Let’s just retroactively declare it “Comics in Libraries Week” at Precocious Curmudgeon, shall we?
I followed Kat Kan’s pointers to see what other graphic novels had been recognized on other lists developed by the Young Adult Library Services Association. (I stretched the definition to include books about graphic novels and some featuring contributions from graphic novelists. All of the descriptive text below is YALSA’s.)
2007 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers:
Non-Fiction:
Halls, Kelly Milner and Spears, Rick and others. Tales from the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures that May or May Not Exist. 2006. illus. Darby Creek Publishing, $18.95. (ISBN-10, 1-58196-049-2; ISBN-13, 9781581960495).
Hart, Christopher. Manga Mania: Chibi and Furry Characters: How to Draw the Adorable Mini-Characters and Cool Cat Girls of Japanese Comics. 2006. illus. Watson-Guptill, $19.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8230-2977-8; ISBN-13, 9780823029778).
Fiction:
Araki, Hirohiko. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures, Vol. 1. Tr. by Alexis Kirsch. 2005. illus. Viz, $7.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59116-754-X; ISBN-13, 9781591167549).
Chayamachi, Suguro. Devil May Cry 3: Volume One: Code One: Dante. Tr. by Ray Yoshimoto. 2005. illus. Tokyopop, $9.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59816-031-1; ISBN-13, 9781598160314).
Giffen, Keith and Roman, Benjamin. I Luv Halloween Series. 2005-2006. illus. Tokyopop, $9.99 ea.
Gruner, Jessica and Parker, Buzz. Emily the Strange: The Lost Issue. 2005. illus. Dark Horse, $7.95. (ISBN-10, 1-59307-429-8; ISBN-13, 9781593074296). [Also made the Top Ten list.]
Marunas, Nathanial and Craddock, Erik. Manga Claus: The Blade of Kringle. 2006. illus. Penguin/Razorbill, $12.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59514-134-0; ISBN-13, 9781595141347).
2007 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults:
Get Creative:
Barry, Lynda. One Hundred Demons. 2005. Sasquatch Books, $17.95. (1-57061-459-8). When you’ve got hundreds of demons, art can help you defeat them.
Hart, Christopher. Manga Mania: How to Draw Japanese Comics. 2001. Watson-Guptill, $19.95. (0-8230-3035-0). Learn ways to create your own manga.
O’Neil, Dennis. The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics. 2001. Watson-Guptill, $19.95. (0-8230-1027-9). Comic books are more than pretty pictures; learn how to make them fly.
Talbot, Bryan. The Tale of One Bad Rat. 1995. Dark Horse Comics, $14.95. (1-56971-077-5). A girl and her rat escape abuse.
Yazawa, Ai. Paradise Kiss, Vol. 1. 2002. Tokyopop, $9.99. (1-931514-60-7). Book smart Yukari finds her life turned upside-down when she agrees to model for fashion school students.
I’m Not Making This Up:
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis, Vol. 1: the Story of a Childhood. 2004. Pantheon Books, $11.95. (0-375-71457-X). Words and drawings tell the story of growing up during the Islamic revolution.
Religion: Relationship with the Divine:
Tezuka, Osamu. Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu. 2006. Vertical, Inc., $14.95. (1-932234-56-X). The first in an 8-volume graphic novelization of the life of Siddhartha, the prince who became Buddha.
What’s so Funny?:
Azuma, Kiyohiko. Yotsuba&!: Volume 1. 2005. A. D. Vision, Inc., $9.99 (1-4139-0317-7). Yotsuba is one strange girl!
Groening, Matt. Simpsons Comics Barn Burner. 2005. HarperCollins, $14.95. (0-06-074818-4). D’oh!
Smith, Jeff. Out From Boneville. 2005. Graphix, $9.99. (0-439-70640-8). Here a Bone, there a Bone.
If I missed anything in my scans through the lists, please leave a comment and I’ll update the post.
