2014 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Nominations
updated May 2, 2013
NONFICTION
Georges, Nicole. Calling Dr. Laura: A Graphic Memoir. 2013. Illus., paper, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99, (978-0547615592.) Nicole moves to Portland in an attempt to find out who she is, but the past keeps intruding on her new life.
O’Connor, George. Poseidon: Earth Shaker. 2013. Illus., paper, First Second, $9.99, (978-1596437388.) Let's hear Poseidon talk about his crazy family.
Ottaviani, Jim and Maris Wicks. Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas. 2013. Illus., First Second, $19.99, (978-1596438651.) Three women journey to the jungles of Africa to study primates in their natural habitats.
FICTION
Allison, John. Bad Machinery V.1: The Case of the Team Spirit. 2013. Illus., paper, Oni Press, $19.99, (978-1620100844.) Six children forge friendships and solve mysteries while navigating the choppy waters of early adolescence.
Azzarello, Brian and Cliff Chiang. Wonder Woman V. 2: Guts. 2013. Illus., DC Comics, $22.99, (978-1401438094.) Wonder Woman goes on a diplomatic rescue mission to Hell.
Bastian, Jeremy. Cursed Pirate Girl. 2012. Illus., Archaia Studios, $24.95, (978-1936393602.) In the wild Omerta Seas, the Cursed Pirate Girl searches for her father.
Castrée, Geneviève. Susceptible. 2013, illus., Drawn & Quarterly, $19.95, (978-1770460881.) Goglu uses drawing and punk rock to escape from life with her unpredictable Mother.
Chwast, Seymour. The Odyssey. 2012, illus., Bloomsbury, $20.00, (978-1608194865.) Odysseus must make an epic effort to get back home.
Clare, Cassandra and HyeKyung Baek. The Infernal Devices V.1: Clockwork Angel. 2012, illus., paper, Yen Press, $12.99, (978-0316200981.) Tessa is linked to an underworld that she didn't know existed - vampires, demons, werewolves, shapeshifters, and the Shadowhunters who keep everything in check. But where does she actually belong?
Cliff, Tony. Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant. 2013, illus., paper, First Second, $15.99, (978-1596438132.) Delilah Dirk’s life is one crazy adventure after another as she leaves angry pirates and soldiers behind in her dust.
De la Cruz, Melissa, Alina Urusov and Robert Venditti. Blue Bloods: The Graphic Novel. 2013, illus., Hyperion CH Books, $19.99, (978-1423134466.) Schuyler tries to find out who is killing the blue bloods.
Fraction, Matt, David Aja and others. Hawkeye V.1. 2013. Illus., paper, Marvel, $16.99, (978-0785165620.) Here's what Clint Barton does on his day off.
Gage, Christos, Rebekah Isaacs and others. Angel & Faith V. 2: Daddy Issues. 2012, illus., paper, Dark Horse, $17.99, (978-1595829603.) Angel chases a wayward sire while Faith deals with her deadbeat Dad.
Garcia, Kami, Margaret Stohl and Cassandra Jean. Beautiful Creatures. 2013. Illus., Yen Press, $16.99, (978-0316182713.) Lena will be chosen as a witch of the Dark or the Light on her sixteenth birthday. Ethan must help her find a way to fight what cannot be changed.
Gulledge, Laura Lee. Will & Whit. 2013, illus., paper, Amulet Books, $18.95, (978-1419705472.) Will faces her fear of the dark, new friends, love, a hurricane and the death of her parents.
Halliday, Ayun and Paul Hoppe. Peanut. 2012, illus., paper, Random House, $18.99, (978-0375965906.) Sadie has a deadly fake allergy. Will she be found out?
Harris, Joe, Adam Pollina, Brent McCarthy and Nolan Woodard. Wars in Toyland. 2013, illus., Oni Press, $19.99, (978-1934964934.) Matthew is carried off to Toyland where he must fight the horrible teddy dictator Roxbury and save his brother Alex.
Hautière, Régis and Renauld Dilles. Abelard. 2012, illus., NBM Publishing, $22.99, (978-1561637010.) There's only one way to catch the moon for a girl you love, and that's to travel to America!
Hernandez, Gilbert. Marble Season. 2013, illus., Drawn & Quarterly. $21.95, (978-1770460867.) Growing up in 60's California, Huey reads comic books, tries to avoid bullies, and learns how to fit in on his block.
Hicks, Faith Erin. The Adventures of Superhero Girl. 2013, illus., Dark Horse. $16.99, (978-1616550844.) The life of a superhero is not all monsters and flying - especially when you have no archnemesis and a more popular superhero brother.
Hirasaka, Yomi and Itachi. Haganai V.1: I Don’t Have Many Friends. 2012, illus, paper, Seven Seas Entertainment, $12.99 , (978-1937867126.) A transfer student in high school befriends a loner with an imaginary friend, and together they create a club for figuring out how to make friends.
Keatinge, Joe and Andre Szymanowicz. Hell Yeah V. 1: Last Day on Earths. 2012, illus., paper, Image Comics, $9.99, (978-1607066071.) Ben Day is starting to freak out about all the other Ben Days that are winding up dead in the multiverse.
Kindt, Matt. MIND MGMT V.1: The Manager. 2013, illus., Dark Horse, $19.99, (978-1595827975.) A journalist trails a missing passenger from “Amnesia Flight 815” and discovers a much bigger mystery.
Kirkman, Robert, Nick Spencer, Shawn Martinbrough and Felix Serrano. Thief of Thieves V. 1. 2012, illus., Image Comics, $14.99, (978-1607065920.) Redmond has retired from being a master thief, but
issues with his not-so-talented son bring him back into the business.
Krul, J.T., and Stanley Lau. Captain Atom V.1.: Evolution. 2012, illus., paper, DC Comics, $14.99, (978-1401237158.) Captain Atom is balancing the near-omnipotent potential of his superpowers with the duty he feels obligated to perform for society.
Larson, Hope and Tintin Pantoja. Who is AC?, 2013, illus, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $21.99, (978-1442465404.) Lin moves to a new town and suddenly transforms into a supernatural crime stopper.
LeLoup, Roger. Yoko Tsuno V. 7: The Curious Trio., 2012, illus., paper, CineBook, $11.95, (978-1849181273.) A mysterious entity haunts ancient alien cave-dwellers and only Yoko Tsuno can stop it!
Lepp, Royden. Rust V. 2: Secrets of the Cell. 2012, illus., Archaia, $24.95, (978-1936393589.) Is Jet a killing machine or just a boy who's been used to fight a distant war?
Lolos, Vasilis. The Last Call V.2. 2013, illus., paper, Oni Press, $12.99, (978-1620100837.) Alec finally gets back on the Ghost Train and realizes there's still a mystery going on that is leaving a lot of passengers dead.
McKay, Sharon and Daniel Lafrance. War Brothers: The Graphic Novel. 2013, illus., Annick Press, $27.95, (978-1554514892.) Kids are kidnapped and forced to be killers in Uganda's Resistance Army.
Manapul, Francis and Brian Buccellato. Flash V.1: Move Forward. 2012, illus., DC Comics, $24.99, (978-1401235536.) A friend from Barry Allen's past returns just as a new villain, Mob Rule, activates an EMP that disables the city.
Millar, Mark and Leinil Yu. SuperCrooks: The Heist. 2012, illus., Marvel, $19.99, (978-0785166108.) A team of supervillains rob a retired supervillain in Spain, where there are no superheroes to stop them.
North, Ryan, Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb. Adventure Time V.1. 2012, illus., paper, KaBOOM! Studios, $14.99, (978-1608862801.) Jake the Dog and Finn the Human battle a bag of holding in another madcap epic.
Rogers, Moro. City in the Desert: The Monster Problem. 2012, illus., Archaia Studios, $24.95, (978-1936393558.) Kevala's spirit fountain has been capped by a suspicious holy man, and now the residents are acting strangely. Can Irro the Monster Hunter and his assistant find out what's happening before they, too, succumb to the madness?
Sakisaka, Io. Strobe Edge V.1. 2012, illus., paper, VIZ Media, $9.99, (978-1421550688.) High schooler Ninako falls for the cool, popular guy at school, while a classmate develops a crush on her.
Shen, Prudence and Faith Erin Hicks. Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong. 2013, illus., paper, First Second, $16.99 (978-1596436596.) Robotics Club and Cheerleaders team up to get funding for their school activities.
Smith, Cynthia Leitich and Ming Doyle. Eternal: Zachary’s Story. 2013, illus., paper, Candlewick Press, $19.99, (978-0763651190.) Zachary is Miranda's guardian angel. When he interferes and shows himself to Miranda, Zachary is told he has changed the natural order and that he AND Miranda will pay the penalty (hell).
Trondheim, Louis. Ralph Azham V. 1: Why Would You Lie To Someone You Love? 2012, illus., Fantagraphics Books, $14.99, (978-1606995938.)Ralph was supposed to be the Chosen One, but he will be lucky if he can survive the Horde invasion.
Wimberly, Ronald. Prince of Cats. 2012, illus., paper, Vertigo, $16.99 (978-1401220686.) In an alternate, samurai-saturated, hip-hop Brooklyn, Tybalt does daily battle with the Montagues.
Yolen, Jane and Mike Cavallaro. Curses! Foiled Again. 2013, illus., paper, First Second, $15.99, (978-1596436190.) Aliera is back in action as she tries to save her cousin from trolls and other mystical creatures.
