[JennaWren Posts: 1,754 Status: Offline WWW]

Oh, I'm so glad this thread popped up again! I was going to come here and ask for recs -- my 10yo reluctant reader discovered GNs this year and devours them. El Deafo, Sunny Side Up, Roller Girl have been faves. After trying so long to get her to read anything, I'm eager to get more books into her hands. 

[Artemesia Posts: 3,790 Status: Offline WWW]

Jen, Zita the Spacegirl is super cute, too! I have the first one, but it's a series.

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

Am I the only one excited that JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS vol. 2 just came out?

[molly-schafer Posts: 3 Status: Offline]

Hi. I've been a member for a few years but never posted before. Hope I'm doing this right! I've been working on comics and GN for awhile. It is a slow process! GNs I've read or reread lately include Roller Girl ( I love this one), Mouseguard, Noodleheads, and Drama. Looking forward to checking out some of the suggestions on here

[Artemesia Posts: 3,790 Status: Offline WWW]

Welcome, Molly! (and yes, you're doing it right!  )

Am I the only one excited that JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS vol. 2 just came out?

Really?? Like Jem from the eighties cartoon that I was obsessed with as a kid, not the reportedly horrible film adaptation that was out a little while ago? (I didn't see it but heard it was bad and don't want my childhood ruined, lol)

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

Really?? Like Jem from the eighties cartoon that I was obsessed with as a kid, not the reportedly horrible film adaptation that was out a little while ago? (I didn't see it but heard it was bad and don't want my childhood ruined, lol)

YES!

http://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=836283153

[Artemesia Posts: 3,790 Status: Offline WWW]

OMG OMG OMG

 

[Margaret Ikeda Posts: 1 Status: Offline Children's and Middle Grade books illustrator]

Oh, I'm so glad this thread popped up again! I was going to come here and ask for recs -- my 10yo reluctant reader discovered GNs this year and devours them. El Deafo, Sunny Side Up, Roller Girl have been faves. After trying so long to get her to read anything, I'm eager to get more books into her hands. 

WOW that's great that you've got a little GN fan in your home, Jenna! Have they tried Lumberjanes? They're the trade paperback of a comics series so not as long as some like El Deafo, but still great, fun reads. 3 volumes so far, I believe.

Hi Molly! I'm new, too, and really enjoy Mouseguard.

And I'm sooo excited for Jem & the Holograms Vol. 2, though I think I've read most of them already as comics. Always great to reread them as trade paperbacks (TPs) though.

[Artemesia Posts: 3,790 Status: Offline WWW]

I have the first two Lumberjanes (picked them up after reading Nimona as Noelle Stevenson is one of the creators), they are so fun! My 12 year old step-daughter loves them too.

[molly-schafer Posts: 3 Status: Offline]

I think I may need to start looking for a critique group or support group for comics/graphic novels. I have a few versions of my story and I'm debating which direction to go. It's difficult because I write/draw as one thought process so its a long process to figure this all out. Of course these are all scattered about in piles and 3 different sketchbooks and not quite fit or organized for anyone to read/see.  I just got the first Amulet by Kazu Kibushi from the library looking forward to reading.

[Artemesia Posts: 3,790 Status: Offline WWW]

Got Lumberjanes #3 (super cute) and Awkward a few weeks ago. I loved Awkward, thanks for the rec on that, guys. My niece also lent me Drama, which I liked but not as much as Smile and Sisters. Looking forward to her new one that's coming out in September, Ghosts.

I still have SO many on my wishlist. 

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

I feel like I need to load up on some new YA GNs for my library collection now that I have MORE SHELF SPACE for them! Open to recs...has anyone read any of these nominations on YALSA? http://www.ala.org/yalsa/ggnt/nominations

[Artemesia Posts: 3,790 Status: Offline WWW]

I've read the first bit of Giant Days (there was a sample in another book), I really liked it and would love to read the rest!

And of course Lumberjanes #3. Super cute series.

[JennaWren Posts: 1,754 Status: Offline WWW]

I have got to find Lumberjanes at the library!

We got Awkward, which my 10yo didn't get into, but my 11yo read three times, lol.

Our library does have a couple of GN shelves, but most seem to be either manga/Pokemon/super hero (which my girls aren't into) or to "young" for them. My girls picked out about 4-5 between them, and at the checkout the librarian said how excited she was about all these great new GNs coming out, so hopefully they'll stock even more!

[lee-bernstein Posts: 39 Status: Offline]

LETTERS FROM CAMP by Kate Klise and illustrated by M. Sarah Klise is a very funny middle-grade graphic novel.

Barbara: Thank you for recommending a GN that boasts an author who is not the illustrator! Lumberjanes books are others. Does anyone else here know of other great GNs with a separate author? They give my I-can't-even-draw-a-stick-figure side hope.     

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

This One Summer is written by Mariko Tamaki & illustrated by Jillian Tamaki. It won a Caldecott, and the author has said something along the lines of she can't even draw a stick figure.

[HDWestlund Posts: 951 Status: Offline writer and bookseller]

Just picked up The Nameless City the other week, and liked it a lot. Sort of an Avatar: The Last Airbender type feel.

[lee-bernstein Posts: 39 Status: Offline]

This One Summer is written by Mariko Tamaki & illustrated by Jillian Tamaki. It won a Caldecott, and the author has said something along the lines of she can't even draw a stick figure.

Thank you!  I'm off to find a copy.

[Artemesia Posts: 3,790 Status: Offline WWW]

Just got Monstress #1 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (art is amazing, can't wait to dive in and read it) and wanted to bump this thread.

:bump

[andracill Posts: 5,701 Status: Offline Worlds within...screaming to get out! WWW]

I noticed they made a GN for Legend by Marie Lu. I'm fairly certain she's not the illustrator.

Raina Telginer (spelling?) has a new one out (Ghost Story, I believe it's called). And I saw a new author (to me) that I also picked up for my 13-year old who loves GNs (it's already wrapped, so I don't have the title). I noticed quite a few more than usual at this year's Scholastic Warehouse sale...

[Artemesia Posts: 3,790 Status: Offline WWW]

Raina Telgemeier's new one is called Ghosts. I don't have it yet, but my MIL got it for my niece for Christmas so I might just wait and borrow it from her, lol. I can't wait to read it!!

[marla-lesage Posts: 383 Status: Offline Write. Illustrate. Revise.]

I have Raina Telgemeier's Ghosts, it is fantastic. I can't wait to read her others. Recently read Cece Bell's El Deafo - also great. And Vera Brosgal's Anya's Ghost - with me kids who are way too young for a YA book so I had to skim/skip a few things for their sake. Very well written. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer & Matthew Holm was good too. I really like this style of graphic novel.

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

Since I've been on maternity leave (rather than working at my library where I usually snag new GNs) I'm so behind on GNs! Thanks for bumping this thread. I definitely need to get GHOSTS!

[HDWestlund Posts: 951 Status: Offline writer and bookseller]

I recently discovered Kaoru Mori who does slice of life historical manga. Bride's Story is from 19th century Silk Road. I haven't been able to find the other series at the library yet.

[molly-schafer Posts: 3 Status: Offline]

Ooh I recently read Cece Bell's "El Deafo" and I love it so so much. That is all.

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

I did read Vol. 1 of A BRIDE'S STORY! I enjoyed it as well!

[JennaWren Posts: 1,754 Status: Offline WWW]

My 11yo has and loves Ghosts and put on her Christmas list "all of Raina's other books" because even though she's read them, she wants to own them, lol. Got the 10yo her own copy of Sunny Side Up, which she put on her list, also because she loves it so much she wants to own it.

I have a running list now by my computer, thanks to you all!

[beardedillustrations Posts: 19 Status: Offline Let's tell some good stories. WWW]

There was one mention of The Nameless City in the thread, but, really, ANYTHING by Faith Erin Hicks would be a worthwhile read. Superhero Girl, Friends with Boys, and Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong are her most recent ones (after the Nameless City series, of course [side note: it just got signed to be adapted as an animated show!]).

My personal all-time favorite graphic novelist is Craig Thompson. However, his work is mostly geared towards an adult audience (Blankets and Habibi are definitely NOT for kids).  Space Dumplins is would be excellent for upper-elementary age, though.

I've recently been going through the Scott McCloud how-to books in an attempt to up my game as I am currently working on the script for a GN (long ways to go yet). Recently, my biggest comic consumption has been through webcomics (Prague Race, Sulfur and Salt, Vattu, Mias & Elle, The Meek, and Mare Internum are some of my favorites).

[marla-lesage Posts: 383 Status: Offline Write. Illustrate. Revise.]

Hope Larson is great two. I enjoyed Chiggers  and Mercury. There's a bit of magical realism which is just the right amount of magic for me.  Also in the middle of Persepolis (complete version) by Marjane Satrapi (memoir). I found part I in the adult GN section of my library but the mc is a child (maybe age 8-14) so I think it could have easily been labelled YA. Was fascinated to learn it was her first effort to learn the genre.

[beardedillustrations Posts: 19 Status: Offline Let's tell some good stories. WWW]

Persepolis (complete version) by Marjane Satrapi (memoir). I found part I in the adult GN section of my library but the mc is a child (maybe age 8-14) so I think it could have easily been labelled YA. Was fascinated to learn it was her first effort to learn the genre.

I only saw the film, which combined the first two Persepolis. It dealt with some pretty heavy content - rape, murder, warfare, lots of language - I haven't gotten around to reading the comics yet, but if the film was an accurate representation (which I believe it is, given that Marjane Satrapi directed it), then I don't think I could bring myself to categorize it as YA. Some people in that age group would be fine with it, but not everyone.