Graphic Novels
Jailbreak at Alcatraz : Frank Morris & the Anglin Brothers' great escape
Tom (Writer of children's books) Sullivan
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Sullivan
Mystery, Graphic Novels, Kids, True Crime
CASE NO. 002: THE ROCK. June 12, 1962. SAN FRANCISCO BAY, CALIFORNIA. 7:18 A.M. A corrections officer at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary tries to awaken inmate AZ-1441, Frank Morris. But when he shakes the unresponsive man, his head rolls off the pillow and crashes to the floor! Soon the guards realize that Morris and two other inmates, brothers John and Clarence Anglin, had done the seemingly impossible: escaped from the notorious island prison. This is the incredible true story of the daring and inventive escape and a decades-long manhunt in a case that remains unsolved to this day. Comics panels, reproductions of documents from real FBI files, and photos from the investigation combine for a thrilling read for sleuths of all ages.
My Beijing : four stories of everyday wonder
Nie Jun
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Jun
Graphic Novels
"Four short stories set in a hutong, or residential alleyway, of Beijing, China. Yu'er, her grandfather, and their eccentric neighbors experience the magic of everyday life."--
With captivate illustration and inspiring stories, Nie’s graphic novel shows and tells those “Everyday Wonder” about Beijing in the good old days. Passion, imagination and love will always go beyond any physical limitation and down through generations. -Fang
Baloney and friends : dream big!
Greg Pizzoli
jREADER Pizzoli Greg
Early Readers, Graphic Novels
"Baloney and friends continue their adventures, which include a birthday cake mishap, a tricky bargain, a painting surprise, and the discovery that the best moments are shared with friends"--
Are you ready for some "serious" Baloney? This reader series by Greg Pizzoli gets better with each installment! -Casey
The leak : for the love of truth
Kate Reed Petty
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Petty
Graphic Novels, Kids
"Ruth Keller is brash and precocious; she argues with her dentist, her parents, and her teachers. So, when she discovers a strange black slime in the man-made lake of her suburban neighborhood, she decides to investigate. Fortified by the encouragement of those around her, Ruth seeks the truth at all costs, even if it means taking on the rich local country club owner, who she believes is responsible for the pollution. Between the teasing of former friends, and a sudden viral spotlight, Ruth discovers how difficult it is for a journalist to take a stand for what's right in the face of critique and controversy. From writer Kate Reed Petty and illustrator Andrea Bell, comes a story about corruption, pollution, and freedom of the press, and the young journalist at the center of it all."--Provided by publisher.
Join Ruth as she uncovers a shocking pollution scandal in her town and persists in trying to get to the bottom of it despite setbacks and discouragement. A nuanced look at the tough work of journalism (Ruth makes some mistakes along the way and learns that not everything is black-and-white, good-versus-evil), the book remains accessible to young readers. You'll want to stand up and cheer for Ruth's courage and commitment to freedom of the press, justice, and protecting her town and its citizens. The blocky illustrations with slightly fuzzy, crayon-like outlines are so satisfying visually as well. -Anne W
Nightwing
Tom Taylor
COMIC Nightwing 2016 Taylor
Graphic Novels
"Nightwing is back-and his drive to keep Blüdhaven safe has never been stronger! But his adoptive city has elected a new mayor with the last name Zucco. When Nightwing enlists Batgirl's help in investigating the politician bearing the same name as the man who murdered his parents, she unearths details that will shock and fundamentally change the hero. Dick Grayson's big heart has protected those persecuted by bullies in his youth, combated evil alongside Batman as Robin, and pledged his newly inherited wealth to enriching Blüdhaven as Nightwing. His kindness and generosity have always guided his life. But now a new villain stalks the back alleys, removing the hearts of the city's most vulnerable. Who is this terrifying new menace named Heartless, and will he be able to resist plucking out the biggest heart in all of Blüdhaven?"--
Before reading this, I hadn't read a superhero comic in... *checks Goodreads* over a year. They, for whatever reason, didn't appeal to me during the ongoing pandemic. What it took to get me back was a writer I like writing my FAVORITE superhero. Nightwing: Leaping Into the Light by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo is exactly what I wanted: More character work than fighting and playful, energetic art. It's a perfect jumping on point if you've never read a comic about Dick Grayson. I highly recommend it. -Brian
Marshmallow & Jordan
Alina Chau
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Chau
Graphic Novels
"Jordan's days as the star player for her school's basketball team ended when an accident left her paralyzed...Now, she's still the team captain, but her competition days seem to be behind her...until an encounter with a mysterious elephant, who she names Marshmallow, helps Jordan discover a brand new sport. Will water polo be the way for Jordan to continue her athletic dreams--or will it just come between Jordan and her best friends on the basketball team?"--
I was instantly drawn to this graphic novel when I saw it on the bookmobile shelf. The illustrations are bright, bold and beautiful and the characters are loveable immediately. I love how strong the protagonist is and that the reader learns about Hindu and Indonesian culture, as well as some exciting sports moments. Plus the elephant Marshmallow is SO CUTE. -Mari
Witches of Brooklyn
Sophie Escabasse
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Escabasse Witches
Graphic Novels
"Effie moves to Brooklyn to live with her strange aunt and soon discovers that she might be a witch"--
I am beyond obsessed with these aunts! I love the illustration style and the story moves really quickly, just picked up the sequel "What the Hex?!" and can't wait to dive in! -Mari
Himawari House
Harmony Becker
GRAPHIC NOVEL Becker
Graphic Novels, Read Woke
"When Nao returns to Tokyo to reconnect with her Japanese heritage, she books a yearlong stay at the Himawari sharehouse. There she meets Hyejung and Tina, two other girls who came to Japan to freely forge their own paths."--Provided by publisher.
Incredible design, a wide breadth of illustration styles, strong female friendships, humor, and polyglots adjusting to life abroad. Himawari House is a delectable slice of life through and through! -Casey
The legend of auntie Po
Shing Yin Khor
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Khor
Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction
"Aware of the racial tumult in the years after the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Mei tries to remain blissfully focused on her job, her close friendship with the camp foreman's daughter, and telling stories about Paul Bunyan--reinvented as Po Pan Yin (Auntie Po), an elderly Chinese matriarch"--
I loved the story, the characters, the illustration style and the historical context. -Mari
Seek you : a journey through American loneliness
Kristen Radtke
155.92 Radtke
Science, Graphic Novels, Memoir
"When Kristen Radtke was in her twenties, she learned that, as her father was growing up, he would crawl onto his roof in rural Wisconsin and send signals out on his ham radio. Those CQ calls were his attempt to reach somebody--anybody--who would respond. In Seek You, Radtke uses this image as her jumping off point into a piercing exploration of loneliness and the ways in which we attempt to feel closer to one another. She looks at the very real current crisis of loneliness through the lenses of gender, violence, technology, and art. Ranging from the invention of the laugh-track to Instagram to Harry Harlow's experiments in which infant monkeys were given inanimate surrogate mothers, Radtke uncovers all she can about how we engage with friends, family, and strangers alike, and what happens--to us and to them--when we disengage."--
A great mixture of autobiographical and social science examination. I loved this unique graphic format and felt very relevant in the pandemic world with more isolation. -Mari
I loved Tom Sullivan's first graphic novel, Escape at 10,000 feet: D.B. Cooper and the missing money, so much that I knew I was going to enjoy his latest historical graphic retelling of a true event! These books are a great read for those reluctant readers in your life or for anyone looking for a good unsolved mystery. -Angie