Great Graphic Novels for Teens Nominations
Updated July 29, 2008
Abel, Jessica. Life Sucks. First Second. 2008. 978-1-59643-107-2. $19.95.
When a goth girl falls for a Dracula wannabe, what's a young vampire to do?
Akino, Matsuri. Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo, v. 1. Tokyopop. 2008. 978-1-4278-0607-9. $9.99
The devious Count D is back, selling hapless Tokyo citizens his magical pets, the kind of pet that gives you what you deserve, not necessarily what you wish for.
Alexovich, Aaron. Kimmie66. Minx. 2007. 978-1-4012-0373-3. $9.99.
Telly is a 23rd century girl, living her life online. She and (everyone else) spends all free time in lairs. In her lair she meets her best friend Kimmie66. After getting a suicide note and confirming Kimmie66 real life death, she keeps seeing her show up online.
Ashihara, Hinako.Sand Chronicles, v. 1. VIZ. 2008. 978-1-4215-1477-2. $8.99.
Following her parents divorce, Ann and her mother move from Tokyo to the country. At first she is lonely but she quickly makes friends, crushing on her neighbor. When her mother commits suicide Ann must depend on her new friends more than she ever imagined she would need anyone.
Ashihara, Hinako. Sand Chronicles, v. 2. VIZ. 2008. 978-1-4215-1478-9. $8.99.
After her mother's suicide, Ann finds comfort in new boyfriend Daigo and her friends and family in rural Japan. The return of her absentee father forces her to choose between her happy life and reconnecting with a parent who failed the family.
Betten, Court.Harukaze Bitter Bop, v. 1. Tokyopop. 2008. 978-1-4278-0328-3. $9.99.
Chiyoharu is not having a great day. Or year. Suspended for starting a fire at school with his friends that got out of control, he is now ostracized by students, teachers and his old cohorts. But then Chiyoharu unwillingly attracts two bizarre companions.
Bilson, Danny. Red Menace. Wildstorm. 2007. 978-7-4012-1383-1. $17.99.
The Eagle, a wartime hero, is unmasked in front of congress during McCarthy's famous communist witch hunt. Labeled as a "commie," Steve Tremaine (a.k.a. The Hero) can no longer save the city of Los Angeles from crime because he is labeled as a traitor. But without his patrolling, L.A. is taken over by gangs.
Black, Holly. The Good Neighbors: Book One, Kin. 2008. Graphix. 978-0-4398-5562-4. 16.99.
Rue's world has been turned upside-down; her mother is missing, her father is accused of murder and she's beginning to see creatures that can only be faeries. Now it's up to her to find the answers that can save her family, and protect all she loves from a dark faerie.
Cooke, Darwyn.The Spirit, v. 1. DC. 2008. 978-1-4012-1618-4. $19.99.
Reinventing Will Eisner's classic hero, Cooke keeps the retro look and feel of The Spirit and updates it for today. More about the characters than the action, each chapter looks at either a hero or a villain, examining the why of a crime as much as the how. Great fun!
El Rassi, Toufic. Arab in America. Last Gasp. 2008. 978-0-345-50330-5. $14.95.
The eye-opening story of the life of an average Arab-American struggling with his identity in an increasingly hostile nation. Using the graphic novel as his medium, Lebanon-born Toufic El Rassi chronicles his experience growing up Arab in America.
Fujisawa, Yuki.Metro Survive, v. 1. DrMaster Publications. 2008. 978-1-59796-125-7. $9.95.
The massive earthquake was only the start of their troubles.
Fujisawa, Yuki. Metro Survive, v. 2. DrMaster Publications. 2008. 978-1-59796-126-4. $9.95.
Trapped underground with dangerous people!
Hague, Michael.In the Small. Little, Brown. 2008. 978-0-316-01323-9. $19.99.
The day begins normal enough, until Mouse, working at his father's office, has one of his visions — soon after, a blue flash appears and all humans are suddenly shrunk to a mere six inches tall, realizing Mouse's horrible premonition.
Hakase, Mizuki. Demon Flowers, v. 1. Tokyopop. 2007. 978-1-4278-0298-9. $9.99.
The Kuruizaki no Hana, half-human children of the gods, are being hunted and destroyed by Ushitora.Then he meets a little boy that he can't live without, and, betraying his own kind, leaves with the boy to start a new life and family knowing he will eventually have to pay a price.
Hakase, Mizuki.Demon Flowers, v. 2 . Tokyopop. 2008. 978-1-4278-0299-6. $9.99.
The Kuruizaki no Hana, half-human children of the gods, are being hunted and destroyed by Ushitora.Then he meets a little boy that he can't live without, and, betraying his own kind, leaves with the boy to start a new life and family knowing he will eventually have to pay a price.
Hale, Shannon.Rapunzel’s Revenge. Bloomsbury. 2008. 978-0-345-50330-5. $18.99.
We all know the story — Rapunzel's stuck in a tower, destined to be saved by a prince. But the story's been skewed a bit, and Rapunzel wasn't exactly waiting to be rescued, and she's not looking for love—she's looking for revenge.
Higuchi, Tachibana. Gakuen Alice, v. 1. Tokyopop. 2007. 978-1-4278-0319-1. $9.99.
Mikan desperately misses her best friend Hotaru, who's been whisked away to a government school for superpowered students. It turns out Mikan has a power too, but what if her power is to counteract everyone else's gift? What kind of skill is that?
Hinds, Gareth. The Merchant of Venice. Candlewick. 2008. 978-0-7636-3024-9. $21.99.
An adaptation of the Shakespearean play.
Hosler, Jay. Optical Allusions. Active Synapse Comics. 2008. 978-0-9677255-2-9. $20.00.
Part graphic novel adventure, part scientific prose text, the book is an imaginative look at what makes the eye work. Join Wrinkles the Wonder Brain as he travels across imagination to find his bosses' magic eye and learns a thing or two along the way.
Ito, Junki. Uzumaki, v.1. VIZ. 2007. 978-1-4215-1389-8. $9.99.
Kurôzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but by a pattern: uzumaki, the spiral, the hypnotic secret shape of the world. It manifests itself in small ways: seashells, ferns, whirlpools in water, whirlwinds in air. And in large ways: the spiral marks on people's bodies, the insane obsessions of Shuichi's father, the voice from the cochlea in your inner ear. As the madness spreads, the inhabitants of Kurôzu-cho are pulled ever deeper, as if into a whirlpool from which there is no return...
Jensen, Derrick. As the World Burns. Seven Stories Press. 2007. 978-58322-777-0. $14.95.
A bold and hilarious satire of modern environmental policy.
Johnson, Mat.Incognegro: A Graphic Mystery. Vertigo. 2008. 978-1-4012-1097-7. $19.99.
An African-American who lives in Harlem at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, Zane Pinchback frequently travels down south and brings back firsthand reports of lynchings there. How does he do this without getting lynched himself? He is so lightskinned that he is able to pass as a white man, and reports under the pseudonym Incognegro. Tired of his hidden, dangerous career, Zane wants to retire as Incognegro. But now his own brother has been wrongly accused of murdering a white woman, and is in jail in Mississippi. Zane must return to the south for his most harrowing assignment yet.
Kabei, Yukako.Kieli, v. 1. Yen Press. 2008. 978-0759528512. $9.99.
Long before Kieli is born a war is fought. One weapon of the war was the 'undying', an indistructable group of soldiers fashioned from the dead. When the war was over these soldiers were hunted down but a few still exist. Kieli, who can see spirits, meets up with one and joins him on his quest to return a spirit to it's final resting place.
Kang, Kyungok. Two Will Come, v. 1. Netcomics. 2007. 978-1-60009-116-2. $9.99.
Thanks to a curse, Jina's family is doomed to lose one family member each generation. Murdered by two people close to them, Jina discovers it's her life that's due next.
Kang, Kyungok. Two Will Come, v. 2. Netcomics. 2008. 978-1-60009-117-9. $9.99.
In this volume Jina has several attempts made on her life. To find out more she, her cousin, and Lloyd (Yoojin) hee "lloyd". Anyway, they try to find out more about the curse. There are three mysteries going on: the curse, Jaesuke and Yoojin's dead girlfriend.
Kawahara, Kazune.High School Debut, v. 1. VIZ. 2008. 978-1-4215-1481-9. $8.99.
Haruna is determined to get a boyfriend in high school, the only problem is that she's a total tomboy. She convinces the ultra popular Yoh to be her coach in her search for love and he agrees on the condition that she not fall for him in any way.
Kawahara, Kazune.High School Debut, v. 2. VIZ. 2008. 978-1-4215-1482-6. $8.99.
Haruna, a high-school student, has switched her interest from sports to boys and convinces a popular fellow student, Yoh, to coach her in her search for a boyfriend. Yoh agrees, with the condition that Haruna promises not to fall in love with him.
Kibuishi, Kazu. Amulet: Book 1: The Stonekeeper. Graphix. 2008. 978-0-4398-4680-6. $21.99.
After losing her father in a pretty terrible car accident (!), Emily and her family move to their great grandfather's home. It's dusty and creepy. No one's lived there since the grandfather's disappearance. Emily discovers a talking amulet that warns her of danger minutes before her mom is eaten by a bit octopus thing. So she and her brother Navin journey into the basement and secret underworld to get her back.
Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, v. 28. VIZ. 2008. 978-1-4215-1864-0. $7.95.
After two years of training, Naruto returns just in time to use his new strength to help save his kidnapped friend.
Kiyuouiki, Satoko.Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro, v. 1. Yen Press. 2008. 978-075952897. $10.99.
Kuro travels with a coffin on her back, her talking bat and two mysterious, cat-like twin girls. She encounters many interesting characters along the way but not the person she is looking for.
Larson, Hope. Chiggers. Aladdin. 2008. 978-1-4169-3587-2. $17.99
Abby is back at camp but this time her old friends are busy and she starts spending time with Shasta, the new girl. However, none of her other bunkmates like Shasta. Tensions rise when they find themselves going for the same boy.
Loeb, Jeph.Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America. Marvel. 2008. 978-0-7851-2842-7. $13.99.
Captain America has been killed and his friends reflect on his life and death.
Luna, Joshua.The Sword, Volume 1: Fire. Image Comics. 2008. 978-1-58240-879-8. $14.99
Dara thought she was a normal student, until three strangers destroyed her life.
Mashima, Hiro. Fairy Tail, v. 1. Del Rey. 2008. 978-0-345-50133-2. $10.95.
When Lucy, a wanna-be wizard, gets involved with the wacky crew at the wizard's guild Fairy Tail, she's in for more excitement and adventure than she originally planned.
Mashima, Hiro. Fairy Tail, v. 2. Del Rey. 2008. 978-0-345-50330-5. $10.95.
When Lucy, a wanna-be wizard, gets involved with the wacky crew at the wizard's guild Fairy Tail, she's in for more excitement and adventure than she originally planned.
Mimori, Ao. B.O.D.Y., v. 1. VIZ. 978-1-4215-1802-2. $8.99.
Ryoko has a secret crush on the quiet, bespecled boy one seat over. He's so cute and mysterious! Her idealism is shot when she discovers Ryunosuke is a host (a boy who dates girls for money). He's also a terrible tease. She can't like a boy like that! The only problem is the Ryuno has made it his mission to have her love him. Again and again Ryoko falls for his ploys, like feeling sorry for him when he fakes a twisted ankle. Still, there's something genuine about him. He bravely steps in when her new crush isn't everything she thought.
Mitsuki, Ryoko. Doors of Chaos, v. 1. Tokyopop. 2008. 978-1-4278-0734-2. $9.99.
Twin sisters Clarissa and Mizeria have lived sheltered lives being trained as Harmonizers. On their 16th birthday their tutor and friend kidnaps Clarissa and leave Mizeria to die at the hands of his monsters. Rescued by a cute but irritating boy she goes on a mission to find her sister and stop her tutor from opening all the doors of chaos.
Park, Hee Jung. Fever, v. 1. Tokyopop. 2008. 978-1-4278-0532-4. $9.99.
Hyung-in, Ah-in, and Ji-jin are three teenagers whose lives are about to intersect. One is running from the guilt of surviving her friend's suicide, one is nursing a hopeless crush, and one is determined to find the girl of his dreams. Outside the mainstream, they may just find what they need.
Peach-Pit. Zombie-Loan, v. 1. Yen Press. 2007. 978-0-7595-2353-1. $10.99.
A black ring around someone's neck warns of impending death. Michiru has the rare ability to see these rings. Two boys in her class have them, hmmm, what's a girl to do?
Pedrosa, Cyril. Three Shadows. First Second. 2008. 978-1-59643-239-0. $15.95.
Two young parents struggle when three mysterious figures arrive on the horizon, threatening their son.
Picoult, Jodi. Wonder Woman: Love and Murder. DC. 2007. 978-1-4012-1487-6. $19.99.
Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman, a special agent for the Department of Metahuman Affairs, is given an assignment to apprehend....herself!
Simone, Gail. Welcome to Tranquility, v. 1. Wildstorm. 2007. 978-1-4012-1516-3. $19.99.
Tranquility is where superheros retire, have children and relive the glory days. They are usually a peaceful bunch but when one of their own is murdered they have to put back on the masks and fight along side their troubled teenagers.
Smith, Mark. Aqua Leung. Image Comics. 2008. 978-1-58240-863-7. $17.99.
Adam Leung is on a quest to discover his true nature.
Soo, Kean. Jellaby. Hyperion. 2008. 978-1-4231-0337-0. $18.95.
Quiet, brilliant Portia has just moved to a new neighborhood with her mom. Adjusting to life without a father is hard enough, but school is boring and her classmates are standoffish — and even Portia's mom is strangely distant. But things start looking up when Portia mounts a late-night excursion into the woods behind her house and discovers a shy, sweet-natured purple monster. Life with Jellaby is a lot more exciting, but Portia's purple friend has secrets of his own; secrets that may even lead to the mystery of Portia's father's disappearance.
Steinberger, Aimee Major.Japan Ai: A Tall Girl’s Adventures in Japan. Go Comi. 2007. 978-1-933617-83-1. $16.99.
Manga, anime, ball-jointed doll, and Japanese fan (and cartoonist) Aimee Major Steinberger travels on a dream trip to Japan, full of traditional vistas and pure pop culture dreams.
Straczynski, J. Michael.Silver Surfer: Requiem. Marvel. 2007. 978-0-7851-2848-9. $19.99.
The latest offering from the Marvel Knights line. Guest-starring the Fantastic Four! For untold years Norrin Radd has surfed the galaxy, exploring the darkness between stars, witnessing the rise and fall of vast civilizations. Now his ride is about to come to an end. It starts with a small spot — a blemish that will spread until he is no more. Until then, the Silver Surfer would undertake his final voyage — to the one destination that has always eluded him. His journey starts where it began.
Sturm, James. Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow. Hyperion. 2007. 978-0-7868-3901-8. $9.99.
Sturm uses the inspiring story of one of the greatest baseball players ever as a device to show the cruelty and hardships under the Jim Crow days in the South.
Tamaki, Mariko. Skim. Groundwood Books. 2008. 978-0-8889-9753-1. $18.95.
Kimberly Keiko Cameron ("Skim") is a chubby, sixteen-year-old, sort-of-Wiccan goth girl who is dealing with her schoolmates' reaction to a fellow classmate's suicide, feelings for her English teacher, and the growing rift between her and her best friend.
Trondheim, Lewis.Kaput & Zosky. First Second. 2008. 978-1-59643-132-4. $13.95.
Kaput and Zosky are alien invaders that travel from planet to planet with the intent to pillage, vaporize and conquer, but something always seems to go wrong.
Umino, Chica. Honey and Clover, v. 1. VIZ. 2008. 978-1-4215-1504-5. $8.99.
Art college becomes an even more interesting place for Takamoto when a new girl enrolls in the freshman class.
Various. Flight Explorer, v. 1. Villard. 2008. 978-0345503138. $10.00
A collection of short stories from the editor of the Flight anthologies and others, geared toward the tween set.
Vaughan, Brian K. The Escapists. Dark Horse. 2007. 978-1-5930-7831-7. $19.95.
Based on fictional comic creators, Kavelier and Clays' the Escapist, Vaughn pulls the superhero into the 21st century via three idealistic young Ohiohians. With little money, they set out to bring the Escapist (literally) back to life.
Wilson, G. Willow.Cairo. Vertigo. 2007. 978-1-4012-1140-0. $24.99.
When two young Americans fly to Cairo in search of something other than what they've known, they get more than they bargained for at the hands of a djinn.
Yazawa, Ai.Nana, v. 8. VIZ. 2008. 978-1-4215-1539-7. $8.99.
The beginning of the "pregnancy arc," this volume shows Hachi's agony as she tries to come to grips with her pregnancy without telling her friends what is going on.
Yazawa, Ai. Nana, v. 9. VIZ. 2008. 978-1-4215-1745-2. $8.99.
"Takumi and Hachi are getting married, but it's far from a joyous announcement. Nobu and Nana are devastated, and even Takumi's bandmates take the news hard. With paparazzi skulking around for a new scandal to exploit and tensions between Trapnest and Blast on high alert, will Hachi ever get her happily ever after?"
Yoshinaga, Fumi. Garden Dreams. Digital Manga Publishing. 2007. 978-1-56970-763-0. $12.95.
Two brothers, traveling bards, disrupt the life of a lonely baron, forcing him to face the losses he has suffered.
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of American Empire. Henry Holt. 2008. 978-0-8050-8744-4. $17.00.
It's a graphic adaptation from Howard Zinn's best selling book, A People's History of the United States.
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