It’s officially month two of my graphic novel reading challenge! Just like last month, I focused on YA graphic novels. And, just like last month, I got most of the books from my local library. However, this time I wanted to mix it up a little, so I also selected a book from the ComiXology catalog. (For the uninitiated, ComiXology is an app that allows you to download comics, graphic novels, and manga directly to your device. It has thousands of titles to choose from, so a subscription could make a great gift for the comic lover in your life.)

Speaking of mixing it up, this month I unexpectedly had to read more than five graphic novels. Yet, I’m still only sharing five titles below. Just as not every novel is going to reach the sublimity of Pride and Prejudice, it is true that not every graphic novel is, well, worthy of recommendation. Thus, I had to read until I found five books I felt confident sharing. However, this means I’m doubly sure that this month’s installments are winners!

The graphic novels I picked this month share a common theme: young women confronting challenges. The selections are a delightful mix of fiction and memoir, each focusing on a young woman navigating social, professional, or personal perils. Moreover, each features an impressively adept protagonist. These ladies can skate, code, invent, problem solve, and draw circles around their enemies. It’s important for girls to see themselves in these roles, which is why these titles topped my list for April.

Without further ado, here are my graphic novel picks for this month:

My April YA Graphic Novel Recommendations

Spinning by Tillie Walden

Spinning by Tillie Walden is an autobiographical tale of growing up in the regimented, beautiful, and punishing world of competitive figure skating. But that is just one of the plot lines in this dizzying coming of age story. In addition to scenes of early morning practice, Walden shows the bullying and homophobia she endured as a young teen. Her troubles are further complicated by feelings of abandonment from her largely absent parents. Readers will cheer Walden on as she navigates an emotional journey more complicated than a triple axel. They’ll cheer when she nails it, too.

I Moved to Los Angeles to Work in Animation by Natalie Nourigat

I Moved to Los Angeles to Work in Animation by Natalie Nourigat is one part graphic memoir and one part primer for how to break into the animation business. Nourigat humorously and honestly details her struggle to find a job, her fears about moving to Los Angeles, and her difficulty making friends in an unfamiliar place. Though only 96 pages, this succinct memoir also packs in oodles of industry-specific advice to help aspiring animators avoid mistakes and understand their career options. Just like the peers that helped her, Nourigat seeks to help her readers at every turn. She even goes outside of her own experience, including illustrated interviews from other animators to provide additional insights. And while the book may be rendered in playful pinks and serene purples, there are no rose-colored glasses here. To make it in this business, it’s all hard work and dedication. 

The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp

The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp with illustrations by Manuel Preitano is set in the DC Universe, but the protagonist is not your traditional superhero. Hacker Barbara “Babs” Gordon is the daughter of Commissioner Gordon (yes, from Batman). A tragic accident lands her in a rehabilitation center called the Arkham Center for Independence. While there, she uncovers a mystery that will take all of her hacking skills to crack, but first she needs to make peace with her new mobility.

As someone who doesn’t know much about any of the superhero franchises, I didn’t know what to expect from this book. However, I was delighted and surprised by how gripping the story was. If you’re looking for a quick, page-turning read that is DC Universe-adjacent, you can’t do better than The Oracle Code.

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

Sheets by Brenna Thummler is a story of loss, friendship, redemption, and laundry. It’s also eye candy, as it takes place in a exquisitely rendered world of jewel tones. I read Sheets on my Kindle Fire via the ComiXology app. Though I’m not normally a fan of reading books with images on screens, the backlighting of the Kindle mixed with Thummler’s vivid colors and precise illustrations made for a reading experience that can best be described as “dazzling.” When they are not admiring the illustrations, readers will enjoy the tale of an unlikely friendship between two lost souls across planes. That’s how I felt anyway, and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, Delicates.

The Blue Road: A Fable of Migration by Wayde Compton

The title The Blue Road: A Fable of Migration perfectly captures what this book is about. Written by Wayde Compton and illustrated by April dela Noche Milne, The Blue Road tells the story of Lacuna, a young woman in search of a new home. She grew up in the Great Swamp of Ink, but got kicked out by a salty Polaris. Now, she must work her way north, facing obstacles like the Thicket of Tickets and the Rainbow Bridge. Lacuna’s story mirrors the heartbreaking journey many refugees face: escaping a hostile home only to face inhospitable circumstances (and people) elsewhere. And, just like a refugee,  she must survive using her wits and creativity. Luckily, she has those in spades.

Graphic Novel Recommendation Wrap-up

It feels great to have another month of reading under my belt. I think for next month, however, I will check out a different sub-genre. Maybe I’ll go for some alliteration. What do you think? Manga May? It sounds like a win to me!

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Why Graphic Novels?