Must haves in Graphic Novels

[Deborah Stafford]

What would you consider the "must haves" in starting a Graphic Novel collection?
One nominee Maus

Do you consider Graphic Novels and Manga as the same thing?

[bmayer]

Davinna's distinctions are excellent ones.
I will add that originally, there was a noticable difference in the literary quality between the two. Manga and the sort has been a long established literary outlet in other countries, with good quality literature being produced in the format. It is only more recently, that our levels have risen to be competitive. I don't want to step on toes and am only speaking in generalizations regarding the US's graphic literature history.

As far as must haves, mangas are hot right now and there are some really good quality ones out there as well.
I would say several of my must haves would be:
A subscription to Shonen Jump(Boy Manga) and Shojo Beat (Girl Manga) - How manga is released in Japan, a monthly publication with 5 or so different stories that are continued each month by having a few chapters added to them. They are then later compiled and released in book format. So you are getting a year's worth of 5 or so stories for $30.
Nausiccaa by Hiyayo Miyazaki
Any of the CLAMP series (Tsubasa, Fruits Basket, XXXholic) they are fun, well written and interchange characters from different series.
The Lord of the Rings/The Metamorphisis/Beowulf graphic remakes are excellent
Pedro and Me by Judd Winick
YA alert: Ghost World and Blankets by Doug Johnson
Persepolis and Safe Area Gorazde by Joe Sacco

[abeaman]

I think you have to have Craig Thompson's Blankets and Brian Vaughn's Pride of Bagdhad if you're in a high school library. And American Born Chinese, of course. 300 is also very popular this year, thanks to the movie.
Super hero GNs are popular with our students, too - Ultimate Spider Man & Ultimate X-Men.

I agree that manga is a sub category of graphic novels - usually from Asia, certainly with a unique art style.

[Deborah Stafford]

I will also add to the list some series that are popular with my Manga Crowd in addition to the Maus I listed to begin this thread.

WJuliet
Mars
Ragnorak
Full Metal Panic
D N Angel

[Gretchen H]

I'm in a middle school (7th and 8th grades) and the most popular series are Naruto, Fruits Basket, Tokyo Mew Mew, Full Metal Alchemist, and Bleach...

I'd love to hear, as people make suggestions, if there are specific graphic novel/manga series that are not appropriate for middle school.

Thanks!

[Barb Miller]

Gretchen, I just noticed the date on your reply and realized you may already know all this. Anyway, I'm also in a middle school and have really been investigating the rating system of manga and from all my asking around, you might want to stay with the rating system on the back of most of the books. I was advised by Robin Brenner (No Flying, No Tights website) that I'd probably want to limit my books to A (all ages), T (teen) and 13+, but not usually have OT (older teen) or M (mature). We had some OTs and pulled them and sent them up to the high school (e.g. Death Note, Flame of Recca, etc.). I had gotten that advice also from a graphic novel listserv ( www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/GNLIB-L). Hope this isn't too late. Barb

[Melanie Jaramillo]

Barb, I am a new middle school librarian just starting to create a collection. Our focus is math and science, and we only have 6th graders the first year. Do you have a resource for a tech-based graphic novel series (robots, etc) that would interest our kids and still fit in with our focus? Thanks for any help you can give me! Melanie

[Bryn Samuels]

Neil Gaiman's "Coraline" is coming out in graphic novel. That should be interesting.
Cecil Castellucci just came out with "The Plain Janes," which should definitely be able to introduce girl hipsters to the genre.
I agree with "American Born Chinese" and, I have to say I'd include things like "Maus" that could lend itself to collaborating with subject area teachers on a unit.
Lastly, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret", by Brian Selznick, a picture novel, is my newest must have. What a fantastic breakthrough!

[bmayer]

Fantastic! I had no idea "Coraline" is coming out in graphic format. I love that book, delightfully creepy without being over the top. I do a read-aloud with it during the halloween holiday at my school. Have you read the graphic version of "The Thief of Always" by Clive Barker. An excellent MS graphic novel for those reluctant readers and those who love a good spooky story.

[bj neary]

In our library we place the manga and graphic novels together on the same shelf, but they are different. I really you must have Persepolis 1&2. We also have classics in graphic novel form like Poe.

[Michelle]

It is my understanding that Manga are Japanese graphic novels, and, as discussed above, there are distinct artistic and literary differences between the American graphic novel and its Japanese counterpart, many of them cultural. There is a great FAQ published by Horn Books.

Graphic Novels 101: FAQ
From the March/April 2006 issue of The Horn Book Magazine
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/articles/2006/mar06_brenner.asp

[Jennifer Cain]

May I suggest The Arrival by Shaun Tan. An Australian author who has just been awarded Picture Book of the Year by the Children's Book Council of Australia. Exquisite artwork following the paths of migrants in a foreign land. It has provided much stimulus and discussion and inspiration for drama performance for our Year 12 students.

[Maria Oliver]

At my school, Naruto and Fruits Basket are definitely the favorites! However, while searching for instructional material for out 8th grade Georgia History class, I came across a set of graphic novels that were focused on the different battles of the Civil War, as well as some really neat biographies. They are published by Rosen Publishing Company. I asked several of our students which they would rather read, the graphic novels or the actual non-fiction book, and every student responded that they would much rather read the graphic novel.