Best Graphic Novels - FAQ

Eligible graphic novels for the Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List should appeal to adults age 19 or older.

Definition of a Graphic Novel
For this committee, graphic novels are defined as being trade compilations and original works published in the sequential art format with an overarching story and/or theme. Comic strip and anthology collections may be nominated.

Publication Date
Titles are eligible when published from September 1st to December 31st of the prior calendar year and January 1st to December 31st of the assigned calendar year.

Formats
Accepted formats include the following:

• Bound, published trades.
• Ebooks that would be equivalent to a bound print volume.

Formats not accepted include:

• Individual comic book issues.
• Self-published works that are not readily accessible (see accessibility section).
• Webcomics/webtoons not collected in either a print or ebook volume (requires a publication date).

Eligible graphic novels for the Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List should appeal to children ages 5-11.

Definition of a Graphic Novel
For this committee, graphic novels are defined as being trade compilations and original works published in the sequential art format with an overarching story and/or theme. Comic strip and anthology collections may be nominated.

Publication Date
Titles are eligible when published from September 1st to December 31st of the prior calendar year and January 1st to December 31st of the assigned calendar year.

Formats
Accepted formats include the following:

• Bound, published trades.
• Ebooks that would be equivalent to a bound print volume.

Formats not accepted include:

• Individual comic book issues.
• Self-published works that are not readily accessible (see accessibility section).
• Webcomics/webtoons not collected in either a print or ebook volume (requires a publication date).

For these lists all titles must be written predominantly in English; however, the importance of promoting titles in other languages will not be ignored and titles in languages other than English may be nominated if available through North American library distributors.

ndividual volumes belonging to a series can be nominated as long as they are published within the eligible publication dates. Volumes are to be nominated individually based on the quality of each volume, and nominated volumes do not need to start or end a series or story arc. If volumes which fall in the middle of a series or story arc are nominated, consideration will be given for the ongoing quality of the series, the ease at which readers can enter the series at the point of nominated volumes, or the appeal of the nominated volumes to cause readers to want to read non-eligible and non-nominated volumes in the series.

Reissues are eligible for nomination if there have been significant changes made to the original publication or if the original work was first published with limited distribution (i.e. the original publication would not meet the committee’s current accessibility criteria). The first English printing of titles originally published in another language are also eligible.

A key purpose of this list is to assist libraries with collection development; therefore, titles are only eligible for this list if they are readily available for purchase by most US libraries at the time of consideration. Titles only available through crowdfunding, limited self-publishing, or otherwise not available through distributors are not eligible. Titles published solely in a digital format need to be available through library platforms. Platforms like Comixology or Gumroad are not acceptable. A general recommendation would be for titles to be available through library book vendors and/or major retailers like Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. Titles need not be published in the United States.

Titles are suggested for review by the selection committees via the web forms below. Librarians, educators, and the general public may submit titles for consideration. Publishers and creators are not eligible to nominate their own titles. Titles nominated to the selection committee for consideration will be reviewed for eligibility and if deemed eligible, considered by the committee for the final list. Not all nominated titles will be selected for the final list.

Yes! The selection committee welcomes review copies for consideration (print or digital). For more information on how to submit review copies for consideration, please contact our staff liaison Tina Coleman at ccoleman@ala.org.

We will be announcin the final lists and a Top Ten in January each year.

The 2021 Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List will be annnounced in January 2022.

The inaugeral Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List will be announced in January 2022.