Jen Blair
I read a LOT of graphic novels this year. These are the titles that made the top of my list!
Imogene has always been homeschooled, but now she is entering public school for the first time. Trying to fit in is hard enough, but when your parents work at a Renaissance Faire, it is next to impossible. When Impy makes friends with a group of popular girls, being brave and making the right choices takes on a whole new meaning.
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Anya feels alone in the world. A cruel prank leaves her at the bottom of an abandoned well where she befriends a ghost, Emily. At first, having a ghost as a best friend is great: Emily helps her do well on tests and spies on her crush. But when Anya realizes that Emily has ulterior motives in helping her, Anya must find a way to rid herself of her new “friend” before it’s too late.
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In the second of the Awkward series, Jensen is trying to help out his friends who run the school newspaper. As part of his work he is asked if he is a victim of bullying, and he denies it. But when he takes a closer look at his middle school experiences, he is forced to face the harsh truth behind his friendships. One of the best graphic novels I have ever read. Poignant, and real, and funny, with well developed characters that you hardly ever see in graphic novels.
I really loved this one. And I didn’t expect to. Adventure, magic and fantasy all rolled into one. This is the story of Seraphin, whose mother disappeared a year ago when testing the parameters of aether in her hot air balloon. Now Seraphin and his father have been invited to a Bavarian castle to find her missing logbook and continue her research. But there are evil forces hiding in this castle and Seraphin will have to fight not only for his mother’s legacy, but for his life.
Priyanka wants to know more about her mother’s past in India, but her mother refuses to answer any of her questions. When Pri finds a pashmina shawl hidden in a closet, its magic transports her to a land that might spell out the answers that her mother won’t give.
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Years ago an accident destroyed the town of Poughkeepsie. Survival is next to impossible. Addison has found a way to support her family with her photography of the uninhabitable city. But there are rules that she follows to keep herself safe. After an eccentric collector offers her a million dollars for her pictures, she must decide if she will risk everything for the money.
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A beautiful autobiography of a young skater. Walden shares her personal experiences with the hardships of competitive sport while also exploring the themes of identity and worth. Her story is a powerful one and is made unforgettable by her poignant illustrations. One of my favorite books of ANY genre this year.
Rose and her family go to the shore every year. It’s usually a happy, relaxing time for the whole family. But this year Rose’s mother can’t seem to let go of her sorrow. What is causing her to be so depressed? Rose usually spends her summer hanging out with her friend Windy, reading, swimming and riding their bikes. But this summer Rose doesn’t want to spend time at home and starts looking for more grown-up pursuits like fashion magazines, horror movies, and boys.
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