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2021 Maverick Graphic Novel List
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"The Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List (TMGNRL) is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young Adult Round Table (YART). The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6-12 to explore a variety of current books. The TMGNRL list is intended for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum."
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The Inkberg Enigma
by Jonathan King
"A graphic-novel mystery adventure for eight- to twelve-year-olds in which a girl and boy uncover the secret that has corrupted their seaside town Miro and Zia live in Aurora, a fishing town nestled in the shadow of an ancient castle. Miro lives in his books; Zia is never without her camera. The day they meet, they uncover a secret. The fishing works, the castle, the town council: all are linked to an ill-fated 1930s Antarctic expedition. But the diary of that journey has been hidden and the sea is stirring up unusual creatures. Something has a powerful hold over the town. With Zia determined to find out more, Miro finds himself putting aside his books for a real adventure." - Novelist
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Measuring Up
by Lily Lamotte
Having just moved to Seattle from Taiwan, twelve-year-old Cici enters a cooking competition to win the chance to see her grandmother again, but she only knows how to cook Taiwanese food.
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Act
by Kayla Miller
A lively follow-up to Click and Camp finds sixth grader Olive looking forward to an upcoming field trip before organizing a student-council election after discovering that school policy is preventing some of the kids from participating.
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Bear
by Ben Queen
"Bear is a service dog who would do anything for his owner and best friend Patrick who is blind. But when Bear suddenly loses his vision, he worries he's lost his purpose in life--protecting Patrick! Following the misguided advice from some raccoons, Bear embarks on a transformative journey to regain his eyesight. Out of both necessity and survival, he learns to tap into his other senses and begins to see the world from a new perspective."
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Sayonara, Football 1
by Naoshi Arakawa
"High-octane girls' soccer action mixes with the drama of high school in this cleats-out manga from the creator of Your Lie in April! game on. Midori and Sumire are soccer stars at rival middle schools, destined to collide : one's a striker, the other's a goalie. But the two girls end up in the same high school, with a lazy coach and a bizarre teammate, Nozomi, who brags that she's a soccer prodigy but can't seem to stop kicking the ball into her own goal. To become champions, Midori and Sumire will have to get over their rivalry and work some magic on the field--not to mention the challenges of growing up."
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Aggretsuko 1 : Metal to the Max
by Daniel Barnes
Aggretsuko, the hit Netflix show, stars Retsuko the Red Panda, a young office worker stuck in a thankless job, whose only stress release is singing death metal at the local karaoke joint. With the help of her friends, can she ever find the job satisfaction she craves - - not to mention adventure, the approval of her mother, and even... love?! These comics explore all these issues and more, brought to life by today's top talent!
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Quincredible 1 : Quest to Be the Best
by Rodney Barnes
Quinton West is a high school sophomore struggling to navigate the treacherous world of adolescence. Bullied and in the midst of an unrequited crush, Quin dreams of becoming a superhero. The "the event" changed everything. Suddenly, Quin is gifted with the enhanced ability of invulnerability and soon finds that being a hero is an easier dream than reality.
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Eat, And Love Yourself
by Sweeney Boo
Mindy, a young woman suffering from an eating disorder, comes across magical candy that brings her back to important moments in her past that provide clarity and help her heal.
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The Phantom Twin
by Lisa Brown
Haunted by the ghost of the stronger conjoined twin who did not survive their separation, Isabel struggles to find a place for herself in the world against a backdrop of the hardscrabble life of circus sideshow performers.
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Black Canary : Ignite
by Meg Cabot
Thirteen-year-old Dinah Lance is in a rock band with her two best friends and has a good relationship with her mom, but when a mysterious figure threatens her friends and family, she learns more about herself and her mother's secret past.
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The Weirn Books 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods
by Svetlana Chmakova
When Na'ya's little brother D'esh disappears and other weird things begin to happen, Ailis and Na'ya know they must confront the secrets lurking in the forbidden mansion in the Silent Woods
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Identity : A Story of Transitioning
by Corey Maison
What do you do when you are born as one gender, but feel yourself to be another? Gender dysmorphia affects thousands of people worldwide, but has been ignored or ridiculed in our culture. With this graphic novel, Corey Maison boldly shares her story of transitioning, so that other kids with gender dysmorphia and related conditions will no longer feel so isolated, hopeless, or lost. Corey Maison was born a girl, trapped in a boy's body. Growing up, Corey was more interested in dolls than trucks; in dresses than jeans. Everything about Corey was female . . . except her physicality. Known as gender dysphoria, this condition is devastating if not acknowledged. But society is slow to be sympathetic to the idea that a person's gender is not entirely based on physiology, but instead is fluid, and a combination of emotional and psychological self-awareness along with, or sometimes more importantly, physical characteristics. IDENTITY tells the complex and moving tale of a young person who knows that their true gender is not the one they were assigned at birth. With unconditional love and support from her mother, Corey successfully starts the transition process with hopes of being comfortable in her own skin, being accepted by others, and raising awareness of young people who wish to transition. At 16-years-old, Corey has become a voice for other trans teens, battling bullies and helping others who are on their own individual journeys of identity.
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Class Act
by Jerry Craft
Eighth grader Drew Ellis recognizes that he isn't afforded the same opportunities, no matter how hard he works, that his privileged classmates at the Riverdale Academy Day School take for granted, and to make matters worse, Drew begins to feel as if his good friend Liam might be one of those privileged kids and is finding it hard not to withdraw, even as their mutual friend Jordan tries to keep their group of friends together.
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The Boy Who Became a Dragon : A Bruce Lee Story
by Jim Di Bartolo
A graphic novel biography of the life of martial arts legend Bruce Lee describes how his childhood in Hong Kong was shaped by World War II and gang violence before kung fu enabled his achievements as a student, teacher and international star.
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Teen Titans : Beast Boy
by Kami Garcia
Seventeen-year-old Garfield Logan finally impresses the social elite at his high school, but popularity comes at a price when he undergoes sudden physical changes as the dares from his new friends escalate
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Almost American Girl : An Illustrated Memoir
by Robin Ha
Moving abruptly from Seoul to Alabama, a Korean teen struggles in a hostile blended home and a new school where she does not speak English before forging unexpected connections in a local comic drawing class.
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One Year At Ellsmere
by Faith Erin Hicks
Winning a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, Juniper endures bullying from a popular queen bee before investigating rumors about a mythical beast in the nearby forest, in an edition that incorporates revamped and full-color art.
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A Cat Story
by Ursula Murray Husted
Cilla and Betto, two stray cats, embark on an adventure to find the fabled garden of old kitten tales, where all cats are welcome and all humans are kind.
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Snapdragon
by Kat Leyh
Befriending an eccentric but savvy older woman who suggests that they help each other while raising a litter of orphaned baby opossums, a young girl discovers that the woman may possess real magic and a possible connection to her family.
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Shadow of the Batgirl
by Sarah Kuhn
Cassandra Cain is the daughter of super-villains and a living weapon trained to be the ultimate assassin, but when her father threatens the world she has grown to love, she will have to overcome that voice inside her head telling her she can never be a hero.
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The Magic Fish
by Le Nguyen Trung
"Real life isn't a fairytale. But Tiâên still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents from the books he borrows from the local library. It's hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tiâên, he doesn't even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he's going through? Is there a way to tell them he's gay?"
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Becoming RBG : Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey To Justice
by Debbie Levy
The award-winning author of I Dissent presents a portrait of the Supreme Court Justice and modern feminist icon that reveals the personal experiences that shaped her philosophy about how lasting change can be accomplished one step at a time. 10,000 first printing. Simultaneous and eBook. Illustrations.
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Marvel Rising : Heroes of the Round Table
by Nilah Magruder
In a series compilation collecting Issues 1-5, Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel recruit the Inhuman Inferno and former S.H.I.E.L.D agent Daisy Johnson to help defend against the swarming forces of Morgan Le Fay, who wants to transform their New Jersey home into a modern Camelot.
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When Stars Are Scattered
by Victoria Jamieson
A Somali refugee who spent his childhood at the Dadaab camp and the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl present the graphic-novel story of a young refugee who struggles with leaving behind his nonverbal brother when he has an opportunity to help his family by going to school.
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Manga Classics Anne of Green Gables
by L. M. Montgomery
Siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert were planning to adopt an orphaned boy to help out around their farm, Green Gables - instead, they got Anne Shirley. A plucky redheaded girl with a vibrant imagination, Anne turns first Green Gables and then the rest of Prince Edward Island on its ear.
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Primer
by Jennifer Muro
While living with her latest set of foster parents, Ashley Rayburn mistakenly applies some found body paints which give her a wide range of special powers, but soon the military discovers what happened to their secret weapon and this puts Ashley and her newfound family and friends in danger.
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Beyond the Clouds 1: The Girl Who Fell From the Sky
by Nicke
Young Theo works as a mechanic, putting his knack for machines to use in the industrialized city where he lives. But when he finds an injured, amnesiac girl with wings, his life changes forever. Her name is Mia, and although Theo's talents make quick work of repairing her injured wing, their quest to find her home will take them beyond the clouds and further than they would ever have imagined.
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The Oracle Code : A Graphic Novel
by Marieke Nijkamp
"After a gunshot leaves her paralyzed, Barbara Gordon enters the Arkham Center for Independence, where Gotham's teens undergo physical and mental rehabilitation. Now using a wheelchair, Barbara must adapt to a new normal, but she cannot shake the feelingthat something is dangerously amiss."
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White bird : A Wonder Story
by R. J Palacio
Tells the story of Julian's Grandmère's childhood as she, a Jewish girl, was hidden by a family in a Nazi-occupied French village during World War II and how the boy she once shunned became her savior and best friend.
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Truckus Maximus
by Scott Peterson
This graphic novel tells the story of modern-day gladiators who race monster trucks on reality TV. In a near-future world where the Roman Empire never fell, only two things matter: honor and the Game. "The Game" is Truckus Maximus, a competition where drivers race against one another - to the death. The best of the best is a young driver named Axl. The leader of Team Apollo, Axl drives hard and lives by a strict moral code. That code will be tested to its limits by the Caesar - the cunning ruler of the Roman Empire - and the Dominus, the absolute master of the Truckus Maximus games. The Dominus can change the rules of the game at will. Axl can't survive this race on his own. To do that, he'll have to embrace his team, including a defiant new racer named Piston. Will he learn that family is more important than honor or the Game? Or will he go down in flames?--adapted from publisher's description
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Long Way Down : The Graphic Novel
by Jason Reynolds
As Will, fifteen, sets out to avenge his brother Shawn's fatal shooting, seven ghosts who knew Shawn board the elevator and reveal truths Will needs to know.
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You Brought Me the Ocean
by Alex Sanchez
Jake Hyde yearns for the ocean and is determined to leave his hometown in New Mexico for a college on the coast, and while his family and friends encourage him to stay, he must deal with his secrets of being gay and some strange new blue markings on his skin giving him a glow when he touches water.
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Banned Book Club
by Hyun Sook Kim
College freshman Kim Hyun Sook, who seeks refuge from a totalitarian regime in the comfort of books, unexpectedly joins an underground banned book club, where the delights of discovering works of illicit literature are overshadowed by fear and violence.
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Spy x Family 1
by Tatsuya Endo
"Not one to depend on others, Twilight has his work cut out for him procuring both a wife and a child for his mission to infiltrate an elite private school. What he doesn't know is that the wife he's chosen is an assassin and the child he's adopted is a telepath."
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The Backstagers 1 : Rebels Without Applause
by James Tynion
Transfering to an all-boys school, Jory befriends the Backstagers, the school's lowly stage crew, who are determined to put together the best show the school has ever seen while dealing with the magical underground world located under the school.
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The Avant-Guards 1
by Carly Usdin
"As a transfer student to the Georgia O'Keeffe College for Arts and Subtle Dramatics, former sports star Charlie is struggling to find her classes, her dorm, and her place amongst a student body full of artists who seem to know exactly where they're going. When the school's barely-a-basketball-team unexpectedly attempts to recruit her, Charlie's adamant that she's left that life behind...until she's won over by the charming team captain, Liv, and the ragtag crew she's managed to assemble. And while Charlie may have left cut-throat competition in the dust, sinking these hoops may be exactly what she needs to see the person she truly wants to be."--Page [4] of cover
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Go With the Flow
by Lily Williams
Sick of an administration that puts football before female health, four high school friends band together to get the school to provide menstrual products to the students.
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Superman Smashes the Klan : The Graphic Novel
by Gene Luen Yang
When Dr. Lee moves his family to Metropolis, his son Tommy adjusts to the new neighborhood while daugher Roberta feels out of place, so when the evil Klan of the Fiery Cross begins a string of terrorist attacks on the city, Superman fights them, and Roberta and Superman soon learn to embrace their own unique features that set them apart
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Dragon Hoops
by Gene Luen Yang
An introverted reader starts understanding local enthusiasm about sports in his school when he gets to know some of his talented athletic peers and discovers that their stories are just as thrilling as the comics he loves.
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The Daughters of Ys
by M. T. Anderson
Drifting apart after their queen mother’s unexplained death, the sister princesses of an Atlantis-like city from Celtic legend find their bond irrevocably changed when their once-protected world becomes vulnerable to dangerous monsters.
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We Served the People : My Mother's Stories
by Emei Burell
A collection of moving stories passed from mother to daughter recounting life during China's Cultural Revolution. In China, an entire generation's most formative years took place in remote rural areas when city-kids were sent to the countryside to become rusticated youth and partake in Mao's mandated Great Leap Forward. Debut cartoonist Emei Burell breathes new life into the stories her mother shared with her of growing up during mid-1960s Communist China. In an inspiring tale, her mother recounts how she ended up as one of the few truck-driving women during the Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside movement, which sought to increase agricultural outreach and spur social and ideological change amongst youth. Burell's stunning illustrations honor her mother's courage, strength, and determination during a decade of tremendous political upheaval, where millions of lives were lost, and introduces us to a young Burell in a new era of self-discovery.
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Open Borders : The Science and Ethics of Immigration
by Bryan Douglas Caplan
"American policy-makers have long been locked in a heated battle over whether, how many, and what kind of immigrants to allow to live and work in the country. Those in favor of welcoming more immigrants often cite humanitarian reasons, while those in favor of more restrictive laws argue the need to protect native citizens. But economist Bryan Caplan adds a new, compelling perspective to the immigration debate: He argues that opening all borders could eliminate absolute poverty worldwide and usher in a booming worldwide economy--greatly benefiting humanity. With a clear and conversational tone, exhaustive research, and vibrant illustrations by Zach Weinersmith, Open Borders makes the case for unrestricted immigration easy to follow and hard to deny"--Provided by publisher
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Flamer
by Mike Curato
In the summer between middle school and high school, Aiden Navarro navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and finds himself drawn to Elias, a boy he can't stop thinking about
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In Waves
by A. J Dungo
Delves into the origins and evolution of surfing by looking back at the sport's greatest heroes, while reflecting on the author's memories of his late partner, her battle with cancer, and their shared love of surfing.
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Dancing At the Pity Party : A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir
by Tyler Feder
A debut graphic novel traces the author’s experiences with the loss of her mother, tracing the poignant journey of her mother’s diagnosis and treatment and her own experiences with sitting Shiva and making sense of life after her mother’s death.
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Omni 1 : The Doctor Is in
by Devin Grayson
Gifted doctor Cecelia Cobbina was once held in the highest regard by peers and patients alike. But that was before an incident in Africa changed her life forever. Now with the ability to process thoughts at the speed of light, she faces the unimaginable burden of literally having an answer for everything. As the truth of her origin slowly comes into focus, Cecelia must overcome her fears and tackle the one mystery she can't seem to crack: the truth behind her new abilities.
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Beastars
by Paru Itagaki
"At a high school where the students are literally divided into predators and prey, friendships maintain the fragile peace. Who among them will become a Beastar- a hero destined to lead in a society naturally rife with mistrust?"
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If I Go Missing
by Brianna Jonnie
"A powerfully illustrated graphic novel for teens about the subject of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Combining graphic fiction and non-fiction, this young adult graphic novel serves as a window into one of the unique dangers of being an Indigenous teen in Canada today. The text of the book is derived from excerpts of a letter written to the Winnipeg Chief of Police by fourteen-year-old Brianna Jonnie -- a letter that went viral and in which, Jonnie calls out the authorities for neglecting to immediately investigate and involve the public in the search for missing Indigenous people, and urges them to "not treat me as the Indigenous person I am proud to be" if she were to be reported missing. Indigenous artist Neal Shannacappo provides the artwork for the book. Through his illustrations he imagines a situation in which a young Indigenous woman does disappear, portraying the reaction of her community, her friends, the police and media. An author's note at the end of the book provides context for young readers about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada."
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Ascender 1 : The Haunted Galaxy
by Jeff Lemire
Set 10 years after the conclusion of DESCENDER's storyline, here magic has taken the place of machinery and the rules are very different indeed... Mila, the daughter of Andy and Effie from DESCENDER, spends her days exploring the lonely wilds of the planet Sampson and trying to stay out of the clutches of the evil disciples of the all powerful vampire witch known only as Mother. But like her parents, Mila doesn't like to play by the rules and when a certain robot pal of her dad's shows up, nothing will ever be the same!
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Ascender 2 : The Sea of the Dead
by Jeff Lemire
After a bruising escape attempt from the planet Sampson, Andy finds himself in the clutches of the militia, which means the murderous Mother can't be far behind. Meanwhile, his daughter Mila has booked passage on a ship piloted by none other than the irascible Captain Telsa. And while Vampires may rule this strange galaxy, they're no match for Kanto, the Blood Scrapper--the most badass vampire hunter in the universe!
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Not Your Idol. 01
by Aoi Makino
"In the wake of an assault, Nina Kamiyama, a former idol in the group Pure Club, shuns her femininity and starts dressing as a boy. At high school, she keeps to herself, but fellow student Hikaru Horiuchi realizes who she is"
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Our Dining Table
by Mita Ori
Eating around other people is a struggle for salaryman Yutaka, despite his talent for cooking. All that changes when he meets Minoru and Tane -- two brothers, many years apart in age -- who ask him to teach them how to make his delicious food! It's not long before Yutaka finds himself falling hard for the meals they share together -- and falling in love!
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Heartstopper. Volume 1
by Alice Oseman
A heartwarming celebration of friendship, first love and coming out follows the unlikely relationship between a shy teen and a popular rugby player who become more than friends while navigating the ups and downs of high school. By the author of Radio Silence.
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A Quick & Easy Guide To Consent
by Isabella Rotman
"How do you tell someone you want to do stuff with them? How do you ask if they want to do stuff with you? How do you know what stuff you want to do with each other? Enter: Sargeant Yes Means Yes from the Consent Cavalry, a beacon of clarity in a fuzzy minefield of questions. Sarge drops in on a diverse range of folks deciding whether to engage in sexual activity in this short and fun comic guide to communicating what you want, don't want, and how you want it! With wit and charm, Sarge also includes tipson what affirmative consent looks like, advocating for what you want, and setting boundaries that honor your comfort and safety. The result is a positive resource illustrating how easy it really is to respect each other's bodies and desires"
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Fangirl. 1 adapted by Sam Maggs
by Sam Maggs
When twin sisters Cath and Wren go to college, Cath fears that it may be time to give up her love of the Simon Snow series, and possibly grow apart from her sister.
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Swamp Thing : Twin Branches
by Maggie Stiefvater
"Twins Alec and Walker Holland have a reputation around town. One is quiet and the other is the life of any party, but the two are inseparable. For their last summer before college, Alec and Walker leave the city to live with their rural cousins, where they find that the swamp holds far darker depths than they could have imagined. While Walker carves their names into the new social scene, Alec recedes into a summer-school laboratory, slowly losing himself to a deep, dark experiment. This season, both brothers must confront truths, ancient and familial, and as their lives diverge, tensions increase and dormant memories claw to the surface"
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Bitter Root Volume 1 : Family Business
by David Walker
In the 1920s, the Harlem Renaissance is in full swing, and only the Sangerye Family, once known as the greatest monster hunters of all time, can save New York -- and the world -- from the supernatural forces threatening to destroy humanity. But those days are fading and the once-great family that specialized in curing the souls of those infected by racism and hate has been torn apart by tragedies and conflicting moral codes. A terrible tragedy has claimed most of the family, leaving the surviving cousins divided between by the desire to cure monsters or to kill them; they must heal the wounds of the past and move beyond their differences ... or sit back and watch a force of unimaginable evil ravage the human race.
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Adult Graphic Novels for Young Adults
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Invisible Differences : A Story of Aspergers, Adulting, and Living a Life In Full Color
by Julie Dachez
"Marguerite feels awkward, struggling every day to stay productive at work and keep up appearances with friends. She's sensitive, irritable at times. She makes her environment a fluffy, comforting cocoon, alienating her boyfriend. The everyday noise and stimuli assaults her senses, the constant chatter of her coworkers working her last nerve. Then, when one big fight with her boyfriend finds her frustrated and dejected, Marguerite finally investigates the root of her discomfort after a journey of tough conversations with her loved ones, doctors, and the internet, she discovers that she has Aspergers. Her life is profoundly changed--for the better"
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Batman, Curse of the White Knight
by Sean Gordon Murphy
A sequel to Batman: White Knight collects Curse of the White Knight Issues 1-8 and White Knight Presents Von Freeze Issue 1, in a volume that finds Barbara Gordon taking over for Batman in the wake of an ancestral mystery. Illustrations.
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Big Black : Stand at Attica
by Frank Smith
"In the summer of 1971, New York's Attica State Prison is a symbol of everything broken in America -- abused prisoners, rampant racism and a blind eye turned towards the injustices perpetrated against the powerless. But when the guards at Attica overreact to a minor incident, the prisoners decide they've had enough and revolt -- taking their jailers hostage and making demands for humane conditions."--Provided by publisher
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