2020 Great Graphic Novels

The official titles of YALSA's (Young Adult Library Services Association) 2020 Great Graphic Novels for Teens has been announced. The list consists of 103 titles and is recommended for those ages 12 to 18. Selections are nominated based on appeal and quality of literature.

Here are the Top Ten:

Cosmoknights: Book One by Hannah Templer

Pan's life used to be very small. Work in her dad's body shop, sneak out with her friend Tara to go dancing, and watch the skies for freighter ships. It didn't even matter that Tara was a princess. Until one day it very much did matter, and Pan had to say goodbye forever. Years later, when a charismatic pair of off-world gladiators show up on her doorstep, she finds that life may not be as small as she thought. On the run and off the galactic grid, Pan discovers the astonishing secrets of her neo-medieval world...and the intoxicating possibility of burning it all down.

Bloom by Kevin Panetta

Baked with love! Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his ultra-hip band -- if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom. That is, if Ari doesn't ruin everything.

I Was Their American Dream: a Graphic Memoir by Malaka Gharib

The daughter of parents with unfulfilled dreams themselves, Malaka navigated her childhood chasing her parents' ideals, learning to code-switch between her family's Filipino and Egyptian customs, adapting to white culture to fit in, crushing on skater boys, and trying to understand the tension between holding onto cultural values and trying to be an all-American kid.

Kiss Number 8 by Colleen A. F. Venable

Amanda's seemingly perfect life is turned upside down when she realizes she has a crush on her best friend, Cat, and uncovers a secret held by her father that could tear her family apart.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki

Laura Dean, the most popular girl in high school, was Frederica Riley's dream girl: charming, confident, and SO cute. There's just one problem: Laura Dean is maybe not the greatest girlfriend. Reeling from her latest break up, Freddy's best friend, Doodle, introduces her to the Seek-Her, a mysterious medium, who leaves Freddy some cryptic parting words: break up with her. But Laura Dean keeps coming back, and as their relationship spirals further out of her control, Freddy has to wonder if it's really Laura Dean that's the problem.

The Life of Frederick Douglass: A Graphic Narrative of a Slave's Journey from Bondage to Freedom by David F. Walker

Takes you from Douglass's life as a young slave, through his forbidden education, to his escape and growing prominence as an influential cultural figure. The Life of Frederick Douglass presents a complete illustrated portrait of the man who stood up and spoke out for freedom and equality.

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends. Every autumn, all through high school, they've worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole world. They say goodbye every Halloween, and they're reunited every September 1st. But this Halloween is different. Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last goodbye. Josiah's ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn't read to let him.

Simon & Louise by Max de Radigues

It all begins with a relationship update on social media. Summer vacation is about to begin, and Simon discovers the change just as his supposed girlfriend leaves to spend two months in a seaside village. Determined to find out what went wrong, Simon decides to hitchhike 350 miles to find her. With just his backpack and a few snacks, he sneaks out of the house and hits the road -- but he quickly discovers that he isn't quite prepared for the journey.

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei and Justin Eisinger

A stunning memoir recounting actor/author/activist George Takei's childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II.

Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama

In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch...until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician.