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This blog is dedicated to the reluctant young adult who wants to start reading but don't know where to start! Why not start with graphic novels? There isn't too much text and lots of interesting beautifully drawn illustrations to go with the story. You may be thinking books are boring and unrelatable. That is not the case! I've compiled a list of 10 graphic novel titles that all show different human connections whether it is friendships, romance, family relationships and LGBTQIA+ relationships...I'm sure you will find a graphic novel that fancies your interest.

Book Trailer - On A Sunbeam

Here is a preview into one of the titles in the booklist: 

 On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

 

Reference List

Databases: Used to locate books and used for citations. 

Books In Print - accessed via SLNSW 

Novelist - accessed via Ultimo TAFE Library

TAFE Catalogue

Websites: Used to download book covers, to link previews of the titles and assistance with some citations. Includes publisher sites, book stores/online book stores, social media, and review sites.

On A Sunbeam 

Amazon Books

Goodreads 

Classical Comics

Portage and Main Press

Drawn and Quarterly

Simon and Schuster

Young Adult Library Services Association

Macmillan 

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Video Source:

YouTube

Pumkinheads by Rainbow Rowell, Illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

 Rowell, R. Hicks, F.E. (2019). Pumpkinheads. London: Pan Macmillan.

Meet Deja and Josiah two seasonal best friends who meet every year on the 1^st of September and work together at one of the ‘greatest pumpkin patches in the world’. But this season is the last time they will work together  because they’re going off to college. Both Deja and Josiah decide that their last night will be night full of NO regrets and doing all the things they ever wanted to do just one night. Enjoy the colourful cartoon illustrations in the panels and join Deja’s and Josiah’s last adventure together in Pumpkinheads.

📕 Take a look inside!

🎥 Book Trailer

Blankets by Craig Thompson

Thompson, C. (2003). Blankets. South Carolina, USA: Top Shelf Productions.

Blankets is a touching story about a guy named Greg who grew up in a strictly religious family where he was told what to read and what he can watch on television. Craig is forced to spend his summer holidays at Bible camp...where he meets Raina. Craig falls in love with Rania but at the same time feels guilty for his sin of lust… Craig Thompson illustrates this powerful story of first love through detailed black and white illustrations. Winner of multiple awards and Named Time’s 10 All-Time Graphic Novels find out what the critics are talking about and pick up this book today! 

📕 Take a look inside! 

🎥 Book Trailer

My Last Summer with Cass by Mark Crilley

 

Crilley, M. (2021). My Last Summer with Cass. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Meet Megan and Cass two best friends who have been joined at the hip for as long as they can remember. Megan and Cass have spent countless summers together sharing their deep love of art. But everything suddenly changes when Cass moves to New York as well as a heartbreaking betrayal that threatens their friendship... Mark Crilley uses warm toned water-coloured illustrations to tell the story of My Last Summer with Cass. Find out if Cass and Megan can work out their differences by reading this eBook.

📕 Take a look inside!

That Can Be Arranged: A Muslim Love Story by Huda Fahmy

 

Fahmy, H. (2020). That Can Be Arranged: A Muslim Love Story. Missouri, United States: Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Love watching rom coms? Well this is the book for you. In this book Huda Fahmy’s retells the story of how she met her husband. Whether its dealing with sketchy suitors Huda’s mother has lined up for her, Huda Fahmy takes us into her world of what it's like to live as an American Muslim woman in the 21^st century. Huda Fahmy illustrates the artwork for this comic book using cute and colourful cartoon drawings. Huda Fahmy’s comical take on her cultural traditions will educate and entertain you at the same time!

📕 Take a look inside! 

🎥 Book Trailer

On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

 

Walden, T. (2018). On a Sunbeam. London: Avery Hill Publishing. 

Meet Mia she just started a new job, in outer space as part of a construction crew that restores ancient buildings. This graphic novel is written featuring two timelines in present day and Mia's time at boarding school, where she met Grace. Mia's true motivation for joining the construction crew was to find Grace.... Tillie brings this story to life with beautifully detailed artwork with intended pops of colours. On a Sunbeam is a coming of age queer story set in space that will hit you in the feels!

 📕Read this book for free online!

Surviving the City Vol.1. by Tasha Spillett, Illustrated by Natasha Donovan

 

Spillett, T. Donovan, N. (2018). Surviving the City Vol.1. Manitoba, Canada: Portage & Main Press. 

Surviving the city is a 2 part book series. The first volume tells the story of two best friends Miikwan and Dez who share their passion for their indigenous heritages and the struggles they face from being a part of a marginalized race. However, things turn from bad to worse when Dez turns up missing. Dez finds it hard to cope with her best friend missing as it reopens up old wounds of her own mother’s mysterious disappearance. Illustrator Natasha Donovan tells this emotional story through warm coloured and modern artwork. Surviving the City has won multiple awards for both its story and artwork, you won’t regret picking this book up!

Selected for 2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, an annual booklist of the best feminist books for young readers, American Library Association (ALA)

 Selected as an AIYLA Young Adult Honor Book, American Indian Youth Literature Award (AIYLA)

Nominated for the Forest of Reading's Red Maple Award, Ontario Library Association

📕 Take a look inside!

🎥 Book Trailer

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 1, by Koyoharu Gotouge

 

Gotouge, K. (2018). Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol.1. San Francisco: Viz Media.

Demon Slayer is the story of Tanjiro a kind-hearted boy who would do anything for his family. Tragic strikes when his family is murdered by demon slaughters except for one remaining survivor his sister Nezuko who has been turned into a demon! Follow along on this action-packed journey with Tanjiro and Nezuko as he slays demons and tries to find a way to turn his sister back into a human. The artwork featured in this manga is a detailed black and white classic manga style. This book is full of adventure, humour, the close bond of brother and sister and most importantly demons!  

📕 Take a look inside! 

🎥 Book Trailer

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen, Adapted by Nancy Butler and Illustrated by Sonny Liew

Austen, J, Butler, N, Liew, S. (2011). Sense & Sensibility. New York: Marvel Worldwide, Incorporated

This graphic novel is Marvels adaption of Jane Austen's first published novel Sense & Sensibility, published in 1811. Marvel reintroduces to the world the Dashwood family, in particular focus the sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. The sisters experience many hardships with their parents, money problems and heartbreak all whilst still trying to remain hopeful for the future. Sonny Liew uses comical illustrations of characters with a soft colour palette that is easily adjustable to each characters personality or mood taking place in the story. Pick up this book and get lost in world of the Dashwood sisters.

📕 Take a look inside!

Wuthering Heights, By Emily Bronte, Sean Michael Wilson, Edited by Clive Bryant, Illustrated by John M. Burns

 

Bronte, E., Burns, J.M., Wilson, S.M. Bryant, C. (2012). Wuthering Heights. USA : Cenage Heinle. 

Heard of the classic tale of Wuthering Heights but never read it? Now you can read this classic tale in comic form! Wuthering Heights is the only book written by Emily Bronte an English novelist and Poet. Wuthering Heights tells the life of Heathcliff who is adopted into a wealthy family where he meets Cathy as they lean on each other in their rough upbringing a budding romance is formed. Wuthering Heights is a tale of tragic love, social class, and rival families. This classic tale is told through classically hand-painted watercolour artwork with text that stays true to the original novel.

📕 Take a look inside!