Spotlight on Graphic Novels

Just what are graphic novels anyway? I'll give you a hint: they're not full of violent or explicit scenes, and they're more than just comic books! Graphic novels are stories that are told in visual form. They do not constitute a genre on their own; rather, they tell stories in particular genres, such as mystery, biography, family stories, and others. But unlike popular comic strips, graphic novels rely on continuity to relate one page to the next. As Art Spiegelman once said, "a graphic novel is a comic book that you need a bookmark for".
Here is a short, but by no means exhaustive, list of excellent graphic novels in different genres that can be found in this library.

Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, 2 vol.
by Art Spielgelman (G SPE)
1.My Father Bleeds History
2.And Here My Troubles Began
Genre: Memoir/History
Art Spiegelman tells the powerful story of how his father survived the Holocaust. All nationalities are symbolically dehumanized here: Jews are mice, Germans are cats, Americans are dogs, etc.

The Nobody by Jeff Lemire (G LEM)
Genre: Fiction

A strange man wrapped head to toe in bandages arrives in a small town. When a local woman mysteriously disappears, he is the immediate suspect.

Cancervixen
By Marisa Acocella Marchetto (G MAR)
Genre: Memoir

This is a powerful memoir in which the author/illustrator tells of her battle with breast cancer.

A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge By Josh Neufield (G NEU)
Genre: History

This graphic novel depicts the events of Hurricane Katrina though six true stories of New Orleanians who survived the storm.

If ever you want to find good graphic novels, remember that a librarian is always available to help you find something that you will like. If this topic interests you, be sure to pick up the pamphlet entitled "What Are Graphic Novels?" on your next visit to the library.
Posted by Julia Gilbert, Reference Librarian