Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our Wednesday March 22 online book club meeting to discuss the topic: Graphic Novels.
Graphic novels offer so much – award winning, artistic, meaningful they are a broad and inviting genre but they can also be confronting and culturally inappropriate.
We asked – What are the best and what are the worst to be avoided? Where do you source them?Where are they kept in your library?
As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated.
We were also delighted to be joined, once again, by the fabulous and knowledgeable, Jenny from The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville.
This was our second book club meeting for 2023, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who have attended and contributed to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you at our next meeting! You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.
Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.
Books Discussed
Seance Tea Party by Reimena Yee
Percy Jackson Series graphic novels by Rick Riordan
The Arrival by Shaun Tan (in small format)
Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau
Hoops by Matt Tavares
Leon the Extraordinary by Jamar Nicholas
Friendly Bee and Friends by Sean E Avery
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Cat on the Run series by Aaron Blabey (Coming September 2023)
In Waves by AJ Dungo
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka
Jarretts’ TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/jarrett_j_krosoczka_how_a_boy_became_an_artist?language=en
Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Underground by Mirranda Burton
Kent State by Derf Backderf (both treat Vietnam War themes).
Any graphic novel versions of classics such as 1984, Animal Farm, Jane Austen adaptations, Dracula, Frankenstein, Shakespeare.
Chippy Chasers by Sam Cotton
Sad Ghost Club series by Lize Meddings
Year 10s at my school study Long Way Down (we have it for 7/8s in our MS) – the verse novel version.
Muhammad Najeen War Reporter by Muhammad Najeen
Welcome to St Hell by Lewis Hancox
Holocaust by Dolan Hugh
This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews
Sheets and Delicates by Brenna Thummler
Wicked things by John Allison- a 19-year-old detective who is framed for murder.
Tiny Dancer by Siena Cherson Siegela story about a young dancer who struggles with body image and mental health.
Making Friends series by Kristen Gudsnuk- the secondary girls have been loving this series. The books are never on the shelves.
One Year at Ellesmere by Faith Erin Hicks- a story about a 13-year-old student struggling to fit in at a posh boarding school, when she wins a scholarship.
Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson (and friends) series- A solid middle grade read. Similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the drawings and text are mixed. It makes for a very easy read, but deals with issues which middle-grade students may start to have.
Go With The Flow by Karen Schneemann, Lily Williams
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
WARRIORS by Erin Hunter graphic novel series
ALL Raina Telgemeier graphic novels
Tokyo Ghoul series by Sui Ishida
Click, Camp, Act, Crunch by Kayla Miller
Furball series by Adrian Beck
Secret Mole series by James Foley
Brobot series with Sally Tinker Inc.
Catwad by Jim Benton
Kate and Jol Temple – The Under Dogs series is great!
Wings Of Fire by Tui Sutherland – graphic novel series
Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi
Alex Rider series graphic novels by Anthony Horowitz
Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin – graphic novel series
Adult books – What We Are Reading
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Red Queen by Juan Gomex-Jurado
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
The Running Club by Ali Lowe
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix
Limberlost by Robbie Arnott
Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist
The Rise of Wolves by Kerr Thomson
Running Full Tilt by Michael Currinder
Chessboxer by Stephen Davies
Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist
Helpful Links / Further Resources
ComicsPlus https://comicsplusapp.com/
Jenny Kiely – Schools Specialist at The Younger Sun Bookshop, Yarraville.