Picking courses for the summer semester had me thinking: it’s summer—I want to take something fun! As I scoured the course catalog with this in mind, the course Comic Books and Graphic Novels jumped out at me. I’d read a couple graphic novels before, but I embraced this course as an opportunity to expand my horizons while taking an enjoyable summer course in the process. Try going beyond superheroes in comics with these great graphic novels:
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. This 2006 graphic memoir about the author’s relationship with her father has gained widespread acclaim for its art style, moving storyline, and literary focus. You may also be familiar with the musical adaptation, which won five 2015 Tony Awards, including the award for Best Musical.
Spinning by Tillie Walden. This coming-of-age memoir about figure skating is even more remarkable when you consider that it was published when the author was only 21 years old!
Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge. This YA graphic novel doubles as its protagonist’s sketchbook, seeking to encourage its young readers to challenge themselves creatively through a series of visual metaphors.
These are just a few of the graphic novels that stood out to me, and I’m looking forward to discovering more!
