Author: Eileen Gonzalez

In this lauded YA graphic novel, Frederica longs to be the only girl in Laura’s life — but Laura, true to the title, can’t stay put. Now Frederica must decide if the seemingly perfect Laura is worth all the trouble before she loses her other friends.

Morgan, like so many closeted teens, feels like no one understands her, and the idyllic island where she lives feels more like a prison than a paradise. Then she meets Keltie, a girl with plenty of her own secrets. With their romance growing deeper by the day, how long will it be until Morgan’s family finds out and the fragile happiness she has built is threatened?

With no dialogue, this comic tells the story of a dog who builds himself a robot friend. They do everything together, even go to the beach — where the robot rusts, and the dog is forced to leave him behind. Each deals with the separation in their own way.

Kara is a Kryptonian on Earth, which means she has extraordinary powers — and yet she still can’t save one of her best friends. Consumed by grief and guilt, Kara must uncover her true history and learn how to live with her own limitations. I really appreciate how this comic depicts Kara’s grief: who hasn’t wanted to huddle in front of the TV and eat nothing but cereal?

Robin was an ordinary girl growing up in Seoul until her mother’s unexpected remarriage forced her to relocate to America. At first, Robin is resentful and overwhelmed, until a drawing class teaches her how to express herself through the medium she loves best: comic books.

This graphic biography tells the long-hidden life story of Bill Finger, who played a surprisingly large role in making Batman the iconic figure he so rapidly became — and yet Finger died in poverty and obscurity, overshadowed by the legacy (and self-promotional skills) of Bob Kane.

After breaking his arm and quitting his hated job, Rolando has no idea what to do with his life. Then he befriends Nera, a woman who lives in a broken-down food truck. Together, they refurbish the truck and start a successful business — much to the chagrin of a rival food truck owner.

“What do you do with a B.A. in English?” If you’re Ben, you put your dreams of being a writer on hold and take the first job you can find — as a trainee chef — where you promptly fall in love with your cute coworker. With his future in the kitchen hanging on the mercy of a discerning pig, Ben must figure out what he really wants to do with this life. Recipes in the back!

Even as the Nazis took over Paris, another threat emerged: Marcel Petiot, who took advantage of the chaos by offering desperate refugees safe passage abroad and then murdering them. No one knows how many people he killed, but the total number is probably around 60.

Set during the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, this manga tells the story of Oscar, a young woman whose nobleman father raised her as a son. Oscar is in charge of Marie Antoinette’s palace guards, giving her a front-row seat to the extravagance, ineptitude, and greed that would eventually lead to the downfall of one of the world’s oldest and most powerful empires.

This Australian comic is a sweet YA romance between Maisie and Ollie, who meet at a fan convention (the best way to meet someone!). Maisie is disabled, just like her favorite character on her favorite show, and she goes to the con hoping to meet her idol — and finds Ollie instead.

Some kids have imaginary friends. Livy has Viola, the personification of her anxiety that only she can see. Livy tries her best to ignore Viola and fit in at her new school, but it’s only when she starts asking others for help that she learns to truly live with Viola. While this comic is aimed at kids, anyone who struggles with mental illness will identify with Livy’s difficult yet rewarding journey.

From the coauthor of Lumberjanes comes this literal fish-out-of-water story! It’s about three fun-loving mermaids who find themselves trapped on land after a night of boozing. Can they ever break the spell that made them human and return to the sea?

Tatsumi is an ordinary, if isolated, student, and he’s just fine with that — until a merman, Wakasa, inexplicably sets up shop in his bathtub. It’s the ultimate “odd couple” situation as Tatsumi and Wakasa learn to put up with each other, expect the unexpected when Wakasa’s marine pals drop by for a visit, and maybe — just maybe — become friends along the way. This first volume is the start of a grand and fantastic adventure!

The Vietnam War forced many people to flee their homeland and seek refuge elsewhere. Thi Bui’s family settled in San Francisco, where they had to deal with the loss of their old world and the culture shock associated with adapting to the new one.

Craig Thompson grew up in the American Midwest, where he led a sheltered life dictated by fundamentalist Christian morality and values. When he falls in love with a girl at church camp, they both have to reevaluate what faith means to them. But can their relationship survive such scrutiny? This poignant coming-of-age story will speak to anyone who struggled to adjust to adulthood.

One of the more “notorious” banned comics, this award-winning memoir explores the author’s journey to coming out as asexual and nonbinary. Eir story provides hope and inspiration to young queer people and is a critical point of reference for non-queer readers.

Persepolis is one of the most celebrated comics ever written, and with very good reason. Satrapi’s distinctive art style and frank storytelling bring her intense childhood in Iran and confusing young adulthood in Europe to life. It was later made into an Oscar-nominated animated film. The book is often challenged based on its supposedly violent and profane content.

Co-written by legendary civil rights activist and politician John Lewis, this three-part graphic novel tells Lewis’s life story, from his childhood in segregated Alabama to his determination to fight for a better future. You can now also enjoy the sequel, Run.

Most superheroes are happy to work with the police and those in positions of power. Not the Movement. These young people realize that the authorities of Coral City are beyond redemption — and they’re not about to wait for the adults who failed them before to step in and change things. But is it possible that they are taking their vigilantism too far and making the same mistakes as the cops, rich businessmen, and politicians they despise?