2015 Best Books – Graphic Novels

Can we talk about graphic novels for a second? This is kind of a sore spot with me. Graphic novels get a bad rap for two reasons. First of all, they’re called graphic novels. Do you know how many parents balk when I show their kids the graphic novel section and then whisper to me “Wait, but aren’t they…graphic?” Yes! Yes they are! Because “graphic” means “giving a clear and effective picture! vivid! of, relating to, or expressed by writing! depicted in a vivid manner!” And sure, the actual dictionary uses semicolons instead of exclamation points to separate those definitions, but I feel exclamation-pointy about graphic novels. The second reason people tend to look down on graphic novels is that they don’t consider it reading, or real reading. Here’s the thing: fewer words DO NOT equal fewer brain cells being stimulated. Graphic novels, like comic books, are packed with brilliant cover-to-cover art. They’re loaded with symbolism, art history, and creative genius, as well as basic storytelling techniques and literary themes. Trust me, you want your kids reading graphic novels.

Anyway, here they are, my picks for the best graphic novels of the past five years.

Key

🏰Fantasy

📆Historical

🌍Realistic

👻Spooky

😅Funny

🌟Award Winner

❤️My Faves

Late Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novels

Cleopatra in Space. Mike Maihack. 2014.

Young Cleopatra is needed for an intergalactic war, so aliens time-kidnap her from Egypt.

🏰😅

Cardboard. Doug TenNapel. 2012.

What started as a simple birthday gift turns out to be a fantastic adventure with hidden dangers.

📆🏰👻

Meanwhile. Jason Shiga. 2010.

Chocolate or Vanilla? That’s the first choice of many in this choose-your-own-adventure graphic novel.

🌍😅

Zita the Spacegirl. (featured image) Ben Hatke. 2011.

Zita jumps into a portal to save her friend and ends up fighting her way through a different planet.

🏰❤️

Hazardous Tales series. Nathan Hale. 2012.

Real history meets graphic novels in these exciting tales of America’s most unbelievable stories.

📆

El Deafo. Cece Bell. 2014.

Starting school is scary, even if you’re not deaf. Luckily Cece is secretly…El Deafo, a superhero!

📆🌍🌟

LumberJanes. Grace Ellis. 2014.

Eight friends earn merit badges by protecting the Lumberjanes camp from mythical creatures.

🏰🌟❤️

High School/New Adult Graphic Novels

This One Summer. Mariko Tamaki. 2014.

Two best friends deal with issues new to them after growing up during their year apart.

🌍🌟

Ms. Marvel. G. Willow Wilson. 2015.

Kamala Khan thought high school was hard enough before she suddenly became a superhero.

🏰🌟

Persepolis. Marjane Satrapi. 2000.

On the verge of revolution, Marjane is sent from her home in Iran to boarding school in Paris.

🌍📆🌟❤️ *2000? Am I even trying to follow the 5 year rule???