By Ngozi Ukazu
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: September 18, 2018
Reading Level: Gr. 8-12
ISBN: 978-1250177964

The Prince and the Dressmaker
By Jen Wang
Publisher: First Second
Release Date: February 13, 2018
Reading Level: Gr. 7-12
ISBN: 978-1626723634

Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert’s Story
By Debbie Tung
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Release Date: November 7, 2017
Reading Level: Gr. 7-12
ISBN: 978-1449486068

Nimona
By N.D. Stevenson
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Reading Level: Gr. 7-12
ISBN: 978-0062278227

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 Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle
Greenwillow / HarperCollins
Publication Date: October 5, 2021
ISBN: 9780062943149

Set in a San Francisco suburb, Piedmont High becomes Becca’s new scene to be popular and powerful. A chance meeting in the girls bathroom between Marley and Becca is more than fate; it’s as if Becca was the new choice of prey. All she has to do is learn to dress, act, and party like the ‘group.’ Soon, Amanda, Arianna, and Marley offer Becca the invitation of a lifetime…to join the Squad. Becca doesn’t think twice, she just howls, and it becomes business as usual—until an auspicious night with Thatcher, Arianna’s boyfriend, and the power balance topples…. What will this mean for the Squad? What will happen to Becca?

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2021) Nominees Round Up, August 21 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Best Fiction for Young Adults nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

This Is My America by Kim Johnson
Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-0593118764

Tracy’s falsely accused father has been on death row for seven years. Her small Texas town always did find it easier to blame the new Black man in town for the double murder of a white couple, but now things get even worse when her brother is accused of killing a white classmate. With Jamal on the run and the clock ticking on her father’s life, Tracy has just 267 days to uncover the racist secrets of the past — and the present — and prove her family’s innocence.