American Library Association releases annual ‘Great Graphic Novels for Teens’ list

‘Almost American Girl,’ ‘Superman Smashes the Clan,’ ‘The Magic Fish’ and more make this year’s list.

The Young Adult Library Association, a division of the American Library Association, has announced their ‘Great Graphic Novels for Teens’ list for 2021.

The list includes 126 titles, which were chosen from 140 nominations. The books, recommended for teens between 12 and 18, “meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens,” the site says.

In addition YALSA also revealed the narrowed-down top 10 selections for the year, which include:

  • Almost American Girl by Robin Ha (Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins).
  • Blue Flag by Kaito (VIZ Media).
  • Fights: One Boy’s Triumph Over Violence by Joel Christian Gill. (Oni Press).
  • Go With the Flow by Karen Schneemann, art by Lily Williams. (First Second / Macmillan).
  • Guantánamo Voices: True Accounts from the World’s Most Infamous Prison by Sarah Mirk, art by Gerardo Alba, Kasia Babis, Alex Beguez, Tracy Chahwan, Nomi Kane, et al. (Abrams ComicsArts / Abrams Books).
  • The Low, Low Woods by Carmen Maria Machado, art by DaNi. (Hill House Comics / DC Comics).
  • The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen. (Random House Graphic / Penguin Random House).
  • Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. (First Second / Macmillan).
  • Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang, art by Gurihiru. (DC Comics).
  • Wonder Twins by Mark Russell, art by Stephen Byrne. (DC Comics).

The list is curated by a group of librarians from across the United States, with the goal to strengthen library services for and with teens by identifying quality, age-appropriate resources for librarians and library workers to share with the teens in their communities.They are currently taking recommendations for 2022, via a suggestion form.

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