Booklists - Graphic Novels

One of my big projects for my practicum was to create some booklists for the teen services department at my library. The original topic list started at 4 themes, but the idea of being able to suggest books en masse to readers became too much of a temptation for me, and the topic list ballooned to 11 themes. And to make it even more detailed, they had me separate the lists by age of reader. So, periodically I will be sharing these lists with you. I have read most of these books, but even those that I haven't read have come highly recommended by other librarians and experts in the field of YA literature. Hope you enjoy!

Fiction Graphic Novels - High school readers

Life Sucks by Jessica Abel
Kimmie66 by Aaron Alexovich
Water Baby by Ross Campbell
Crossing Midnight, vol. 1: Cut Here by Mike Carey
Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
Elk's Run by Joshua Hale Fialkov, Noel Tuazon, et al
Death, The High Cost of Living by Neil Gaiman
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale
As the World Burns: 50 Things You Can Do To Stay in Denial by Derrick Jensen
Two Will Come, vol. 1 by Kyungok Kang
Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms by Fuyimo Kouno
Batman: the Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
Promethea: Book One by Alan Moore
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Off Road by Sean Murphey
Goong, vol. 1 by SoHee Park
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Ring of Fire by Doug Petrie
Night Trippers by Mark Ricketts & Micah Farritor
Ranma 1/2, vol. 1 by Rumiko Takahashi
Runaways, vol. 1: Pride and Joy by Brian L. Vaughan
Dead High Yearbook by Ivan Velez, Shawn Martinbrough and others
Geisha by Andi Watson
Fray by Joss Whedon

Fiction Graphic Novels - Middle School Readers

Ultimate Spiderman, vol. 1: Power and Responsibility by Brian-Michael Bendis
Electric Girl by Michael Brennan
Confessions of a Blabbermouth by Mike Carey
The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci
Breaking Up by Aimee Friedman
Oh My Goddess! 1-555-GODDESS by Kosuke Fujishima
The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman
Clan Apis by Jay Hosler
Castle Waiting by Linda Medley
Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind: Perfect Collection, vol. 1 by Hayao Miyazaki
Emma, vol. 1 by Kaoru Mori
Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai
Bone, vol. 1: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith
The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Days Like This by J. Torres
Clubbing by Andi Watson & Josh Howard
Birds of Prey: Canary, Oracle by Chuck Dixon & Jordon Gorfinkel
Beowulf by Gareth Hinds
Mai the Psychic Girl by Kazuya Kudo

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Meyer, Stephanie. (2005). Twilight.

I realize that the Twilight series is officially over (excepting for Midnight Sun), and that this particular book is beyond old news, but I just finished it and I have to have my say. I didn't like it.

Now, I can explain. There are parts and elements of this story that I LOVED, but the plot of this story felt kind of half-assed. I decided to read this book because the library I am interning at had a Breaking Dawn party and discussion, so I felt I should be up on what can only be described as a phenomenon. The characters are interesting, Bella was pretty likable and reasonable, and yes, Edward is absolutely yummy. Their scenes together are riveting, even though for 95% of the book all they do is talk and stare. Adults, like in most YA novels, are superfluous, helpless and worthless to the story, often only serving as obstacles for the heroes.

Although the romance between Edward and Bella is the focus of the story, it feels like Meyer threw in some action sequences and the final chapters in order to meet some quota of pages or plot twists. I have a problem with the current trend of children's novels that inflate stories to epic proportions in a "mine-is-bigger-than-yours" kind of competition. This story could have benefitted from a few more edits, removing monotenous details of particular unimportant days and then skipping over months at a time. I have yet to read the sequels (and I will), but I expect more of the same.

My criticism isn't all negative. Girl can write! Meyer creates such tension between Edward and Bella, that during certain scenes I found myself furtively glancing around the coffee shop I was in, because I found my heart racing, pupils dilating, and my body fidgeting over something as chaste and simple as a kiss. But nothing between Edward and Bella is simple, or even entirely chaste. I was immensely impressed by Meyer's ability to create such sensuality without suffering from too much sexuality. I have yet to read a romance so believable merely from the author's ability to create real sexual tension and mutual attraction.

Overall, this book was an interesting read. I doubt it will be a classic like the titanic Harry Potter series (the writing, plot development, and characters are just too good to beat), but I can see why millions of copies of Breaking Dawn were sold in that first night. I am looking forward to seeing what has created the whole "Team Edward"/"Team Jacob" thing, because people are adamant!! :)

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli

Napoli, Donna Jo. (1998). Zel.

One of my favorite styles in fiction is the alternating perspectives. In this retelling of the Rapunzel story, the narrative is shared by Zel, her witch mother, and the Duke's son - Zel's love interest. Set in 16th-century Switzerland, this story begins with a pre-adolescent Zel happily on her way into town with her beloved mother. Though Zel is ecstatic to be around the thriving marketplace, the longer they spend in town, the more nervous and edgy her mother gets. When left alone for a short amount of time, Zel meets the aristocrat, Konrad, and both are instantly mesmerized by each other. Eventually, they are separated and Konrad begins a tireless search for the interesting girl with warm brown eyes.

Throughout the story the reader gets a sense of how desperately Zel's mother loves and craves the company of her daughter. She does everything in her (substantial) power to limit Zel's contact with other people. The story quickly becomes a battle of wills between Zel and her mother, Konrad and the witch, and eventually, Zel and herself as she deals with the forced isolation of her tower room.

I have to admit that I have a fondness for retold fairy tales. As a child, I voraciously read the stories of the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, and Charles Perrault. Retold fairy tales are a way for those of us who have read the traditional tales one too many times, to rediscover characters and stories and fall in love again with the stories of our childhood. Donna Jo Napoli is one author who enlivens this new genre. Her prose is lyrical and reminiscent of the patterns and rhythms of the traditional fairy tale. I have big plans to continue reading her versions of these stories, including The Magic Circle - the story of Hansel & Gretal, but in the perspective an unwilling witch; Breath - a tale of the aftermath of the Pied Piper and the curse of Hamelin, and Beast - the story of Beauty & the Beast, set in the beautiful deserts of Persia.