I've recently discovered for myself a specific subgenre of graphic novels that are essentially memoirs written by Gen-Xers and Millennials, and I am so here for them!
These are the ones I've read as of August, 2023:
When Stars Are Scattered, by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
A heartsqueezing peek into a world I wasn't familiar with.
Sunny Side Up, Swing It Sunny, Sunny Rolls the Dice, and Sunny Makes A Splash, by Jennifer L. Holm
I've really enjoyed the Sunny books, especially SRTD, because it was all about Sunny learning to play Dungeons & Dragons, and I found that fascinating. I also like how there's a story arc going through all four (soon to be five) books.
Ghosts, by Raina Telgemeier
Drama, by Raina Telgemeier
Sisters, by Raina Telgemeier
Smile, by Raina Telgemeier
These were all fun reads. Smile especially stood out, because some parts made me cringe with empathy for the main character!
Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever, by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Phem
I saw some of my students reading these, too, and was glad... girl drama is real.
Roller Girl, by Victoria Jamieson
All's Faire in Middle School, by Victoria Jamieson
Both of these (Roller Girl and All's Faire) opened me up to a world I wasn't too familiar with -- roller derby and renaissance fairs, respectively.
Invisible: A Graphic Novel, by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
This one didn't speak to me as much as some of the others, but I think it will resonate for the right person.
El Deafo, by Cece Bell
Super eye-opening and funny, too!
Go With The Flow, by Lily Williams
I love that there are more books about periods these days. Get that info out there! Stamp out the stigma!
Stargazing, by Jen Wang
Another book about the ups & downs of friendships... can't have enough of those.
Stepping Stones, by Lucy Knisley
I really liked this one about three girls, two sisters and their sort-of-stepsister, who are forced to work together to run the family booth at a farmer's market.
Bad Sister, by Charise Mericle Harper
The story of a sister who's a bit of a jerk, but ultimately wants to do better. (I can't relate. Nope.)
Horses, friendships, and searching for self-esteem. The artwork was some of my favorite.
* * *
The following aren't pseudo-memoirs; rather, they're based on classic novels, but still have the same vibe, so I'm including them:
Jo: An Adaptation Of Little Women, by Kathleen Gros
and
Anne Of West Philly, by Ivy Noelle Weir
When I read more, I'll add them below....
September 2023:
Manu: A Graphic Novel, by Kelly Fernandez
An interesting read, kind of a mix of magic and religion. It was fine, but not my favorite.
Brave: Berrybook Middle School 2, by Svetlana Chmakova
I really enjoyed this one! It's about a kid who's trying to figure out who his friends are and to find his place. Looking forward to reading more from the author.
Awkward: Berrybrook Middle School 1, by Svetlana Chmakova
A nice story about a girl who's an artist, and the power of speaking up/making things right. It was fun to see a cameo by the main character from #2 being introduced here.
October, 2023:
Enemies: Berrybrook Middle School 4, by Svetlana Chmakova
Wow, I'm really reading these out of order, but no matter. This one's about another girl and some of her relationships (sister, friend, old best friend, classmate) that go awry and how she manages to repair most of them, all while trying to win an Entrepreneur Club contest.
Crush: Berrybrook Middle School 3, by Svetlana Chmakova
Another solid one. This one's about a character named Jorge, who was a minor character in Brave (#2) and he's such a sweetheart I can't even. He has a crush on a girl who's in drama club and deals with being falsely accused of cyber bullying.
January, 2024:
Big Apple Diaries, by Alyssa Bermudez
Takes place during a girl's eighth grade year with mention of the events of 9/11. Cute moments.
Isla to Island, by Alexis Castellanos
A wordless story about a girl who has to leave her family (for her safety) and live with a foster family. Notable for how the art style changes throughout the book.
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo
I didn't finish this one because even though it made the girls more diverse, the story didn't seem to be much different from the original book. I was hoping for something a little different. Someday I'll revisit it, perhaps..
February/March, 2024:
Anne: An Adaptation of Anne Of Green Gables (Sort Of), by Kathleen Gros
Another good adaptation of AOGG by the author of "Jo" (see above.) Also different enough from "Anne Of West Philly" (and the original book) to not feel redundant.
Lucy In The Sky, by Kiara Brinkman
The story of a 12yo girl's musical awakening, particularly focused on the Beatles. I appreciated the nuanced characters and that the story was unpredictable, but the lack of transitions made it difficult to follow at times. Probably better for older readers.
Speak Up!, by Rebecca Burgess
Sweet story about autism, moms and daughters, friendship, bullying, being yourself, all the goods. Aimed at younger readers (9-10), but I enjoyed it.
Late Spring, 2024:
Allergic, by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Story of a girl dealing with the discovery of a dog allergy as well as the need/want for a pet and also trying to navigate conflicts with family and friends. It was fine.
Be Prepared, by Vera Brosgol
A girl begs her mom to go to a specific summer camp, which turns out to be pretty terrible. Even I wouldn't want to go there! Drama and a few funny moments ensue.
Sunny Makes Her Case, by Jennifer L. Holm
The latest entry in the "Sunny" series, it didn't move me quite the way the other ones did (maybe not enough "1970s" goodness) but still a solid read.
Diary, by Svetlana Chmakova
Another entry in her "Berrybrook Middle School" series, this one isn't a novel proper, but does include two short stories, and they're both great.
Summer, 2025:
I've branched out into reading more "graphic novels" from the kids' (as opposed to middle grades) section. There are some really amazing books out there. Two of my favorites have been:
Houses With A Story, by Seiji Yoshida
(English translation)
Fun look at imaginative houses, mostly whimsical but with practical features, and yes -- each one has a story of who lives there and how they earn a living.
Tom's Midnight Garden, by Philippa Pearce / Graphic Novel by Edith
I'd never read the original novel, but if it's anything like this graphic interpretation, it must be something. A beautiful, haunting story, that kept me turning the pages.
I also enjoyed Hicotea: A Nightlights Story, by Lorena Alvarez, and I'm looking forward to reading the other book in that series.
I read the latest Sunny book by Jennifer L. Holm, Sunny Figures It Out. I still enjoy this series, but the books are too darn short, dangit!
I also read The Maker's Club, by Reimena Yee (English translation). It was interesting. A little bit of unconventional storytelling, but by the end I was really invested in the characters. Fans of the Svetlana Chmakova books will probably enjoy this one.
I also read all the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels that come out, even though I've not mentioned them here. Currently have checked out Mallory and the Trouble With Twins.
Other books I currently have checked out:
The Wondrous Wonders, by Camille Jourdy
Ride On, by Faith Erin Hicks
The Librarian of Auschwitz, by Salva Rubio
Carousel Summer, by Kathleen Gros (author of two of the AOGG and LW adaptations)
Bear, by Ben Queen
Apple Crush, by Lucy Knisley, a sequel to Stepping Stones, which I read a couple years back.
A Sky Of Paper Stars, by SusieYi
Meet Me On Mercer Street, by Booki Vivat
All Is Nat Lost, by Maria Scrivan
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