The Manga Curmudgeon

Spending too much on comics, then talking too much about them

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ALA mode

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The new edition of Sequential Tart has a look at the American Library Association’s current nominees for their list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens (found via MangaBlog). Rebecca Salek suggests some additions to the list and provides a brief overview of what’s already there.

Now, you all know how much I love librarians. Had I made better choices during my youth, I might be among their number. But what in the name of all that’s decent and sensible is Identity Crisis doing on that list? Maybe Brad Meltzer or Rags Morales has a librarian in the family.

But I won’t let this aberration (which can certainly be corrected by the time the final list is assembled in 2007) shake my faith in the profession, because there are plenty of worthy titles on this list.

I’m glad to see books like Off*Beat, Girl Genius and Moped Army up for consideration. They all deserve more attention. (The list makes me a little nervous that I’ve somehow missed the fourth volume of GG, Agatha Heterodyne and the Circus of Dreams, but Amazon reassures me that it’s not due until March 25. Sneaky librarians and their preview copies!)

It’s also nice to see good popular stuff like Fruits Basket, Death Note, Crimson Hero, and Nana make the cut. And, as always happens with things like this, I’ve found more books to add to my list of titles I really should try some time. (It also provides a reminder that I really should catch up with Prince of Tennis. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far, but there’s so much manga and so little time. Boy, it would be great if my local library had a decent selection of graphic novels, wouldn’t it?)

And, because I can’t resist putting my two cents in, here are some other books I think would make fine nominations (though in some cases I think I’m fudging the “released after September 1, 2005” date):