Daisy Kutter: The Last Train, by Kazu Kibuishi[Action/Adventure] Takes place in the Old West—but with robots. Daisy is an ex-bandit who now runs a general store. She’s bored out of her mind, until a shady rich man tells her he’ll pay her to test out the ultra-dangerous security robots on one of his trains.
Castle Waiting, by Linda Medley[Fantasy] The story of an enchanted castle and its inhabitants through the years. Not only do we learn how the castle came to be enchanted, but we hear the characters who pass through its walls tell the rich stories of their own pasts. You’ll get stories of bearded nuns, princesses, the circus, witches and demons and spells-- just to name a few.
Courtney Crumrin Series, by Ted NaifehBook 1: Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things
Book 2 : Courtney Crumrin and the Coven of Mystics
Courtney Crumrin’s dull-as-dirt parents move the family to her great uncle’s giant mansion in a well-to-do neighborhood. It turns out, though, that Courtney’s uncle has powers to cast spells and communicate with creatures… and so does Courtney.
Journey Into Mohawk Country, by H.M. van den Bogaert, with artwork by George O'Connor and color by Hilary Sycamore[Historical] This GN is so cool because it takes the text from an ACTUAL journal written by a young Dutch trader in 1634! He has come to the New World, to the southern tip of Manhattan Island to explore Iriquois country, and make connections that will help with Dutch trade.
Kampung Boy, by Lat[Biographical] A story of growing up in rural Malaysia in the 1950's. Even though the story occurs far away in time and place, you can relate to the author's tales of childhood, like running from his mom, swimming in the river, and falling asleep in class.
Polly and the Pirates, by Ted Naifeh[Action/Adventure] The story of a prim and proper boarding school girl who discovers her mother was an infamous pirate! This should be an ongoing series, but only Book 1 is out so far.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Series, by Hayao MiyazakiClick for Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, Book 5, Book 6, Book 7
You may know of Miyazaki, because he also created the movies Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Nausicaä is a the princess of a small kingdom, and she lives in a future where humans have polluted the earth with chemicals. The earth is slowly being covered by a toxic forest, which releases poisonous spores into the air, and where giant mutant insects live. Nausicaä must help make peace between the kingdoms, who are fighting over the earth’s few remaining natural resources. [Don't forget to read starting at the back, and from right to left.]
P.S. The Graphic Novel that was nominated for the National Book Award (the one Mrs. Mac and Vicky couldn't remember the name of...) is American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang.
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