The American Library Association's Great Graphic Novels for Teens, established in 2007, is an annual list presented by Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) division of graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction geared toward individuals ages 12–18.
Like YALSA's other lists, librarians, parents, and educators rely on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list to help select suitable texts for their collections.[1][2][3][4][5] This is particularly important for graphic novels, which are popular among young adults and have rapidly gained popularity in the past thirty years.[2][6] Graphic novels are especially popular among "reluctant readers" and "visual learners", and they can "improve comprehension and interpretation of themes, literary devices, and social issues, among other topics."[7]
Criteria
To be included on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, books must have been published "during the sixteen months preceding the award", "appeal to ages twelve to eighteen", and be widely available in the United States.[2] Graphic novels of all types are considered with one limitation: "comic book compilations must contain an overarching story arc."[2]
In selecting texts for the list, YALSA librarians judge books based on "quality, appeal, and suitability for a teenage audience".[2]
Representations of diversity
Researchers have analyzed the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list for representations of diversity.
Irwin and Moeller analyzed the 2008 list for representations of individuals with disabilities.[6] Out of 30 graphics novels, 40% included a character with a disability and 13% included two characters with disability, including seven characters with health impairments, three characters with visual impairments, three characters with orthopedic impairments, two characters with emotional disturbances, and one character with a learning disability.[6] Irwin and Moeller found that, according to the Biklen and Bogdan stereotypes, characters were frequently represented as evil and/or "their own worst enemy" and "pitiable"; women with disabilities were more likely to be portrayed as pitiable, whereas only men with disabilities were portrayed as evil.[6] Importantly, 10% of the novels included characters that "were portrayed as inclusive members of their communities".[6]
Reviewing the 2015 list for representations of race, Moeller and Becnel found that 76% of books included characters of color. Further, 5% of the books "were almost entirely comprised oof Asian actors".[1]
Mumm's 2017 master's thesis analyzed female characters on the 2016 list and found that female characters were diverse in appearance, had "relatable conversations", and broke away from "stereotypical behaviors", though "some stereotypical conventions remain".[8]
Recipients
2000s
2010s
2020s
| Year | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020[23] | Kevin Panetta | Savanna Ganucheau | Bloom |
| Hannah Templer | Cosmoknights: Book One | ||
| Malaka Gharib | I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir | ||
| Colleen AF Venable | Ellen T. Crenshaw | Kiss Number 8 | |
| Mariko Tamaki | Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me | ||
| David F. Walker | Damon Smyth and Marissa Louise | The Life of Frederick Douglass: A Graphic Narrative of a Slave's Journey from Bondage to Freedom. | |
| Rainbow Rowell | Faith Erin Hicks | Pumpkinheads | |
| Max de Radiguès | Simon & Louise | ||
| George Takei and Justin Eisinger | Harmony Becker | They Called Us Enemy | |
| Kamome Shirahama | Witch Hat Atelier, V. 1–3 | ||
| 2021[24][25] | Robin Ha | Almost American Girl | |
| Kaito | Blue Flag, V. 1–5 | ||
| Joel Christian Gill | Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence | ||
| Karen Schneemann | Lily Williams | Go With the Flow | |
| Sarah Mirk | Gerardo Alba, Kasia Babis, Alex Beguez, Tracy Chahwan, Nomi Kane, Omar Khouri, and Kane Lynch | Guantánamo Voices: True Accounts from the World’s Most Infamous Prison | |
| Carmen Maria Machado | DaNi | The Low, Low Woods | |
| Trung Le Nguyen | The Magic Fish | ||
| Kat Leyh | Snapdragon | ||
| Gene Luen Yang | Gurihiru | Superman Smashes the Klan, V. 1–2 | |
| 2022[26][27] | Naoki Urasawa | Asadora! V. 1–4 | |
| David F. Walker | Marcus Kwame Anderson | The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History | |
| Keito Gaku | Boys Run the Riot, V. 1–3 | ||
| Molly Knox Ostertag | The Girl from the Sea | ||
| Stan Stanley | The Hazards of Love, V. 1 | ||
| Harmony Becker | Himawari House | ||
| Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan | Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human | ||
| L.L. McKinney | Robyn Smith | Nubia: Real One | |
| John Lewis and Andrew Aydin | L. Fury and Nate Powell | Run: Book One | |
| Chugong | Dubu | Solo Leveling |
Repeat recipients
Multiple writers have been included on the list more than once. Jeff Lemire, Brian K. Vaughan, G. Willow Wilson, and Gene Luen Yang, have each been featured on the list four times. Together, John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell have been listed three times. Svetlana Chmakova has also appeared on the list three times. Lastly, the following writers have each been included on the lust twice: John Allison, Derf Backderf, Brian Michael Bendis, Don Brown, Faith Erin Hicks, ND Stevenson, Gengoroh Tagame, Raina Telgemeier, and David F. Walker.
Multiple artists have been included on the list more than once, not including writers who also illustrate their own texts. Adrian Alphona has illustrated three books on the list. Faith Erin Hicks and Francesco Francavilla have each illustrated two books on the list.
References
- 1 2 Moeller, Robin A.; Becnel, Kim (2018). "Drawing Diversity: Representations of Race in Graphic Novels for Young Adults". School Library Research. 21 – via ERIC.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Williams, Virginia Kay; Peterson, Damen V. (April 29, 2011). "Graphic Novels in Libraries Supporting Teacher Education and Librarianship Programs". Library Resources & Technical Services. 53 (3): 166–173. doi:10.5860/lrts.53n3.166. hdl:10057/2352. ISSN 2159-9610.
- ↑ Downey, Elizabeth M. (2009). "Graphic Novels in Curriculum and Instruction Collections". Reference & User Services Quarterly. 49 (2): 181–188. doi:10.5860/rusq.49n2.181. ISSN 1094-9054. JSTOR 20865219.
- ↑ Behler, Anne (2006). "Getting Started with Graphic Novels: A Guide for the Beginner". Reference & User Services Quarterly. 46 (2): 16–21. doi:10.5860/rusq.46n2.16. ISSN 1094-9054. JSTOR 20864642.
- ↑ Haroldson, Rachelle (November–December 2021). "Picture This! The Versatility of Graphic Novels in Science Class". National Science Teaching Association. 89 (2).
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Irwin, Marilyn; Moeller, Robin (2010). "Seeing Different: Portrayals of Disability in Young Adult Graphic Novels". School Library Media Research. 13. ISSN 1523-4320.
- ↑ Downey, Elizabeth M. (2009). "Graphic Novels in Curriculum and Instruction Collections". Reference & User Services Quarterly. 49 (2): 181–188. doi:10.5860/rusq.49n2.181. ISSN 1094-9054. JSTOR 20865219.
- ↑ Mumm, Tiffany (January 1, 2017). "Girls in Graphic Novels: A Content Analysis of Selected Texts from YALSA's 2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens List". Eastern Illinois University Masters Theses.
- ↑ "2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). July 30, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2008 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 15, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2009 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 22, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2010 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 19, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2011 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). December 21, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "Great Graphic Novels Top Ten 2012". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 24, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "Great Graphic Novels Top Ten 2013". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 30, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2014 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). February 19, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2015 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). February 6, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ Moeller, Robin A.; Becnel, Kim (February 19, 2018). "Drawing Diversity: Representations of Race in Graphic Novels for Young Adults" (PDF). School Library Research. 21: 1–17.
- ↑ "2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 13, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2017 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 23, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2018 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). February 14, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2019 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 17, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2020 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 2, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 5, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ Adair, Torsten (January 25, 2021). "Young Adult Library Services Association announces the 2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens". The Comics Beat. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
- ↑ "2022 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). February 4, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ↑ "Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2022". Booklist. March 15, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.