YALSA names 2022 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced its 2022 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.

The list consists of 131 titles selected from 161 official nominations, which were posted and discussed in blog posts on The Hub. The books, recommended for those ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens. View the full list.

In addition to the full list, the blogging team chose the following titles as its top ten:

• Asadora!. By Naoki Urasawa.
  • v.1. VIZ Media / VIZ Signature, $14.99 (9781974717460). 
  • v.2. VIZ Media / VIZ Signature, $14.99 (9781974720101). 
  • v.3. VIZ Media / VIZ Signature, $14.99 (9781974720118). 
  • v.4. VIZ Media / VIZ Signature, $14.99 (9781974722969). 
• The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History. By David F. Walker. Art by Marcus Kwame Anderson. Penguin Random House / Ten Speed Press, $19.99 (9781984857705). 
• Boys Run the Riot. By Keito Gaku.
  • v.1. Kodansha USA / Kodansha Comics, $12.99 (9781646512485). 
  • v.2. Kodansha USA / Kodansha Comics, $12.99 (9781646511174). 
  • v.3. Kodansha USA / Kodansha Comics, $12.99 (9781646511198).
• The Girl from the Sea. By Molly Knox Ostertag. Scholastic / Graphix, $24.99 (9781338540581). 
• The Hazards of Love, v.1: Bright World. By Stan Stanley. Oni Press, $19.99 (9781620108574). 
• Himawari House. By Harmony Becker. Macmillan / First Second, $24.99 (9781250235565). 
• Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human. By Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan. Penguin Random House / Random House Graphic, $23.99 (9781984893147). 
• Nubia: Real One. By L.L. McKinney. Art by Robyn Smith. DC Comics, $16.99 (9781401296407). 
• Run: Book One. By John Lewis, and Andrew Aydin. Art by L. Fury and Nate Powell. Abrams Books / Abrams ComicArts, $24.99 (9781419730696). 
• Solo Leveling. By Chugong. Art by Dubu (Redice Studio).
  • v.1. Yen Press, $20.00 (9781975319434). 
  • v.2. Yen Press, $20.00 (9781975319458). 

“As someone fairly new to graphic novels and looking to challenge myself to think critically about them, I appreciated how open, friendly, and passionate everyone on the committee was and am grateful for their patience and enthusiasm while we discovered and discussed so many titles this year. I’d recommend serving on this committee to any YALSA member!” said committee member Becky Proie.

The suggestion form for the 2023 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list is open. If you’d like to suggest a title to the blogging team for consideration as a nominee, please fill out the form.

YALSA’s portfolio of book and media awards helps strengthen library services for and with teens by identifying quality, age appropriate resources for librarians and library workers to share with the teens in their communities. Learn more about YALSA’s other book and media lists here.

Members of the 2022 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Blogging Team are: Crystal Chen, coordinator, The New York Public Library, New York, NY; Kathleen Barker, History UnErased, Plymouth, MI; Kelley Blue, Portland Public Library, Portland, ME; Denise Farley, Dekalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA; Dakota Hall, Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus, IN; Cyndi Hamann, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights, IL;

Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library, New Orleans, LA; Rachel Johannigmeier, Kirkwood Public Library, St. Louis, MO; Mitzi Mack, Young Middle Magnet Library, Tampa, FL; Becky Proie, Western Allegheny Community Library, Oakdale, PA; Shaira Rock, Elmhurst Public Library, Elmhurst, IL;  Kiera Vargas, University of South Carolina (PhD student) and EPIFHANY, LLC, Columbia, SC; Dana Hutchins, administrative assistant, Tom DeFosset Learning Library at Jackson Middle School, San Antonio, TX.

The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens—especially those with the greatest needs— on the path to successful and fulfilling lives. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: [email protected].