Good Reads & Views

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
Nonfiction 

What it’s about: George Takei and his family were taken to an internment camp during World War II. Although young George looked at the trip to the camp as an adventure, he also saw in hindsight how stressful the situation was for his parents. He discusses how they coped during the war and afterwards, how they struggled as a result of losing their home, their dry-cleaning business, and nearly their citizenship.

Why you should read it: This is an eye-opening look at the experience of an American family and the racism they endured because of other people’s fears after Pearl Harbor. It’s also a poignant study of the love the Takei parents had for their children, making the best they could out of a dreadful situation.

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

Lighter Than My Shadow by Katie Green
YA Nonfiction

What is it: This is a story of recovery. Katie Green grew up in a typical family with typical friends. However, the people in her life always seemed to make a big deal about how much she did or did not eat. Her friends would stress and worry about their bodies, pinching at their extra skin, and complaining about boys. Saying things like, “I wish I could be anorexic… to be able to just not eat, if I wanted to” or “I’d do anything to be skinny like Katie” (68). Katie was naturally thin but being surrounded by toxic self-talk and being scrutinized about her body at every turn led her down the road to an eating disorder. At first, she skipped meals, became obsessed with counting her calories, and counting her ribs. Eventually she stopped eating altogether and landed herself in a hospital bed. The remainder of the graphic novel depicts her various routes of treatment and her struggles with recovery and relapse.

Why it’s significant: According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, hospitalizations for eating disorders in children under the age of 12 has increased by 119% between 1999 and 2006. It’s so important for young people to be made aware of these diseases and their lifelong implications. The way Katie Green illustrates the fog of her eating disorder, always looming over her every decision and every mouthful, is a powerful image. Its accuracy is spot-on. The feelings she depicts are spot-on. And I think anyone who has ever felt unsure about their body should pick up this title.

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page  

Goblin Girl by Moa Romanova 
Nonfiction

What it’s about: While a lot of us would probably find it embarrassing to recount a bad date, even to a close friend, Moa Romanova has turned her experience of a painfully awful Tinder-match-gone-wrong into an autobiographical graphic novel. To say that Moa’s having a rough time would be an understatement. Her depression and constant panic attacks make work and socializing nearly impossible. Her friends and her therapist don’t seem to understand; meanwhile, she’s getting rejected from art schools. Then, she meets a famous older man online (in the book, he’s drawn with a paper bag over his head and called “Known TV-Guy, 53). When the man offers to be Moa’s patron and support her art career, she feels like she has no option but to accept. Goblin Girl, through a highly-stylized and cartoony art style, goes on to recount how this relationship spirals out of control in surprising, disturbing, and manipulative ways.

Why you should read it: Romanova’s work is an intensely raw and highly relatable exploration of the pressure young women artists feel to give in to older male mentors’ advances, especially when financial and promotional support is on the line. Goblin Girl is also an incredibly accurate depiction of what it’s like to live with panic disorder.

Author Alert: Swedish graphic novelist Moa Romanova is certainly a writer to watch in the comic book scene. Born in 1992, Romanova studied at both the Gothenburg School of Fine Arts and the Malmö Comic Art School. Goblin Girl, her first graphic novel, has already been translated into seven languages.

Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama
YA Fiction

What it’s about: Coco dreams of using magic, and by drawing a picture out of a mysterious forbidden book, she accidentally unleashes a spell that hurts her mother. She is taken under the wing of Qifrey, the leader of the Witch Hat Atelier, who hopes to protect her from a masked witch with unknown intentions.

Why you should read it: This is one of the most lusciously illustrated manga series I have ever seen, and Shirahama has created a gorgeous fantasy kingdom with an unusual magic system. Coco and the three other apprentices, each of whom has their own strengths, must use their talents to solve problems, save each other, and (sometimes) work together.

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash
YA Nonfiction

What is it: A graphic novel memoir about Maggie Thrash and her coming of age while at an all-girl summer camp. During this one poignant summer, she comes to terms with her sexuality, confesses feelings for another female, shoots her distinguished expert at the rifle range, and performs in drag as Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys.

Who it’s for: The references to boy band rivalries are amusing if you grew up in the late ‘90s, early 2000s. The summer camp activities and topics of conversation are spot on and will bring back memories for former campers. Thrash also just tells a beautiful story. It’s sad, and you’re left with a great sense of longing… but doesn’t every first love story end that way? 

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page  

The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television by Koren Shadmi
Nonfiction

What it’s about: In this graphic novel, Rod Serling discusses his life as a writer: first struggling to be heard, then pushing the boundaries of what television could be while fighting censorship from the networks and sponsors. He finally achieved his goal as the creator of The Twilight Zone, which addressed issues of the day behind the veneer of science fiction and fantasy.

Why you should read it: Serling cleverly changed how television could talk about issues and created a classic series that is still referenced and relevant. Although the book has a somewhat talky style at times, I found it compelling and finished it in one sitting.

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

Goliath by Tom Gauld
Nonfiction

What it is: A retelling of the classic David and Goliath story, with a twist. In this graphic novel, Goliath keeps a low profile as the Philistines bookkeeper, doing mainly paper pushing for the king, and has no interest in fighting. He gets forced into provoking the enemy camp across the valley simply because of his size. After 40 days, he meets David.

Why you might like it: Most people know how Goliath is portrayed in the bible, but if you’re looking for a new perspective that will make you feel and care for the Giant, this is for you.

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page  

I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Gharib
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Malaka Gharib spent most of her childhood with her Filipina mother’s side of the family and summers with her Egyptian father. She shares what it’s like to be not quite part of either of those cultures or any of the groups at her California high school.

Why you should read it: This graphic novel reminded me of immigrant experiences shared in Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and Firoozeh Dumas’ Funny in Farsi. I loved the author’s humor and her insights into growing up Catholic and Muslim, Filipina and Egyptian, American and as the daughter of immigrants. The page about her Southern-Baptist-Muslim-Filipina-Egyptian wedding was my favorite!

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
YA Nonfiction

What it’s about: Eric “Biddy” Bittle begins his college hockey career at Samwell University. Problem is, he’s a former figure skater who has never had to deal with being checked before, and it’s causing him major anxiety. Thankfully, his attractive team captain, Jack Zimmerman (son of hockey great Bob Zimmerman) is helping him cope. And Eric bakes pies as a form of therapy. A LOT of pies.

Why you should read it: This is a breezy look at the world of college hockey. Eric keeps a vlog where he talks about his teammates, and although there is a bit of drama, it didn’t take the turns I expected and stayed fresh and funny throughout.

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero
YA Nonfiction

What it’s about: Haunting. Universal. Mystical. Stark. Cryptic. Monumental. Intimate. Graciela Iturbide’s photographs capture many sides of Mexican life. This graphic novel examines her professional life through the stories around some of her iconic photographs. Some of the startling images include a girl dressed in a white First Communion dress and a skull mask, a self-portrait of Iturbide holding dead birds up to her eyes, a woman wearing iguanas on her head like a gorgon, and shots from Freida Kahlo’s newly reopened bathroom (50 years after her death) showing the harnesses and other equipment she used to deal with her pain.

Why you should read it: The graphic novel gives Iturbide’s reminiscences as well as commentary about her works, accompanied by the photographs as well as drawn interpretations of her work. I did not know Iturbide’s work before, but this book inspired me to seek out her website and find out more.

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page