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Literary Graphic Novels for Secondary School

I think the attraction of a graphic novel for students is that they can read it in one day. This works for both reluctant readers (GNs are not as intimidating), as well as for students who love stories: They want to read as many as possible, as quickly as possible. Also, some stories are better told in a graphic fashion. In the best GNs, the pictures are the poetry which convey the legendary 1000 words. I'm trying to stock my library with as many alternative reads for students as possible. A great resource for buying and chatting about graphic novels is The Beguiling out of Toronto. ***Please preview these titles. Some may not be appropriate for your students.***

by Barbara McVeigh · Tagged graphic novel, young adult, literary, 49th kids

Bigfoot

by (author) Pascal Girard
translated by Helge Dascher

Two Generals

by (author) Scott Chantler

Tyranny

by (author) Lesley Fairfield

Hyena in Petticoats

The Story Of Suffragette Nellie Mcclung

by (author) Willow Dawson

The Klondike

by (author) Zach Worton

The Never Weres

by (author) Fiona Smyth & Galouchko

Lone Hawk:The Story of Air Ace Billy Bishop

by (author) John Lang

Skim

by (author) Mariko Tamaki
illustrated by Jillian Tamaki

Friends with Boys

illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

The Next Day

by (author) Jason Gilmore & Paul Peterson
illustrated by John Porcellino

Hark! A Vagrant

by (author) Kate Beaton

Bitter Medicine

A Graphic Memoir of Mental Illness

by (author) Clem Martini
illustrated by Olivier Martini

Burma Chronicles

by (author) Guy Delisle
translated by Helge Dascher

Jerusalem

Chronicles from the Holy City

by (author) Guy Delisle
translated by Helge Dascher

Shenzhen

A Travelogue from China

by (author) Guy Delisle
translated by Helge Dascher

Harvey

by (author) Herve Bouchard
illustrated by Janice Nadeau
translated by Helen Mixter

Northwest Passage

by (author) Stan Rogers
illustrated by Matt James

This One Summer

by (author) Mariko Tamaki
illustrated by Jillian Tamaki

In Real Life

by (author) Cory Doctorow
illustrated by Jen Wang

Canadian Graphic

Picturing Life Narratives

edited by Candida Rifkind & Linda Warley

The Outside Circle

A Graphic Novel

by (author) Patti LaBoucane-Benson
illustrated by Kelly Mellings

Suite Francaise: Storm in June

A Graphic Novel

by (author) Emmanuel Moynot
translated by David Homel

In-Between Days

A Memoir About Living with Cancer

by (author) Teva Harrison

Secret Path

by (author) Gord Downie
illustrated by Jeff Lemire

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