Written by Savannah (Youth Services Department)
Graphic novels are a beautiful medium for fictional storytelling, but they can also be an engaging way to convey information and tell true stories in the form of memoirs or biographies. Check out these nonfiction graphic novels for teens on a wide variety of topics.
How to Love by Alex Norris
Isn't it wonderful when love strikes? We connect with someone beautiful and interesting and suddenly—feelings. But what to do when that first crush levels you? When sparks fly and then fizzle? Or when love just . . . hurts? Aimed at both young people who are just starting out in their love lives and those with more experience who are seeking a fresh perspective, How to Love is a funny, wise, and unique full-colour guide to relationships of all shapes and sizes by a popular web comic creator. Chatty and confessional, humorous and heartfelt, and inclusive of all genders and sexualities, this graphic handbook pairs a classic Q&A format with Alex Norris's bright, accessible, and unmistakably clever meta comic style.
Messy Roots by Laura Gao
In Messy Roots, Laura illustrates her coming-of-age as the girl who simply wants to make the basketball team, escape Chinese school, and figure out why girls make her heart flutter. Insightful, original, and hilarious, toggling seamlessly between past and present, China and America, Gao's debut is a tour de force of graphic storytelling.
Makeup Is Not (just) Magic by Ikumi Rotta
An easy-breezy makeup tutorial in manga form! For anyone intimidated by the world of makeup, you're in luck—a former beauty consultant turned comic artist is here to walk you through it. Join the author as she breaks down the fundamentals of cosmetics and skin care, guided by common questions from her online followers! Learn the basics and develop your own signature style! The perfect illustrated how-to book for fans of online makeup tutorials.
Maybe An Artist by Liz Montague
When Liz Montague was a senior in college, she wrote to the New Yorker, asking them why they didn't publish more inclusive comics. They wrote back asking if she could recommend any. She responded: yes, me. Those initial cartoons in the New Yorker led to this memoir of Liz's youth, from the age of five through college—how she navigated life in her predominantly white New Jersey town, overcame severe dyslexia through art, and found the confidence to pursue her passion. Funny and poignant, Liz captures the age-old adolescent questions of "who am I?" and "what do I want to be?" with pitch-perfect clarity and insight.
For fans of dungeon crawls and dice rolls—and anyone wanting to know more about them—Side Quest is a stand-alone graphic novel history of roleplaying games (RPGs), from ancient games to those played today, with personal stories from creators throughout!
A teenage boy risks his life to tell the truth in this gripping graphic memoir by youth activist Muhammad Najem and CNN producer Nora Neus.
This colourful graphic novel adventure through the brain demystifies and destigmatizes emotional and mental health through accessible language and lessons. Join author-illustrator Cara Bean as she takes readers on a journey to the center of the brain. Each of the nine chapters explores a different aspect of mental health, from the brain and the mind to feelings and emotions. By portraying complex neuroscience concepts with a cast of illustrated characters that represent parts of the brain, the book explains what is really going on in the reader's head in an approachable way that ultimately serves to empower the reader.
After running away from residential school, Bernard Andreason and his two best friends begin a harrowing 130-kilometre journey from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk, which only Bernard would survive. In this heartbreaking and beautifully told graphic memoir, Bernard recounts his time in residential school and the tragic journey that took the lives of his two best friends. We then follow Bernard as he returns home, haunted by his past and struggling to find his place. Despite enduring more challenges into adulthood, Bernard never stops pursuing healing and higher learning, and he finds a support network that helps him. His story shows us that the possibility of finding a safe and loving home exists, and it is something every child deserves.
Find even more great reads in our Teen Nonfiction Graphic Novels section!
Add a comment to: Teen Nonfiction Graphic Novels