The Young Adult Library Services Association (a division of the American Library Association) has released its annual Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, including the Top Ten list.
We discuss previous iterations of the YALSA list in chapter nine of the book as an example of what a comics canon that tried to include diversity (of representation and of taste) as a legitimate criterion might look like. As selection committee chair Jason Poole puts it, "We drew from a record number of nominations and ended up with a selection of quality graphic novels from all sorts of genres, perspectives, and cultures. I am especially excited to see the top ten populated with titles featuring female protagonists, reflecting a shift in the comics industry towards more equal representation of all its readers.” This concern for diversity in the young adult lists results from the influence of librarians and teachers, who bring a distinctive set of reformist professional values to their selections.
Your top ten (in alphabetical order) are:
- Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova (Yen Press)
- Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Don Brown (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
- Lumberjanes Vol. 1 – 2 by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis and Shannon Watters, illus. by Brooke Allen (Boom! Box)
- Ms. Marvel Vol. 2 – 3 By G. Willow Wilson, illus. by Jacob Wyatt, Adrian Alphona, Takeshi Miyazawa and Elmo Bondoc (Marvel Comics)
- Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (Harper Teen)
- Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson (Dial Books for Young Readers)
- Sacred Heart by Liz Suburbia (Fantagraphics)
- A Silent Voice Vol. 1 -3 by Yoshitoki Oima (Kodansha Comics)
- Trashed, by Derf Backderf (Abrams ComicArts)
- The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 1 – 2 by Ryan North, illus. by Erica Henderson (Marvel Comics)
Source: ALA Member News