Complex Themes in Teen Graphic Novels
When many adults think of graphic novels, they think of “silly” mainstream comic books about superheroes or compilations of Garfield or Calvin and Hobbes comic strips.
When kids and teens think about graphic novels, they think of The Witch Boy, Smile, many types of Japanese manga, and, of course, superheroes such as Captain America, Batman, Iron Man, and Wonder Woman.
When I, Miss Jamie the Youth Services Librarian, think about graphic novels, I think a lot about a format that is inviting to all kinds of readers. These graphic novels are great for:
One YA graphic novel that I was personally excited for this year is Teen Titans: Beast Boy, written by Kami Garcia and illustrated by Gabriel Picolo. It discusses a topic that I rarely see in fiction. On the surface, it looks like a generic superhero origin story for newbies of DC Comics, but in reality, it discusses body image in teenage boys, along with the struggles and desires of fitting in. Teenagers can potentially see themselves in the titular character of Garfield Logan, also known as Beast Boy.
Graphic novels can also help teens explore what it is to be “normal,” whatever that may mean for them. This can result in complex talks about race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender, unknown or often ignored world history, and so much more.
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang or Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell are stories about identity, relationships, and young love. The Prince and the Dressmaker centers on fashion, along with how important it is to express yourself and be true to your entire being. Laura Dean focuses on ditching toxic relationships and embracing the healthy ones that are more important.
I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina, John Jennings, and Stacey Robinson discusses the hard truths of the Black Lives Matter movement and how it affects the families and friends of the victims of such violence. George Takei’s autobiographical novel They Called Us Enemy (co-written by Justin Eisinger and illustrated by Harmony Becker) shows a dark period of U.S. history and the struggles of being Japanese, being different, during World War II and Japanese internment.
These few examples are merely tips of the iceberg of a wide, exciting world of graphic novels. There are many more to explore, enjoy online with hoopla, and find at your local branch!
How about checking out these teen graphic novels below that center on complex topics?
Bloom.
By Kevin Panetta. Art by Savanna Ganucheau.
“After graduation, Ari is desperate to move to the big city with his band, but he has to find someone who can replace him at his parent's struggling bakery, so when he meets Hector he thinks his prayers have been answered.”
Themes: relationships, sexuality, self-expression
I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir.
By Malaka Gharib.
“The daughter of parents with unfulfilled dreams themselves, Malaka navigated her childhood chasing her parents' ideals, learning to code-switch between her family's Filipino and Egyptian customs, adapting to white culture to fit in, crushing on skater boys, and trying to understand the tension between holding onto cultural values and trying to be an all-American kid.”
Themes: cultural isolation, immigration, coming of age
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me.
By Mariko Tamaki. Art by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell.
Themes: relationships, sexuality
They Called Us Enemy.
By George Takei and Justin Eisinger. Art by Harmony Becker.
“A stunning graphic memoir recounting actor/author/activist George Takei's childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II. Experience the forces that shaped an American icon—and America itself—in this gripping tale of courage, country, loyalty, and love.”
“Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride--or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia--the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!”
Themes: coming of age, racism, identity, culture shock
I Am Alfonso Jones.
By Tony Medina, John Jennings, and Stacey Robinson.
“The Hate U Give meets The Lovely Bones in this unflinching graphic novel about the afterlife of a young man killed by an off-duty police officer, co-illustrated by New York Times bestselling artist John Jennings.”
“Garfield Logan has spent his entire life being overlooked. Even in a small town like Eden, Georgia, the seventeen-year-old with green streaks in his hair can't find a way to stand out--and the clock is ticking. Senior year is almost over. If Gar doesn't find a way to impress the social elite at Bull Creek High School, he will never know what it's like to matter. Gar's best friends, Stella and Tank, can't understand why he cares what other people think, and they miss their funny, pizza-loving, video game-obsessed best friend…”
“Originally published to wide critical acclaim in France, where it elicited comparisons to Art Spiegelman's Maus, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.”
Themes: war, cultural isolationism, identity
“College student Isaac struggles to manage his epilepsy and his day-to-day life. His medication does not seem to work, the doctors won't listen, the schoolwork keeps piling up, his family is in denial about his condition, and his social life falls apart as he feels isolated by his illness. Even with an unexpected new friend by his side, so much is up against him that Isaac is starting to think his epilepsy might be unbeatable.”
Themes: disabilities, chronic illness, cultural differences
When kids and teens think about graphic novels, they think of The Witch Boy, Smile, many types of Japanese manga, and, of course, superheroes such as Captain America, Batman, Iron Man, and Wonder Woman.
When I, Miss Jamie the Youth Services Librarian, think about graphic novels, I think a lot about a format that is inviting to all kinds of readers. These graphic novels are great for:
-
New and old readers who would like to see stories in a different format from what they’re used to reading;
-
English-language learners who can use the visual support to comprehend and build background information about the text;
-
Readers who don’t really like reading but are immediately engaged by captivating graphics and text; and
- Those who want more out of the story than simply paragraphs on a page.
One YA graphic novel that I was personally excited for this year is Teen Titans: Beast Boy, written by Kami Garcia and illustrated by Gabriel Picolo. It discusses a topic that I rarely see in fiction. On the surface, it looks like a generic superhero origin story for newbies of DC Comics, but in reality, it discusses body image in teenage boys, along with the struggles and desires of fitting in. Teenagers can potentially see themselves in the titular character of Garfield Logan, also known as Beast Boy.
Graphic novels can also help teens explore what it is to be “normal,” whatever that may mean for them. This can result in complex talks about race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender, unknown or often ignored world history, and so much more.
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang or Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell are stories about identity, relationships, and young love. The Prince and the Dressmaker centers on fashion, along with how important it is to express yourself and be true to your entire being. Laura Dean focuses on ditching toxic relationships and embracing the healthy ones that are more important.
I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina, John Jennings, and Stacey Robinson discusses the hard truths of the Black Lives Matter movement and how it affects the families and friends of the victims of such violence. George Takei’s autobiographical novel They Called Us Enemy (co-written by Justin Eisinger and illustrated by Harmony Becker) shows a dark period of U.S. history and the struggles of being Japanese, being different, during World War II and Japanese internment.
These few examples are merely tips of the iceberg of a wide, exciting world of graphic novels. There are many more to explore, enjoy online with hoopla, and find at your local branch!
How about checking out these teen graphic novels below that center on complex topics?
“After graduation, Ari is desperate to move to the big city with his band, but he has to find someone who can replace him at his parent's struggling bakery, so when he meets Hector he thinks his prayers have been answered.”
Themes: relationships, sexuality, self-expression
“The daughter of parents with unfulfilled dreams themselves, Malaka navigated her childhood chasing her parents' ideals, learning to code-switch between her family's Filipino and Egyptian customs, adapting to white culture to fit in, crushing on skater boys, and trying to understand the tension between holding onto cultural values and trying to be an all-American kid.”
Themes: cultural isolation, immigration, coming of age
“Laura Dean, the most popular girl in high school, was Frederica Riley's dream girl: charming, confident, and SO cute. There's just one problem: Laura Dean is maybe not the greatest girlfriend. Reeling from her latest break up,
Freddy's best friend, Doodle, introduces her to the Seek-Her, a mysterious medium, who leaves Freddy some cryptic parting words: break up with her. But Laura Dean keeps coming back, and as their relationship spirals further out
of her control, Freddy has to wonder if it's really Laura Dean that's the problem.”
Themes: relationships, sexuality
“A stunning graphic memoir recounting actor/author/activist George Takei's childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II. Experience the forces that shaped an American icon—and America itself—in this gripping tale of courage, country, loyalty, and love.”
“Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride--or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia--the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!”
“For as long as she can remember, it's been Robin and her mom against the world. Growing up as the only child of a single mother in Seoul, Korea, wasn't always easy, but it has bonded them fiercely together. So when a vacation
to visit friends in Huntsville, Alabama, unexpectedly becomes a permanent relocation—following her mother's announcement that she's getting married—Robin is devastated. Overnight, her life changes.”
Themes: coming of age, racism, identity, culture shock
“The Hate U Give meets The Lovely Bones in this unflinching graphic novel about the afterlife of a young man killed by an off-duty police officer, co-illustrated by New York Times bestselling artist John Jennings.”
“Garfield Logan has spent his entire life being overlooked. Even in a small town like Eden, Georgia, the seventeen-year-old with green streaks in his hair can't find a way to stand out--and the clock is ticking. Senior year is almost over. If Gar doesn't find a way to impress the social elite at Bull Creek High School, he will never know what it's like to matter. Gar's best friends, Stella and Tank, can't understand why he cares what other people think, and they miss their funny, pizza-loving, video game-obsessed best friend…”
“Originally published to wide critical acclaim in France, where it elicited comparisons to Art Spiegelman's Maus, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.”
Themes: war, cultural isolationism, identity
“College student Isaac struggles to manage his epilepsy and his day-to-day life. His medication does not seem to work, the doctors won't listen, the schoolwork keeps piling up, his family is in denial about his condition, and his social life falls apart as he feels isolated by his illness. Even with an unexpected new friend by his side, so much is up against him that Isaac is starting to think his epilepsy might be unbeatable.”
Themes: disabilities, chronic illness, cultural differences
— Jamie C., Twin Rivers Branch
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