The Young Adult Library Services Association (a division of the American Library Association) recently announced their 2009 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver, Colorado. The list, which offers recommendations to librarians looking to add to their collection for young adult readers, includes 53 titles that include a mix of manga, comics and graphic novels, and a top 10 list of the best of the best.
Led by committee chair Robin Brenner (librarian and author of the Eisner Award-nominated book, Understanding Manga and Anime), the 12 committee members selected these manga / manga-inspired books:
SHOJO (GIRLS') MANGA
- Deja-Vu: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter by Youn In-Wan and various authors (TokyoPop)
- Fever by Hee-Jung Park (TokyoPop)
- Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya (TokyoPop)
- High School Debut by Kazune Kawahara (Shojo Beat / VIZ Media)
- Honey and Clover by Chica Umino (Shojo Beat / VIZ Media)
- Key to the Kingdom by Kyoko Shitou (CMX Manga)
- Kieli by Yukako Kabei and Shiori Teshirogi (Yen Press)
- Nana by Ai Yazawa (Shojo Beat / VIZ Media)
- Sand Chronicles by Hinako Ashihara (Shojo Beat / VIZ Media)
- Two Flowers for the Dragon by Nari Kusakawa (CMX Manga)
- Venus in Love by Yuki Nakaji (CMX Manga)
- Black Jack by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
- Dororo by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
- Hikaru no Go by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata (Shonen Jump / VIZ Media)
- Hikkatsu! Strike a Blow to Vivify! (Go! Comi)
- Metro Survive by Yuki Fujisawa (DrMaster Publications)
- Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto (Shonen Jump / VIZ Media)
- Real by Takehiko Inoue (VIZ Signature / VIZ Media)
- Shoulder-A-Coffin Kuro by Satoko Kiyuduki (Yen Press)
- Slam Dunk by Takehiko Inoue (Shonen Jump / VIZ Media)
- Uzumaki by Junji Ito (VIZ Signature / VIZ Media)
- The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need by Daniel Pink and Rob Ten Pas (Riverhead Trade)
- Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures in Japan by Aimee Major Steinberger (Go! Comi)
Just wanted to add a few comments on this group of books. A little less than half of the 53 book selected were manga titles, and they were evenly split between selections geared toward male and female readers. While there are several picks that are perennial fan favorites and bestsellers, (e.g. Naruto and Fruits Basket), there were a few out-of-left-field picks like Metro Survive (Which I can honestly say that I've never noticed in my local bookstores) and Hikkatsu!, which is a fairly quirky shonen title about a guy who has a quasi-martial arts technique that he uses to repair appliances on a rampage. It's also intriguing that the committee included Nana, which has lately taken a turn toward more mature content in its storylines. Overall, an interesting mix.
An additional list highlighted by YALSA is one they call "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers." This group of books, which was selected by a different committee, includes a mix of prose novels and graphic novels. It's not as manga-centric as the graphic novel list, but a few manga picks made it into this group as well:
- Comickers Art 2: Create Amazing Manga Characters by Comickers Magazine (HarperCollins)
- 500 Manga Creatures by YiShan Li (HarperCollins)
- The Manga Cookbook by The Manga University Culinary Institute and Chihiro Hattori (Japanime)
- Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures in Japan by Aimee Major Steinberger (Go! Comi)
So the next time you hit your local library, ask your friendly neighborhood librarian to add a few of these titles to the collection. Tell 'em YALSA sent ya.
Image credit: © Aimee Major Steinberger
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