Great Graphic Novels
This list of Graphic Novels are recommended for purchase by public libraries serving youth. Books were selected based on quality of text and art and overall appeal. This list only serves as a guide; the librarian must determine what is best their collections.
For Questions or to schedule an exhibit of these books, contact Nikole Wolfe, Children’s & Youth Services Consultant, KY Dept. for Libraries & Archives.
This list also exists as a PDF document.
KEY:
^Manga
+Non-fiction
*Mature Readers
City of Light, City of Dark. Avi. 1993. 0531070581.
Plastic Man: On the Lam! Kyle Baker. 2005. 1401203434.
*Jinx: The Definitive Collection. Brian Michael Bendis. 2001. 1582401799.
Powers. Vol. 1: Who Killed Retro Girl. Brian Michael Bendis. 2001. 1582401837.
Ultimate Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility: Vol 1. Brian Michael Bendis and Bill Jemas. 2002. 078510898X.
Electric Girl Vol 1. Michael Brennan. 2000. 0970355505.
*Black Hole. Charles Burns. 2005. 037542380X.
Astro City. Vol 1: Life in the Big City. Kurt Busiek. 1999. 156389551X.
Marvels. Kurt Busiek. 2004. 0785100490.
Flight, Volume 2. Becky Cloonan. 2005. 1582404771.
The Clouds Above. Jordan Crane. 2005. 1560976276.
+Age of Reptiles: Tribal Warfare. Ricardo Delgado. 1996. 1404672834.
+The Contract with God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue. Will Eisner. 2005. 0393061051
Fagin the Jew. Will Eisner. 2003. 0385510098.
The Books of Magic. Neil Gaiman. 1993. 1563890828.
*The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes, Bk. 1. Neil Gaiman. 1993. 1563890119.
Red Star Vol. 1: Battle at Dar Kathra’s Gate. Christian Gossett. 2001. 1582401977
Fashion Kitty. Charise Mericle Harper. 2005. 0786851341
Babymouse: Queen of the World! Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. 2005. 0375932291.
+Clan Apis. Jay Hosler. 2000. 096772550X.
+The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation. Sid Jacobson & Ernie Colon. 2006. 978-0-8090-5739-9.
Origin: The True Story of Wolverine. Paul Jenkins, Bill Jemas, & Joe Quesada. 2002. 078510965X.
*^Samurai Executioner Vol. 1: When the Demon Knife Weeps. Kazuo Koike. 2004. 1593072074.
Berlin: City of Stones. Jason Lutes. 2000. 1896597297.
+Understanding Comics. Scott McCloud. 1994. 006097625X.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Frank Miller. 2002. 156389341X.
^Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Vol.1. Hayao Miyazaki. 2004. 1591164087.
*The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1. Alan Moore. 2002. 1563898586.
V for Vendetta. Alan Moore. 1989. 0930289528.
*Absolute Watchmen. Alan Moore. 2005. 1401207138.
Akira Vol. 1. Katsuhiro Otomo. 2000. 0440416485.
Owly, Vol. 1: The Way Home and the Bittersweet Summer. Andy Runton. 2004. 1891830627.
+Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. Marjane Satrapi. 2003. 037571457X.
It’s a Bird… Steven T. Seagle. 2004. 1401203116.
Age of Bronze. Vol 1: A Thousand Ships. Eric Shanower. 2001. 1582402000.
To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel. Siena Cherson Siegel. 2006. 978-1416926870
Bone: Vol.1: Out From Boneville. Jeff Smith. 2005. 0439706408.
*+Maus: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History, Vol. I. Art Spiegelman. 1997. 0679406417.
Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids, Book 2. Art Spiegelman. 2001. 0060286261.
^Ranma ½. Vol. 1. Rumiko Takahashi. 2003. 1569319626.
^Yu-gi-oh Duelist Vol. 1. Kazuki Takahashi. 2005. 1591166144.
The Tale of One Bad Rat. Bryan Talbot. 1995. 1569710775.
*Blankets. Craig Thompson. 2003. 1891830430.
^Peach Girl Vol. 1. Miwa Ueda. 2004. 1595321713.
Runaways: Vol. 1: Pride and Joy. Brian K Vaughan. 2004. 0785113797.
Kingdom Come. Mark Waid. 1998. 1563893304.
Superman: Birthright: The Origin of the Man of Steel. Mark Waid. 2005. 1401202527.
Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss and What I Learned. Judd Winick. 0805064036.
^Marmalade Boy Vol. 1. Wataru Yoshizumi. 2002. 1404628746.
Compiled by Nikole Wolfe, Children’s & Youth Services Consultant, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.