I’m not a huge graphic novels person. Not because I don’t believe they’re real books—I can’t stand people who say that—but just because they don’t typically hit as hard for me. Still, over the years I’ve read lots of graphic novels and few have stood out to me as particularly delightful. I know some people prefer graphic novels for the added depth that comes with the art—so here is my list of my favorite graphic novels.

(in no particular order)

• Nimona by N.D. Stevenson: Now a Netflix movie, this book follows Nimona, a troublesome shapeshifter with scores to settle, and Lord Ballister Blackheart, a supervillain who is also an exiled knight. Both have been wronged by the kingdom and so, as supervillain and sidekick, they work to take down the oppressive system and expose the corrupt. On their journey, the two become closer and discover more of each other’s past—finding a sort of found family as outcasts. This book is humorous and entertaining and deeply heart wrenching—I felt the full range of emotions while reading and only wish I could read it again for the first time.
• The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen: This book was everything I wanted and everything I didn’t know I needed. Blending together fairy tales, memories, and Vietnamese culture, this book follows Tiên, a Vietnamese American boy struggling to reconcile and communicate his identity. Tiên’s mother only speaks Vietnamese and with the obstacles of linguistic and cultural barriers, he’s unsure of how he will ever tell her that he is gay. This book is made all the more impactful by the art, which is beautifully illustrated, and the shifting narratives, which blend together for a devastating blow. I very much recommend this book—I also recommend keeping your tissues handy while reading.
• Heartstopper by Alice Oseman: Nobody who knows me will be surprised to see this book on the list, it really is a quintessential romance graphic novel—and one of the few romance books I find myself frequently recommending, graphic novel or otherwise. This book may seem like a simple love story between two schoolboys but it contains multitudes and certainly knows how to make a reader feel. We follow lovable, relatable Charlie, our nerdy, anxious, overthinker. And Nick, our golden retriever, definitely-totally-straight rugby boy. Charlie navigates bullying, friendships, and a toxic ex boyfriend—Nick navigates self-discovery and the judgement of his peers. The two become close and work through the obstacles and joys that come with young love. The first in a series, this book has a Netflix series adaptation and a lively fanbase.
• Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu: Despite what some people may assume from my past recommendation lists, I’m not allergic to joy—I love this simple, heartwarming, fantasy graphic novel. This book has everything you need, magic, romance, monsters, and a cozy romance between a hard-of-hearing witch and a nonbinary werewolf, both Chinese American—okay, maybe that’s a bit specific but you get the point. This book is simply delightful, we follow teen witch, Nova Huang, and lonely werewolf Tam Lang, as they navigate the spooky, and sometimes downright scary, occurrences and forces in their New England town. Entertaining, cozy, and surely worth a read.

I know my recommendations in this genre may not be the broadest given that I don’t read much, but I think all these books are fantastic and I hope you all enjoy them. See you all next week for my final book recs of the school year!