The American Library Association's Great Graphic Novels for Teens, established in 2007, is an annual list presented by Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) division of graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction geared toward individuals ages 12–18.
Like YALSA's other lists, librarians, parents, and educators rely on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list to help select suitable texts for their collections. This is particularly important for graphic novels, which are popular among young adults and have rapidly gained popularity in the past thirty years. Graphic novels are especially popular among "reluctant readers" and "visual learners", and they can "improve comprehension and interpretation of themes, literary devices, and social issues, among other topics."
Criteria To be included on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, books must have been published "during the sixteen months preceding the award", "appeal to ages twelve to eighteen", and be widely available in the United States. Graphic novels of all types are considered with one limitation: "comic book compilations must contain an overarching story arc."
In selecting texts for the list, YALSA librarians judge books based on "quality, appeal, and suitability for a teenage audience".
Representations of diversity Researchers have analyzed the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list for representations of diversity.
Irwin and Moeller analyzed the 2008 list for representations of individuals with disabilities. Out of 30 graphics novels, 40% included a character with a disability and 13% included two characters with disability, including seven characters with health impairments, three characters with visual impairments, three characters with orthopedic impairments, two characters with emotional disturbances, and one character with a learning disability. Irwin and Moeller found that, according to the Biklen and Bogdan stereotypes, characters were frequently represented as evil and/or "their own worst enemy" and "pitiable"; women with disabilities were more likely to be portrayed as pitiable, whereas only men with disabilities were portrayed as evil. Importantly, 10% of the novels included characters that "were portrayed as inclusive members of their communities".
Reviewing the 2015 list for representations of race, Moeller and Becnel found that 76% of books included characters of color. Further, 5% of the books "were almost entirely f Asian actors".
Mumm's 2017 master's thesis analyzed female characters on the 2016 list and found that female characters were diverse in appearance, had "relatable conversations", and broke away from "stereotypical behaviors", though "some stereotypical conventions remain".
Recipients
2000s +Great Graphic Novels for Teens top ten (2007–2009)YearWriter(s)Artist(s)Title2007 (penciler), Wade Von Grawbadger (inker), and Dave McCaig (colorist)NextWave: Agents of H.A.T.E., Vol. 1: This is What They Want (lettering)SlothCastle WaitingIdentity CrisisDeath Note, V. 1–3Runaways, V. 4–6Pride of BaghdadDeath, Jr.Demo: The CollectionAmerican Born Chinese2008LaikaRe-GiftersBlue Beetle: Shell-shockedKing of ThornSidescrollersAfter School Nightmare2009 and Gabriel Soria Life SucksSand ChroniclesAtomic Robo: Atomic Robo and the Fightin' Scientists of TesladyneRealUzumakiPitch BlackJapan Ai: A Tall Girl’s Adventures in JapanSkimUmbrella Academy: Apocalypse SuiteCairo
2010s +Great Graphic Novels for Teens top ten (2010–2019)YearWriter(s)Artist(s)Title2010Children of the Sea, V. 1Pinocchio: Vampire SlayerI Kill GiantsOmega the UnknownBayou, V. 1A.D.: New Orleans After the DelugeGunnerkrigg Court, V. 1 and PlutoOoku: The Inner Chambers, V. 12011Aristophane with Matt Madden (trans.)Green MonkSaturn Apartments, V. 1 and Laurence KlavanBrain CampChew, V. 1Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside ShortyMeanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3,856 Story PossibilitiesSmileGhostopolisSet to Sea2012ScarletAnya’s GhostThe Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media and Matt Wilson Thor: The Mighty Avenger, V. 1–2Infinite Kung FuAxe CopDaybreakWandering Son, V. 1Zahra’s Paradise2013My Friend DahmerTrinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic BombAnnie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen KellerUltimate Comics: Spider-man, V. 1Friends with Boys, Louise Hawes, Todd Mitchell, Alisa Kwitney, and Bill Willingham and Jim Demonakos Stargazing DogDrama and Marcos MartinDaredevil, V. 12014, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell March: Book 1Will & WhitDogs of WarMIND MGMTRust, V. 2War Brothers: The Graphic NovelStrobe Edge, V. 1–6Nothing Can Possibly Go WrongBoxers and Saints2015Afterlife with Archie: Escape from RiverdaleBad Machinery, V. 347 RoninIn Real LifeMs. Marvel, V. 1Seconds: a Graphic NovelSonny LiewThrough The WoodsTrilliumYuWolf Children: Ame & Yuki2016AwkwardDrowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans, Grace Ellis, and Shannon WattersLumberjanes, V. 1–2 and Adrian AlphonaMs. Marvel, V. 3 and Elmo BondocMs. Marvel, V. 3NimonaRoller GirlSacred HeartTrashed, V. 1–22017Giant Days, V. 1–2 Black Panther, Book One: A Nation Under Our FeetMighty JackPlutona, Andrew Aydin, and Nate PowellMarch: Book 3Filmish: a Graphic Journey Through Film and Mark MoralesPrez, V. 1orange: The Complete Collection 1Paper Girls 1 and Matt HollingsworthWe Stand On Guard2018Black Hammer, V. 1Brave and John JenningsI Am Alfonso JonesJonesy, V. 1–3 and Octavia E. ButlerKindred: A Graphic Novel AdaptationLighter Than My ShadowMy Brother’s HusbandPashminaSpill Zone2019 and Ari FolmanAnne Frank's Diary: The Graphic AdaptationCrushHey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt With Family Addiction and Andrew DonkinIllegalMy Brother’s Husband, V. 2On a SunbeamRoyal City, V. 2–3Silver Spoon, V. 1–4Speak: The Graphic NovelThe Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees
2020s +Great Graphic Novels for Teens top ten (2020–present)YearWriter(s)Artist(s)Title2020BloomCosmoknights: Book OneI Was Their American Dream: A Graphic MemoirKiss Number 8Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me and Marissa LouiseThe Life of Frederick Douglass: A Graphic Narrative of a Slave's Journey from Bondage to Freedom.PumpkinheadsSimon & Louise and Justin EisingerThey Called Us EnemyWitch Hat Atelier, V. 1–32021Almost American GirlBlue Flag, V. 1–5Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over ViolenceGo With the Flow, Kasia Babis, Alex Beguez, Tracy Chahwan, Nomi Kane, Omar Khouri, and Kane LynchGuantánamo Voices: True Accounts from the World’s Most Infamous PrisonDaNiSnapdragonGurihiruSuperman Smashes the Klan, V. 1–22022Asadora! V. 1–4The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel HistoryBoys Run the Riot, V. 1–3, V. 1Himawari House and Matthew NolanLet's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a HumanNubia: Real One and Andrew Aydin and Nate PowellRun: Book OneChugongDubuSolo Leveling2023Free Speech Handbook: A Practical Framework for Understanding Our Free Speech ProtectionsFrieren: Beyond Journey's End, V. 1–6FrizzyHuda F Are You?Mamo, V. 1Other Ever Afters: New Queer Fairy TalesOur ColorsScout Is Not a Band KidSuperman: Son of Kal-El, V. 1Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure2024Belle of the BallTeo DuvallBroomsFamily Style: Memories of an American from VietnamInsomniacs After School, V. 1-2Mexikid: A Graphic MemoirMonstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story and Nora NeusMuhammad Najem, War Reporter: How One Boy Put the Spotlight on SyriaThe TalkTiger, Tiger, V. 1 and Derrick BarnesVictory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice2025Bad MedicineBig Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic ReimaginedBrownstoneGachiakutaLunar New Year Love StoryNavigating with You and No Rules TonightPlain Jane and the MermaidHainingSpirit WorldYour Letter2026YumejiEden of WitchesHalfway There: A Graphic Memoir of Self-Discovery Hunger’s BiteKindergarten Wars Love, Misha Andrés Vera MartínezMonster Locker, vol. 1Meat EatersSong of a BlackbirdSpacewalking With You, vol. 1You and Me on Repeat
Repeat recipients Multiple writers have been included on the list more than once. Jeff Lemire, Brian K. Vaughan, G. Willow Wilson, and Gene Luen Yang, have each been featured on the list four times. Together, John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell have been listed three times. Svetlana Chmakova and David F. Walker have also appeared on the list three times. Lastly, the following writers have each been included on the list twice: John Allison, Derf Backderf, Brian Michael Bendis, Don Brown, Faith Erin Hicks, ND Stevenson, Gengoroh Tagame, and Raina Telgemeier.
Multiple artists have been included on the list more than once, not including writers who also illustrate their own texts. Adrian Alphona has illustrated three books on the list. Faith Erin Hicks and Francesco Francavilla have each illustrated two books on the list.
See also
Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table - division of ALA dedicated to graphic novels
References
See also