Graphic novels have evolved into a powerful storytelling medium, captivating readers with their ability to combine narrative depth and stunning visuals. In 2024, we’ve seen a surge of creative titles that redefine the boundaries of art and literature. Here’s a curated list of graphic novels that you simply can’t afford to miss!
Graphic Novels
1. Halfway There: A Graphic Memoir of Self-Discovery
Author: Christine Mari
Why It’s a Must-Read:
This poignant memoir delves into the struggles of being biracial and finding a sense of belonging. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Tokyo, the narrative is both personal and universally relatable. The illustrations bring Christine’s journey to life with emotive precision.
2. The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival
Author: Estelle Nadel & Bethany Strout
Why It’s a Must-Read:
A moving account of survival during the Holocaust, this graphic novel employs expressive artwork to tell a harrowing yet hopeful story. The visuals enhance the emotional depth, making it a memorable read for history enthusiasts.
Illustrator: Sammy Savos
Born to a Jewish family in a small Polish village, Estelle Nadel―then known as Enia Feld―was just seven years old when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939. Once a vibrant child with a song for every occasion, Estelle would eventually lose her voice, as over the next five years she would survive the deaths of her mother, her father, her eldest brother and sister, and countless others.
A child at the mercy of her neighbors during a terrifying time in history, The Girl Who Sang is a first-hand account of Estelle’s fight for survival during World War II. She would weather loss, betrayal, and near execution and spend two years away from the warmth of the sun―all before the age of 11. Once the war was over, Estelle would walk barefoot across European borders and find remnants of home in an Austrian displaced persons camp before finally crossing the Atlantic to arrive in New York City―a young woman carrying the unseen scars of war.
Beautifully rendered in bright hues with expressive, emotional characters, this graphic novel illustrated by Sammy Savos brings Estelle’s story of survival during the Holocaust to a whole new generation of readers.
3. Pearl
Author: Sherri L. Smith
Why It’s a Must-Read:
Set during World War II, this story follows a young Japanese American navigating cultural conflict and war-torn realities. The intricate illustrations and historical context create a deeply immersive experience.
Amy is a thirteen-year-old Japanese-American girl who lives in Hawaii. When her great-grandmother falls ill, Amy travels to visit family in Hiroshima for the first time. But this is 1941. When the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor, it becomes impossible for Amy to return to Hawaii. Conscripted into translating English radio transmissions for the Japanese army, Amy struggles with questions of loyalty and fears about her family amidst rumors of internment camps in America — even as she makes a new best friend and, over the years, Japan starts to feel something like home. Torn between two countries at war, Amy must figure out where her loyalties lie and, in the face of unthinkable tragedy, find hope in the rubble of a changed world.
4. Karate Prom
Author: Kyle Starks
Why It’s a Must-Read:
This hilarious, action-packed graphic novel is perfect for readers who love quirky adventures. The vibrant art and witty dialogue keep you hooked from start to finish.
Don “TheDragonWilson” Jones is the finest fighter Benjamin Harrison High School has ever produced. But when he enters the ring against Lincoln High’s Sam Steadman, it’s love at first knockout.
Unfortunately, Sam has a jerky ex-boyfriend…and Don has a seriously terrifying ex-girlfriend. Like, “global crime cartel” terrifying. From prom to the after-party to graduation, Don and Sam―and an increasingly eclectic cast of supporting oddballs―will have to fight their way through a gauntlet of opponents, all in the name of love (and punching). Did we mention the punching?
5. The Harrowing
Author: Kristen Kiesling
Why It’s a Must-Read:
Fans of psychological horror will relish this eerie tale, rendered in black-and-white with splashes of red. It’s an unforgettable dive into mystery and suspense.
Rowan Sterling should be worrying about normal teenage things like attending college and whether her best friend Lucas is maybe more than a friend. . . . Instead, she’s having terrifying visions of blood and violence. As the premonitions increase in number and intensity, Rowan seeks her father’s help, but instead finds herself drugged, kidnapped, and sent to a mysterious facility called Rosewood. It isn’t long before Rowan discovers Rosewood isn’t a boarding school or an asylum: it’s a training center for teens with special abilities who are known as Harrows.
Harrows can view the actions of would-be murderers before they commit crimes, and the scientists at Rosewood believe it is their duty to use the Harrows’ powers to make the world a safer place. When they are apprehended by a Harrow, imminent criminals, known as imcrims, are captured and indefinitely detained in a state of sedation. At Rosewood, the Harrows are taught how to identify, track, and apprehend imcrims.
Rowan is immediately drawn to Rosewood’s mission; after all, she lost her mother to a random act of violence two years prior. However, some of the other Harrows question the treatment of imcrims―how can it be ethical to imprison people who haven’t actually done anything yet?
Empowered by the skills she’s acquired and ready to change the world, Rowan returns home, but when she reunites with Lucas, she has a vision of him shooting a man in cold blood. Now Rowan is questioning everything she learned at Rosewood―she refuses to believe Lucas is capable of murder―and sets out to protect him from the Harrows.
