The author's new graphic novel, about a black student enrolling in a predominantly white private school, tells powerful truths about racism and alienation with humor and heart.
A new app and database from YALSA lets users access nearly 4,000 YA titles, plus awards, a new children's imprint, and more in NewsBites.
“Give a kid a cardboard box….” You’ll often hear parents quip that their child was more interested in the box rather than the new toy. And I know when my groceries are delivered in cardboard boxes, my kids beg me to keep it around. It becomes a house, a bus, and anything their imagination allows. Chad Sell and his many collaborators use this concept to create a rich story about a group of neighborhood kids that allows their imagination and ours to soar.
Transformers: Bumblebee—Win If You Dare Writer: James Asmus Artists: Marcelo Ferreira, Athila Fabbio and Valentina Pinto IDW Publishing; $9.99 So you’ve just seen Bumblebee, the latest of the six live-action Transformers feature films…as well as the best and most all-ages friendly of them all. And you want to spend more time with that group of […]
It's a new—at times, startlingly so—adventure starring the so-called World’s Greatest Super-Heroes (they’re definitely the world’s best-known super-heroes) as they’ve never quite been seen before.
The sequel to Witch Boy is an even stronger and more nuanced story.
These two didn't make the 16 finalists, but they're worth discussing.
Two apprentice veterinarians for magical creatures work to protect their patients when left in charge of the office.
Check out our reviews—all starred—for the recently announced Morris finalists, including two SLJ Best Books.
This is my 17th year in middle school. Sure, I should probably graduate, but I do like the age a lot. It makes work exciting most days. When I read certain books, I just feel like the author (artist) has captured what goes on in a given day. The Berrybrook Middle School series just gets […]
Are you looking for an engrossing story? One that will take you to another world? Do you want to read about fantastical creatures? Wars? The imminent demise of planet Earth? That and more is all in this little graphic novel by Scott and Robinson. The City on the Other Side By Mairghread Scott. Robin Robinson […]
Though I was never an avid fantasy reader growing up, I was well versed enough in fairy tales and mythology to know the basics about changelings: Fairies disguise their own child as human and exchange it for a human child. Why? Estranged tackles that question and offers a powerful statement on what makes a family […]
An engaging adventure featuring two of the most exciting Marvel heroes of the last five years or so.
Cartoonist Art Baltazar’s new original graphic novel for kids is about a merman named Gilbert, although he more closely resembles an anthropomorphic iguana
This is the first graphic novel adaptation of one of the Enola Holmes mysteries.
A new holiday title and the third volume in Svetlana Chmakova's Berrybrook Middle School series in this week's releases.
It would be easy enough to encourage a young reader who loved "Twilight" or "Game of Thrones" to try out this rollicking tale of love and loss.
The fourth installment of the fun TOON Books’ early reader science series.
In the eighth book of this series, Phoebe and her unicorn are headed to drama camp.
The eighth installment of the popular graphic history series Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales returns to the setting of the first book, the U.S. Revolutionary War.
A look at three light-hearted graphic novel series for younger elementary grade readers.
Jarrett Krosoczka's characters will stay with readers long after they finish the book.
Not-so-scary comics and graphic novels with ghosts.
A few graphic novels for the late elementary crowd.
The actor and activist inspired a room of educators with an opening keynote address at the SLJ Leadership Summit.
Kristy's mom is getting married in this sixth edition of "The Baby-Sitters Club" graphic novel series.
A former Printz committee and current Coretta Scott King Award Book Jury member discusses her possible Printz picks for 2019.
Some scary graphic novels for the season.
This autumn’s harvest has produced a brand-new crop of compelling stories, from a must-have manga series starter to a slice-of-life memoir in the graphic format.
Top picks from this week's new graphic novel releases.
It's a 20-page first look at February 2019 release, The Great Wiz and the Ruckus—an original graphic novel by Joey McCormick (Adventure Time) and colorist Whitney Cogar (Steven Universe).
Best Friends has the same creative team and will be released August 27, 2019
Some great October comics your teens and tweens will be clamoring for.
Smith, who famously raised a black-gloved fist in protest on the medal podium in 1968, has teamed up with award-winning Crown author Derrick Barnes for a graphic memoir.
Giulio Macaione makes his U.S. comic debut in this beautifully illustrated graphic novel about forced empathy and having to learn more about others whether we want to or not.
A look at a couple of graphic novels through the Newbery lens.
It's the first graphic novel based on Nancy Springer’s Enola Holmes YA novels.
Fans of the Smile author have two reasons to look forward to 2019.
Recently published graphic memoirs illustrate that the genre is pushing the format to new heights.
The author/illustrator of the “Lunch Lady” and “Jedi Academy” series opens up about his graphic novel memoir.
This continuation of Thrash's critically acclaimed memoir Honor Girl brings her devastating honesty and humor to the before and after of depression.
The author of The Tea Dragon Society returns with a graphic novel bound to satisfy her audience.
In the new graphic novel Criminy, pirates force a family to flee and float across the ocean to strange lands.
A middle grade graphic novel with Latinx characters.
Publisher will produce the first "official" Minecraft graphic novels.
In a series of vignettes depicting the experiences of Syrians before and after they choose to flee that country, and information on the refusal of many countries to accept these victims of violence, Brown has created a heartbreaking global and personal story.
An enjoyable entry for fans of romantic comedies.-Tamela Chambers, Chicago Public Schools, IL
Give to fans of Scott Westerfeld's Spill Zone or Noelle Stevenson's Nimona.-Jenni Frencham, formerly at Columbus Public Library, WI
This delectably soft fantasy comes highly recommended; for readers looking for the sugary sweetness of Katie O'Neill's The Tea Dragon Society with a touch of romantic conflict thrown in.-Alea Perez, Westmont Public Library, IL
A fun read for superhero fans looking for something new.-Tammy Ivins, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
For fans of fantasy and postapocalyptic fare.-Amanda MacGregor, Parkview Elementary School, Rosemount, MN
Though this title has a fascinating concept, it may have trouble finding a wide audience. An additional purchase.-Alec Chunn, Eugene Public Library, OR
For younger fans of fantasy, cute but bizarre creatures, and Pokémon-esque fare. Those who enjoy this installment will be eager for more.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
An imaginative and fast-paced roller-coaster of a story. For fans of fantasy, adventure, and tales of the unexpected.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Hand this one to manga enthusiasts looking for tales in the vein of Satsuki Yoshino's "Barakamon."-Thomas Jonte, Pensacola State College, FL
While perfect for fans of fantasy and magic, this inventive tale transcends genre expectations and will appeal to a variety of graphic novel readers.-Emilia Packard, Austin, TX
Fans of the RWBY web series will most appreciate this in-depth look at the characters, while curious newcomers might be encouraged to seek out the source material.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
An excellent addition for collections aiming to introduce classic literature to a new audience.-Elise Martinez, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL
A cute and easy entry into manga for newcomers seeking something light and fun.-Thomas Jonte, Pensacola State College, FL
Purchase where titles such as the recent "Archie" comics, Unstoppable WASP, and Paper Girls are in demand.-Amy Duffy, Chicago Public Library
A strong page-turner for fans of mystery and suspense.-Kevin McGuire, Woodland Hills School District, PA
A good supplemental addition to graphic novel collections aimed at teens.-Ryan P. Donovan, Southborough Public Library, MA
Superb. Ruffu's tenacity and the book's satisfying conclusion will appeal to fans of John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell's "March" trilogy.
Ngozi Ukazu's Check Please is a sensitive, incredibly funny sports story.
More books are being adapted to graphic novels—and vice versa. These trends are expanding audiences and creating opportunities for creators. Here's what's hot right now.
In 2000, a nurse on an HIV/AIDS unit began drawing comics about her experiences on the job. Those comics launched a growing genre, graphic medicine—comics and graphic novels that portray the experience of illness and explore medicine.
Highlights from this week’s new releases include IDW Publishing continuing the sci-fi adventures of Donald Duck with Duck Avenger New Adventures Volume 3. Lion Forge forms the first issue of the third volume of Voltron Legendary Defender while United Plankton Pictures unleashes the robot apocalypse in Spongebob Squarepant #82. The List: AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY PRODUCTIONS Casper […]
Gr 7 Up –Combining drawings and text, Hendrix presents a contemplative look at German martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
When I took out my review copy and started to leaf through this book, my colleague called out to me “That’s a great game!” I’m not much of a gamer, nor are my kids, so I hadn’t heard of it, nor did I know it’s in production for a movie. I already knew that this […]
Publisher’s description Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Awkward, and All’s Faire in Middle School, this graphic novel follows a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary cardboard into fantastical homemade costumes as they explore conflicts with friends, family, and their own identity. Welcome to a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary boxes into colorful costumes, and their ordinary […]
A kind owl helps a spirit remember her past; Skilled fighter Hinako must hide her identity while revealing her strength at an all-boys school; a collection of animal comics will satisfy every readers' taste.
We’ve got something special to finish out the week: We’re debuting the preview of the graphic novel Pandora’s Legacy, by writer Kara Leopard and artist Kelly Nicole Matthews. It’s an update of the legend of Pandora’s Box, with modern-day kids who are the descendants of the original Pandora on a quest to recapture the monsters […]
Dark Horse’s latest thematic anthology offers an inclusive and evocative range of well-crafted firsthand accounts.
Animals are taking over this week’s list of new releases. First Second releases the first volume of their new series about rabbits, foxes, and magic in Cottons: The Secret of the Wind. Harper Collins Publishers re-releases the collected graphic novel Ravenpaw’s Path, based on the popular Warriors series, now in color, while IDW Publishing loads […]
From Academy Award winners to new discoveries, here are titles to enhance or jump-start anime collections.
The creators of A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns, a hip, matter-of-fact primer, talk about the emotional impact of being misgendered and more.
The Family Trade Written by Justin Jordan & Nikki Ryan, illustrated by Morgan Beem Image Comics, $16.99 Rated T for Teens A fairly standard story about a teen assassin working to save her fantasy world is distinctive only due to its art and coloring. The Free Republic of Thessala, aka the Float, is an independent […]
Highlights from this week’s list of new releases include a superhero extravaganza from Archie Comic Publications with Archie’s Superteens Vs Crusaders #1. Boom! Studios returns to Regular Show with the new miniseries 25 Years Later #1 while Keenspot Entertainment releases Fruit Ninja Ancient Origins #1, based on the popular mobile game. The List ARCHIE COMIC […]
Wild Ocean: Sharks, Whales, Rays, and Other Endangered Sea Creatures Edited by Matt Dembicki Fulcrum Publishing, $19.95 Age Range: 12 and up This anthology was produced with PangeaSeed, an ocean conservation organization, so it’s got an obvious message—”to showcase 12 iconic endangered ocean animals” in order to encourage changes in human behavior when it comes […]
New awards celebrate graphic novels, and the first winners were revealed at Denver Comic Con.
Scott Westerfeld and Alex Puvilland’s Spill Zone, Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham’s Real Friends, and Melanie Gillman’s As the Crow Flies were among the winning graphic novels in this inaugural Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards, which were presented Saturday evening at Denver Comic Con. The awards were created and administered by Pop Culture Classroom, the […]
Highlights from this week’s list of new releases include the second volume of First Second’s fantasy series for elementary readers, Quirk’s Quest: The Lost and the Found. Papercutz releases a 3-in-1 Edition of the Dreamworks-based series Trolls, while the Inklings from Viz Media’s Splatoon Volume 3 make a splash of their own. The List: AMERICAN […]
Gr 7 Up –Franklin’s first full-length graphic novel follows a love story between two black women.
Action Presidents #1: George Washington! Action Presidents #2: Abraham Lincoln! Written by Fred Van Lente, illustrated by Ryan Dunlavey HarperCollins, $9.99 each Ages 8-12 The team behind Action Philosophers! have returned with an entertaining look at key men and events in American history, beginning with the two most famous Presidents. The attitude behind the series […]
Just ahead of the American Library Association annual meeting, DC has revealed more details on its upcoming line of DC Zoom graphic novels for middle-grade readers and DC Ink graphic novels for young adults. DC Zoom will launch in April 2019. Here’s the lineup: Super Sons: The Polarshield Project, written by Ridley Pearson and illustrated […]
When I’m reviewing books for professional publications, I stay quiet about them on social media. I’m always really excited once a review comes out to be able to talk about the book, finally! Here’s one of my most recent reviews which originally appeared in the June 2018 School Library Journal. Tsu and the Outliers by Erik […]
This has been a bountiful year for manga, in terms of both quantity and quality, and there’s more on the way! Stock your shelves with these series, perfect for summer reading.
Highlights from this week’s new releases include the beginning of a new 4 issue mini series for Garfield with Homecoming #1. IDW Publishing releases the second part of a new story featuring a young Han Solo and Chewbacca in Star Wars Adventures #11, while Titan Comics celebrates the 30th anniversary of the 7th Doctor story […]
Jim McClain’s Solution Squad Written by Jim McClain, art by various Solution Squad LLC, $19.99 For grades 4-6 Jim McClain, a middle school math teacher, loves comics, so he made his own super-team to teach mathematical concepts. The first comic story introduces the team members: La Calculadora – fast computation and team leader Absolutia – […]
Check out these June-releasing comics that your tweens and teens will be clamoring for! The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell (Knopf Books for Young Readers, June 5). A neighborhood full of kids use ordinary boxes to create amazing costumes and transform their street into the cardboard kingdom! Come along for the ride this summer as […]
Silver Spoon Vol. 1 Writer/artist: Hiromu Arakawa Yen Press; $15 Rated T for Teen Phenomenal success can present difficult challenges. For example, say you created a manga series that ran for nine years, filled 27 collected volumes and was adapted into a pair of television shows, two feature-length animated films, a live-action film, a handful […]
Did you catch our behind-the-scenes live video chats with book creators during Book Expo? In case you missed them, we've rounded up some of our recent talks with Kwame Alexander, Eoin Colfer, Ngozi Ukazu, and more.
Highlights from this week’s new releases include Volume 2 of Scarlet Rose from Charmz, First Second’s newest addition to their Science Comics series, Rockets: Defying Gravity, and a new series from the creators of Geronimo Stilton, Melowy Volume 1, The Challenge in the Forest from Papercutz. The List: ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT Ghoul Scouts I Was […]
Gr 10 Up –Grace Field House is home to 38 children and a cheerful matron whom all the kids call “Mom.” The children must follow rules and take a test every morning in place of formal schooling, but overall, they’re a big happy family.
We’re breaking some great graphic novel news this morning: BOOM! Studios will publish the original graphic novel The Great Wiz and the Ruckus by animator Joey McCormick, with colors by Whitney Cogar, under their KaBOOM! imprint in February 2019. Get a load of that cover! Here’s what the story is about: Red, a blind Wiz […]
Angela Carstensen takes a look back at three decades of YA—its evolution, groundbreaking titles, and the Margaret A. Edwards Award that honors its authors.
Star Wars: Lost Stars Vol. 1 Writers: Claudia Gray and Yusaku Komiyama Artist: Yusaku Komiyama Yen Press; $13 Rated T for Teen This is a manga adaptation of Claudia Gray’s 2015 prose novel of the same name, and as I read, I couldn’t help but wonder if Crossed Stars might not have been a better […]
IDW has been publishing a series of French imports titled The Little Book of Knowledge, and unlike the similar books you may have read as a child, they cover a wide range of topics, from tattoos to New Hollywood. Their latest one, though, is about sharks, and it is (the publisher assures me) “perfect for […]
Tee Franklin's touching novella shows love in one's later years; a new sci-fi adventure for Jem and the Holograms; Shirai's dark adventure will enthrall fans of Death Note.
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