We continue our series of posts featuring some of the best books in the CA Library collection — today’s featured titles are all Graphic Novels. Follow the links for each book to learn more from the CA Library catalog!
Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa — Wallflower and high school mascot Belle Hawkins, who will do anything to get closer to her crush Regina, agrees to tutor Regina’s girlfriend Chloe, but soon finds herself caught in the middle of a love triangle when she catches unexpected feelings for Chloe as well. “A page-turner from beginning to end and a must-read for fans of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series” (Booklist). Get the eBook
Brooms by Jasmine Walls and Teo DuVall — It’s 1930s Mississippi. Magic is permitted only in certain circumstances, and by certain people. Unsanctioned broom racing is banned. But for those who need the money, or the thrills…it’s there to be found. “Pulse-pounding broom races and comforting domestic sequences… An evocative Fast and the Furious-flavored graphic novel” (Publishers Weekly).
Constellations by Kate Glasheen — In 1980s Troy, New York, nonbinary teenager Claire’s stint in court-ordered rehab may be exactly what they need to unpack all the bad they have experienced — if they can stay sober in a world seemingly never made for them. “Claire’s story is a multifaceted must-have for readers looking to better grasp the intersection of addiction and identity” (Booklist).
Cooking With Monsters, Book 1: The Beginner’s Guide To Culinary Combat by Jordan Alsaqa and Vivian Truong — Hana Ozawa is the newest face at the Gourmand Academy of Culinary Combat, a school that will teach her how to fight monsters AND how to turn them into delicious meals. Hana is a natural, but so are her classmates, and she struggles to keep up — she’s gotta stand out. “An engaging and appealing series to watch out for” (Kirkus Reviews).
Danger and Other Unknown Risks by Ryan North and Erica Henderson — Years after the world ended, Earth is now unstable due to magic and Marguerite de Pruitt and her dog, Daisy, must stop it from titling into deadly chaos — a mission they’ve trained their whole lives for, or so they think. “Fans of Adventure Time will love the alternate-universe backstory as well as the various uses of Marguerite’s one spell” (Booklist).
Frontera by Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo — Mateo makes the dangerous journey back home to the United States through the Sonoran Desert with the help of a new friend, a ghost named Guillermo in a supernatural borderland odyssey by debut graphic novelists Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo. “Salcedo’s richly colored backdrops and expressive characters make the desert and its inhabitants come alive in an adventure steeped in magical realism that artfully conveys a small sampling of migrant stories” (Publishers Weekly).
Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying — After the sudden death of her father, sixteen-year-old Valerie Chu, who is hiding an eating disorder from her friends and family, reevaluates her life, her choices and her own body as she tries to find the strength to seek help. “A gorgeously wrought, therapeutic story filled with tenderness and honesty” (Kirkus Reviews). Get the eBook
In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee — A debut YA graphic memoir about a Korean-American girl’s coming-of-age story — and a coming home story — set between a New Jersey suburb and Seoul, South Korea. “While Lee’s narrative will be especially resonating to a generation too often struggling against self-harm amid suffocating social pressures, their breathtakingly meticulous panels in grayish blues and white will be what elevates their work to masterpiece status” (Booklist). Get the eBook
Paper Planes by Jennie Wood, Dozerdraws and Micah Myers — After a life altering incident, Dylan and Leighton are sent to a summer camp for troubled youth. Can Dylan and Leighton save their friendship and protect their future while trying to survive camp? “Dozerdraws’ artistry is especially notable, every inch saturated with color, rollicking with motion, and illuminated with feelings both stifled and shared” (Booklist). Get the eBook
Project Nought by Chelsey Furedi — Ren Mittal’s last memory in the year 1996 is getting on a bus to visit his mystery pen pal Georgia. When he wakes up in 2122, he learns tech conglomerate Chronotech sponsors a time-travel program to help students in 2122 learn what history was really like — from real-life subjects who’ve been transported into the future…and Ren is one of them. “A compelling and thought-provoking sci-fi adventure grounded in relatable characters” (Booklist).
Find even more great graphic novels in these previous posts:
