Graphic Novels

From Babymouse to American Born Chinese, it's been quite a year.  Graphic Novels use both words and pictures to tell a story; and that story can be anything; superheroes, coming-of-age stories, historical fiction or non-fiction. Since a Graphic Novel can be just about anything -- middle grade, young adult, funny, sad -- what makes a great one?  A great story; a story that is told in words and in pictures; those pictures are often complex, and don't just support a story -- they enhance a story, revealing emotions and even plot points that the text alone does not tell. Help us to choose the very best children's Graphic Novels of 2006 by submitting your nomination below.

--Liz Burns, A Chair, A Fireplace and a Tea Cozy

IMPORTANT UPDATE: We are, ahem, clarifying what's eligible in this rapidly growing, dynamic category. Please see below.

Leave nomination for this category in the comments below. Nominations close Nov. 20.

1. For purposes of the Cybils award, the committee will consider trade GNs that are compilations of previously released comics; one of the considerations in reviewing same will be if they hold together as a complete storyline. However, the committee will not consider re-issues of previously published trade GNs.
2. The 2006 nominating committee will nominate two groups of GNs, one for up to age 12 and one for ages 13 and over. The 2006 judging committee will select one winner from each group.
3. For series that have had multiple releases in one year, the committee will pick one volume as representative of the series.
4. The GN committee will only consider a book where the majority of the book is a graphic novel. Illustrated books, books with illustrations, or books that contain some comics will not be considered as a Graphic Novel; if already nominated, the title will be forwarded to the appropriate committee.
5. This is a reminder that overall, Cybils are for childrens and YA books; not for adult books that children or teens may like.

Comments

[Little Willow]

May we nominate what was once a series book (published in 1986) then became a graphic novel this year? If so:

The Baby-Sitters Club: Kristy's Great Idea
Original story by Ann M. Martin
Illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Published by Scholastic in April 2006

[Nixie Knox]

I would like to nominate "Babymouse: Queen of the World" by Jennifer Holm. Babymouse is a little bit awkward, looking for her place in the world, has a boy for a best friend - just like me in elementary and middle school, except, of course, I wasn't a mouse.

[Kelly]

I'd like to nominate "Babymouse: Beachbabe," my favorite of the series.

[Liz]

Girl Stories, by Lauren Weinstein (Henry Holt).

[Elizabeth Bird]

American Born Chinese by Gene Yang, which I maintain is good for older kids AND teens.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Glad to see AMERICAN BORN CHINESE mentioned, which means I can nominate DEOGRATIAS, the other standout graphic novel of the year.

[Marty Brinkley]

I would like to nominate Scary Godmother: Ghoul's Out for Summer by Jill Thompson

I like the artwork which merits repeat viewing. It's one of only a few picture book type graphic novels that I know of written for the lower primary grades. The stories are humorous and clever.

[Melba]

Bone Volume 4: The Dragonslayer by Jeff Smith. My boys love the Bone series, and I do, too.

[AaronZenz]

Flight Volume 3

by Kazu Kibuishi and a host of others

[Kelly Fineman]

The Road to Inconceivable: Abadazad Book #1 by J.M DeMatteis, illustrated by Mike Ploog

Siegel's TO DANCE

[Colleen]

I would like to nominate Pride of Baghdad - and also point out that it is pretty much going to be impossible to judge a book like this (or the also amazing Deogratias) against Babymouse or The Babysitter's Club. The age range is huge - have you guys thought about that?

[cecil]

is it only graphic novels ? Like books written as graphic novels? Or digests published in 2006?

[jennifer (aka literaticat)]

Well, FUN HOME was the best g.n. of the year - but I wouldn't give it to anyone under, say, 15 - so I'm not sure that it counts.

[Julie Coll]

I would like to nominate "Hollywood Sisters" by Mary Wilcox. What a refreshing change to find a book that is actually APPROPRIATE for it's intended audience. I've been giving it to all the "tween-age" girls that I can think of! It is a total page turner - everybody loves a mystery.

[eisha]

Runaways, vol. 5: Escape to New York, by Brian Vaughan.

I. Love. This. Series.

[Ledi]

I'd like to nominate The Adventures of Commander Zack Proton and the Red Giant written by Brian Anderson, and illustrated by Doug Holgate. It's an early reader chapter book, and is wonderful. Its sequel, the Adventures of Commander Zack Proton and the Warlords of Nibblecheese is also fantastic.

[Snow Wildsmith]

I agree with Colleen--there's a wide age range at work here. Have you though about three awards--children (11 and under), middle teen (12-15), and older teen (16+)?

[Kelly]

Hi All:

I just wanted to jump in here and say that your comments re: very different types of graphic novels. Give me a day or two to talk this over with Anne and Liz. I do think we need to come some sort of conclusion. We may need to have a subcategory or two.

Kelly
(co-creator)

[Kelly]

Ooops! Let me say "Your comments re: very different types of graphic novels are noted and very legitimate.

[Snow Wildsmith]

Another suggestion for discussion is "what constitutes a graphic novel" also known as "how is a graphic novel different from a book with pictures". We had to have this discussion on the Great Graphic Novels Committee and it helped clarify the titles we were looking at and accepting for nomination. Here's what we came up with: "For the purpose of the committee, graphic novels are defined to include trade compilations and original works published in a sequential art format. Such titles should incorporate acceptable literary and artistic quality with effectiveness of presentation." (http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/policies.htm) Sequential being the operative part of the definition.

[Snow Wildsmith]

Trying to narrow this down to the best gn of the year is hard. I'd have to say either Identity Crisis, Death Note, or Dramacon.

[Liz B]

Just bopping in to say that some good questions have been raised (and those of you raising them, remember, there is still room on the GN commmittee! Email me!)

[Mary Lee]

Wow! Am I ever glad I joined this committee! I've gone from having only Babymouse and Bone on my GN radar, to diving into a huge stack of a wide range of GNs (thank you, public library -- I could never afford this otherwise). We are definitely going to have to have some sub-categories. I wonder what Julie was thinking with The Hollywood Sisters...it seems all text to me. Am I missing something here?

Mary Lee (A Year of Reading)

[Liz B.]

The following titles have 2005 copyright dates so won't be considered:

Babymouse, Queen of the World (dec 05)
Identity Crisis by Meltzer (05)

If you are nominating a title in a series, please specify that volume and make sure it's a 06 date. Thanks!!

[Sarah]

While looking for some of the other nominees in my library, I ran across Gray Horses by Hope Larson, which is a funny, charming piece suitable for YA readers. The artwork is nicely done and it's another good GN for female readers.

[Anna]

I'd like to nominate Emma Volume 1 by Kaoru Mori, published by CMX.

Emma is set in Victorian England, where a young maid named Emma and a gentleman named William meet by chance and form an unlikely friendship. Mori shows great attention to detail in her art, and she portrays all the difficulties that come with love reaching across the British class system.

[Elizabeth]

Hercules by Paul Storrie

[Elizabeth]

Hercules by Paul Storrie

[Kristianne]

I would like to nominate King Arthur: Excalibur Unsheathed by Jeff Limke with art by Thomas Yeates. This book is in the series Graphic Myths and Legends and contains lots of nonfiction book features such as a glossary and index and has amazing artwork.

[Alana Abbott]

Amy Kim Gantner's Sorcerers and Secretaries vol 1 is wonderful, but possibly for an older YA audience.

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne vol 2 by Arina Tanemura is great for younger teens (though the series promises to get a bit darker; the early volumes are good fun!).

I'm surprised that I haven't already seen Fruits Basket (Natsuki Takaya) up here, but since there were only three volumes so far this year, that could be why. Volume 13 is this year's best of that series.

I definitely second the nomination on Runaways listed above, and on any of the Bone volumes Jeff Smith has republished this year.

Jordan Crane's The Clouds Above might push the boundaries on graphic novel, but is worth consideration, especially for a younger audience.

Those Left Behind, based on Joss Whedon's Serenity, has a great deal of appeal for an older YA audience that was pulled into the Firefly television show.

Astonishing X-men vol 3, also by Whedon, deals with some mature themes (as do most superhero comics these days), but should also be in the running. What a brilliant series.

X-men Fairy Tales also just came out and is a great example of how the comic genre and superhero characters can be used to tell outside of genre stories.

I know that's quite a few, but I hope it helps! I heard a rumor you were short. :)

[Alana Abbott]

Oops! Just read over on another thread that we're only allowed one nomination per person. Alas! I missed that instruction (though I did look for it).

If I only get one of the above, go with Amy Kim Gantner's Sorcerers and Secretaries, which has been largely overlooked and deserves the attention.

[David Bigwood]

I don't think any of the Wheadon X-Men were published in 2006.

My personal favorite and nomination is Soulfire.

Bone is excellent, in a class by itself, but are reprintings in the running?

[Jess M. Brallier]

I nominate Jeff Kinney's DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, published by www.Funbrain.com. With 40,000 to 70,000 readers per day, it's the most read kids book in 2006. WIMPY KID'S art forwards the plot, often serving as a scene's punch line. It's teacher-, kid-, and parent-endorsed. For example: “"The most used Web site for our 7th grade classes is FunBrain," Wally Fuller told Education World. "Last year, we read Diary of a Wimpy Kid every day during computer lab time. At the end of the week, teachers made up questions to help with reading comprehension." And:I am a single mom of 2 boys age 11..5 and 8. I just recently started reading your journal to my kids and we all really like it. It has become a nightly routine to read at least 7 days until we "catch up".
Whoever you are, I really commend you on how well written your journal is. My boys enjoy it! The fact that we read it together just helps us all appreciate each other and our different perspectives. Case in point: the entry we read about you and a friend in church being separated because of the giggles. It lead me to a story about me as a kid and my kids told me stories as well. We all laughed together. It was great. With my oldest entering into the adolescent/teen attitude that "parents just don't understand" (yes I am and 80s child), this brought us just a little closer. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that your writing has touched some lives and makes a difference.

[Paul Rodeen]

I would like to nominate CHOWDER by Peter Brown because it is hilarious. I know I cannot nominate another title, but I'm hoping HIPPO, NO RHINO by Jeff Newman will find it's way onto the list as well.

Paul Rodeen

[Tim Beedle]

Kat & Mouse is an excellent science-themed graphic novel mystery series aimed at girls 8-12, a demo virtually ignored by most major comic publishers (though with Babysitters Club, that may be changing). It's certainly worthy of a nomination.

[Rachel]

The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Published by Lothian Books (imprint of Hachette Livre Australia) 2006

[Jesse]

The Fog Mound: Travels of Thelonious by Schade and Buller was a great graphic novel that should appeal to girls as well as boys and deserves a nomination for GN of the year.

[Olivia]

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

[Anna]

Astonishing adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl isn't a graphic novel.

[Monica Edinger]

I earlier nominated (anonymously, I now realize) Siegel's TO DANCE. So, I'm doing it again as ME.

I do wonder about your range as have others here. I mean, FUN HOME may well be the best GN I've read this year (but I haven't read man, mind you) but it was published for adults and is definitely for a high-end YA audience.

Monica

[Monica Edinger]

Here's a proofread (hopefully:) version of my previous post:

I earlier nominated (anonymously, I now realize) Siegel's TO DANCE. So, I'm doing it again as Monica Edinger.

I do wonder about your range as have others here. I mean, FUN HOME may well be the best GN I've read this year (but I haven't read many, mind you) but it was published for adults and is definitely for a high-end YA audience.

Monica

[MacGyver]

"The Hardy Boys" graphic novels from Papercutz! They're all awesome! :-)
http://www.papercutz.com/hb/hb.html

La Perdida by Jessica Abel
Queen Bee by Chynna Clubston
Time Warp Trio: Nightmare on Joe's Street
Jackie and the Shadow Snatcher by Larry Di fiori

The Ticking by Renee French

Goodbye Chunky Rice

[Liz B]

Hi, all! Just a few quick notes about the submissions so far. First, because it's one nom per person, please use a name! If you've forgotten your name, please post a new comment letting us know which one you nominated (thanks, Monica, for doing this!) Also, if you listed several titles, we'll take the first one unless you post again saying you want us to take a different name on the list.

Some other housekeeping:
Bone 4 won't be considered because it's a reissue;
Abadazad, tho with some illustrations, is mostly text so it will be considered by the SF/F group;
likewise, Zach Proton has also been shifted to the middle grade list;
Diary of a Wimpy Kid will be considered next year, since the publication date for the book edition is 07;
Fanboy & Goth Girl, as well as Hollywood Sisters, have been shifted over to the YA lists.

I think that's it; thank you all for the nominations so far!

[Liz B]

Goodbye Chunky Rice is a reissue so won't be considered this year.

[Jeni Weidenbenner]

I nominate Little Butterfly vol. 1 (May 2006)by Hinako Takanaga. It's a great shonen-ai manga, 1st in a set of 3 (number three will come out in December 06). The artwork is gorgeous and the story is sweet and moving about the connection between two boys with very different stories and personalities. It's for older teens and does have an undercurrent of sexuality, although the emphasis is on the development of the friendship in the first novel.

[Liz]

Castle Waiting, by Linda Medley.