Alison Bechdel, Alice Oseman among authors in award-winning graphic novels list
The list includes memoirs, historical accounts and fiction, with content warnings for some titles.
A new list of award-winning graphic novels includes acclaimed works by Alison Bechdel, Alice Oseman and George Takei.
The list, compiled by Book Riot, features 20 titles described as "must-read" and includes a variety of awards.
Alison Bechdel's memoir "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic" and Alice Oseman's "Heartstopper" series are highlighted.
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"Fun Home" mentions suicide, while "Heartstopper" includes an emotionally abusive relationship and past experiences of homophobia and bullying.
Other titles on the list include a memoir by Kate Beaton about her two years working in the Canadian oil sands after graduating from college.
The notes describe it as a fascinating memoir where Beaton "starkly outlines the difficulty of staying in a community that offers few viable economic opportunities for young people."
She summarizes it so succinctly: "It is time for another empty chair around the table. It is time to go."
The book discusses sexual assault and its aftermath, as well as drug use and addiction, and was one of former U.S. president Barack Obama's favourite books of 2022.
Thi Bui's autobiographical graphic novel chronicles her family history. The notes state, "I absolutely cannot believe that Bui had never illustrated a comic in her life before writing this."
George Takei's book, illustrated by Harmony Becker, details his childhood experience in U.S. incarceration camps for Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
The notes recommend it, saying, "If you want to learn more about this part of U.S. history, I suggest starting with this book."
A book by a young, queer, mixed-descent author tells the story of her diagnosis and navigation of the medical system as a breast cancer patient at age 25.
The notes say, "She has some really thought-provoking encounters with medical care professionals and their assumptions about her as a person."
Katherena Vermette, who is Métis, writes a graphic novel series with a Métis main character set in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Cece Bell's autobiographical book follows her childhood and her illness-acquired deafness.
Shaun Tan's wordless book will leave you "wondering how people ever manage to move from country to country without losing important parts of themselves and their loved ones."
Harmony Becker also illustrated a novel about three main characters who connect in Japan where they study the language and culture.
A story with a manga-like art style revolves around a stay-at-home father and his deceased brother's husband, who is Canadian.
Another graphic novel is about a student's first year at university in South Korea and how she accidentally joined a banned book club.
The notes say it is "at turns funny and extremely moving" and follows her political awakening.
It mentions sexual assault and shows students being beaten in a few instances.
A book based on Omar Mohamed's experience growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya shows the humanity and extreme poverty there.
With files from Book Riot