YALSA announces 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

Contact: Nichole Gilbert

YALSA

312-280-4387

ngilbert@ala.org

For Immediate Release

January 29, 2007

YALSA announces 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced its 2007 recommended list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens. The list, to be prepared annually, was released for the first time during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, Washington, held January 19-23, 2007.

The 11-member committee worked hard to narrow its 141 official nominations down to the final list of 67 excellent adult and young adult graphic novel titles. The books, recommended for ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and reading appeal for teens.

The inaugural committee was dedicated to making a strong list that showcases a wide range of quality materials. The list includes everything from serious non-fiction to high fantasy, romantic manga to superhero parodies.

“We are very proud of how this list came together,” said Committee Chair Dawn Rutherford. “This is an exciting time for graphic novel publishing and it is wonderful to be a part of the first ALA division to recognize this growing field of literature.”

From the Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2007 list, the committee also selected a Top Ten list of titles that highlights favorites teens are sure to love:

Ellis, Warren, Stuart Immonen. Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.(V. 1). 2006. Marvel Enterprises, hardcover, $19.99. (978-0-7851-2278-4).

Hernandez, Gilbert, Jared K. Fletcher. Sloth. 2006. DC Comics/ Vertigo, hardcover, $19.99. (978-1-4012-0366-5).

Medley, Linda. Castle Waiting. 2006. Fantagraphics Books, hardcover, $29.95. (978-1-56097-747-6).

Meltzer, Brad, Rags Morales. Identity Crisis. 2005. DC Comics, paper, $24.99. (978-1-4012-0688-8).

Ohba, Tsugumi, Takeshi Obata.

Death Note (V. 1). 2005. VIZ Media, paper, $7.99. (978-1-4215-0168-0).

Death Note (V. 2). 2005. VIZ Media, paper, $7.99. (978-1-4215-0169-7).

Death Note (V. 3). 2006. VIZ Media, paper, $7.99. (978-1-4215-0170-3).

Vaughan, Brian K, Adrian Alphona.

True Believers: Runaways (V. 4). 2005. Marvel Enterprises, paper, $7.99. (978-0-7851-1705-6).

Escape to New York: Runaways(V. 5). 2006. Marvel Enterprises, paper, $7.99. (978-0-7851-1901-2).

Parental Guidance: Runaways (V. 6). 2006. Marvel Enterprises, paper, $7.99. (978-0-7851-1952-4).

Vaughan, Brian K, Niko Henrichon. Pride of Baghdad. 2006. DC Comics/ Vertigo, hardcover, $19.99. (978-1-4012-0314-6).

Whitta, Gary, Ted Naifeh. Death, Jr. 2005. Image Comics, paper, $14.99. (978-1-58240-526-1).

Wood, Brian, Becky Cloonan. Demo: The Collection. 2005. AiT/Planet Lar, paper, $19.95. (978-1-932051-42-1).

Yang, Gene Luen, Lark Pien. American Born Chinese. 2006. Roaring Brook Press/ First Second, paper, $16.95. (978-1-59643-152-2).

Members of the 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens committee were Dawn M. Rutherford, chair, King County Library System, Bellevue, Wash.; Robin Elizabeth Brenner, Brookline Public Library, Brookline, Mass.; Jennifer Feigelman, Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, Goshen, N.Y.; Melissa Therese Jenvey, New York Public Library – Donnell Library Center, New York, N.Y.; Kevin King, Kalamazoo Public Library, Kalamazoo, Mich.; Esther Keller, I.S. 278, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Sadie Mattox, Dekalb County Public Library, Dekalb, Ga.; Jody Sharp, Baltimore County Public Library, Baltimore, Md.; Gail Tobin, Schaumburg Township District Library, Hanover Park, Ill.; Jeni Venker Weidenbenner, Bourbonnais Public Library, Bourbonnais, Ill.; Snow Wildsmith, Mooresville Public Library, Mooresville, N.C.; Catherine Schaeffer, administrative assistant, King County Library System, Bothell, Wash.

The full Great Graphic Novels for Teens list is available at www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists. An annotated list will be available on the YALSA For Members Only Web site.

For 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audiobooks for teens. For more information about these awards or for additional lists of recommended reading, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists. For more information about YALSA, please contact us via e-mail, yalsa@ala.org; or by phone at 1-800-545-2433 ext. 4390.