YALSA names 2013 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

SEATTLE — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced its 2013 Great Graphic Novels for Teens. The list of 55 titles, drawn from 98 official nominations, is presented annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. The books, recommended for those ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens. The complete list with annotations can be found at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/great-graphic-novels.

In addition, the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee created a Top Ten list of titles that exemplify the quality and range of graphic novels appropriate for teen audiences:

• Backderf, Derf. “My Friend Dahmer.” Abrams, 2012.
• Bendis, Brian Michael and Sara Pichelli. “Ultimate Comics Spider-man V. 1.” Marvel, 2012.
• Fetter-Vorm, Jonathan. “Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb.” Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Hill and Wang, 2012.
• Hicks, Faith Erin. “Friends with Boys.” Roaring Brook/First Second, 2012.
• Kwitney, Alisa, Rebecca Guay and others. “A Flight of Angels.” DC/Vertigo, 2011.
• Lambert, Joseph. “Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller.” Disney Hyperion/Disney Book Group, 2012.
• Long, Mark, Nate Powell and others. “The Silence of Our Friends.” Roaring Brook/First Second, 2012.
• Murakami, Takashi. “Stargazing Dog.” NBM Publishing, 2011.
• Telgemeier, Raina. “Drama.” Scholastic/GRAPHIX, 2012.
• Waid, Mark, Paolo Manuel Rivera and Marcos Martin. “Daredevil V. 1.” Marvel, 2012.

“What do superheroes, serial killers and the stage crew have in common? They all have a place on the 2013 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list,” said committee Chair Rachael Myers. “There is a graphic novel on this list for every teen reader and we think this is a valuable resource for teens and the librarians who work with them.”

Members of the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee are Rachael Myers, chair, Horace Mann School, Bronx, N.Y.; Tessa Barber, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; Chris Durr, Kirkwood Public Library, Mo.; Heather Gruenthal, Western High School, Anaheim, Calif.; Monica Harris, Oak Park (Ill.) Public Library; Summer Hayes, King County Library System, Tukwila, Wash.; Katy Hepner, St. Tammany Parish Library, Mandeville, La.; Marcus Lowry, Roseville Library, Maplewood, Minn.; Matthew Moffett, Fairfax County (Va.) Public Library; Emily Pukas, Nashville (Tenn.) Public Library; Dorcas Wong, San Francisco Public Library; and administrative assistants Katie Llera, Sayreville Middle School, Parlin, N.J., and Brooke Young, Salt Lake City (Utah) Public Library.

YALSA’s portfolio of book and media awards helps strengthen library services for and with teens by identifying quality, age appropriate resources for librarians and library workers to share with the teens in their communities.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audio books for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail, yalsa@ala.org.