Sunday March 20th, 2011 Gateway to Graphic Novels

To the uninitiated, shelves of graphic novels in the library might look like ‘just a bunch of comics.’ You might think they are only for kids and teens, or that they are all about superheroes and caped crusaders. In today’s Library Detective column, I hope to lure new readers to this truly enjoyable format. I’m a fairly recent convert to the format myself and have found many new authors and stories to love. I was initially skeptical about what was gained by including illustrations with a story – shouldn’t the words alone be enough? Memoirist David Small explains that “images get straight inside us, bypassing all the guard towers,” and this gut response can prompt a deep, visceral connection to the story being told. Illustrations aren’t just for picture books.

Learning that graphic novels are a format rather than a genre can help new readers understand their appeal. Graphic novels can be as different from each other as Austen is from Atwood - simply because they are in the same format does not mean that they are the same kind of reading experience! The most well-known genres are superheroes and manga (Japanese comics), but any genre you can find in ‘regular’ library titles can be found among the graphic novels as well. Also, as with all other formats, some graphic novels are best for kids, some for teens, and others for adults. The titles discussed here are intended for a teen or older audience.

I’d like to suggest some gateway graphic novels for people new to the format. To make the transition to picture and text as easy as possible, I have included some keywords for each title. Try branching out just a little by reading something within your comfort zone that is simply in a new format. You may just find a new favourite author.

If you like coming of age stories, Canadian literature, slice of small-town life tales, or short stories: Try The Complete Essex County, by Jeff Lemire. I am not the only one promoting this as a good read! Essex County is a Canada Reads 2011 title and is composed of three intertwined short stories about living in a rural Southwestern Ontario community.

If you like stories that mix darkness and light, romance and humour, and are driven by powerful and flawed female characters: Try Strangers in Paradise, by Terry Moore. Katchoo is a talented artist secretly in love with her best friend Kristine. In this multi-volume narrative, their friendship is repeatedly tested by romantic trials and the influence of Katchoo’s secret Mafia past.

If you like introspective family memoirs that leave you grateful for your own comparatively normal and happy upbringing: Try Stitches by David Small, a respected children’s illustrator and author. His story of a stifling childhood in a relentlessly uncommunicative family is sometimes painful to read, but the narrative of ultimately understanding and moving beyond family influence is both powerful and compelling.

Or try Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel. This darkly funny memoir about growing up gay with a closeted father is a very literary graphic novel that references myths and canonical classics. Irony, self-deprecating humour, and gothic touches are scattered throughout this exploration of childhood and identity.

Remember, Alice in Wonderland asked, “what is the use of a book without pictures or conversations?” Give these books with pictures a chance and let them open a new world of storytelling for you to enjoy. If these titles don’t pique your interest or you want more recommendations, I can be reached at lprinselaar@tbpl.ca for suggestions.

Laura Prinselaar, Children & Youth Services Librarian