Canadian Graphic Novels

Canadian Graphic Novels for Children and Young Adults

Brenna, 2010

***If you know of a missing title, please contact Bev at bev.brenna@usask.ca

Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography

Junior Reader: ages 8 and up
Intermediate Reader: ages 11 and up
Young Adult Reader: ages 14 and up

Berg, S. (2007). Let that bad air out: Buddy Bolden’s last parade: A Novel in Linocut. Erin, ON:The Porcupine’s Quill.

An adult wordless graphic novel that may find a readership with young adults, this series of linocuts presents a spare biography of Charles Joseph ‘Buddy’ Bolden embedded in jazz history.

Bouchard, H. & Nadeau, J. (2009). Harvey: How I became invisible. Toronto: Groundwood Books.

The first Governor General’s Literary Award winner for both text and illustration, and translated from the original French by Helen Mixter, this 2010 graphic novel illuminates poignant themes of death and grief through the first-person narrative of a young boy, Harvey, whose father dies of a heart attack and who becomes invisible in the adult world of confusion and customs. For intermediate readers.

Chantler, S. (2010). Tower of Treasure. Toronto: Kids Can Press.

Dessa Redd, a fourteen-year-old acrobat in a travelling circus, seeks a twin brother stolen in childhood while Topper, a circus juggler, attempts to rob the royal treasury. Joining with Fisk, the circus strongman, Topper and Dessa begin a journey from one end of the world to the other, unresolved in this title. Book One of the Three Thieves’ series. For ages 9 and up.

Chudolinska, M. (2009). Back & forth: A novel in 90 linocuts. Erin, ON: The Porcupine’s Quill.

An adult wordless graphic novel that crossovers to young adult fiction, Back & Forth is the coming-of-age tale of a young urban woman, set in the intriguing combination of landmarks from Toronto and Vancouver. This choice in setting encourages a feeling of disjointedness in the character’s outlook, living a life compromised by distance and exploring her own sexuality.

Fairfield, L. (2009). Tyranny. Toronto, ON: Tundra Books.

This young adult graphic novel follows Anna’s chronological journey as she succumbs to her personal demon, an eating disorder aptly named Tyranny, and then eventually triumphs. The author cites a long term personal struggle with eating disorders as her inspiration for writing this book.

Fleury, N., Pelletier, G., Pelletier, J., Welsh, J., Welsh, N., De Peel, J., & Saganace, C. (2008). Stories of our people: A Métis graphic novel anthology. Saskatoon, SK: The Gabriel Dumont Institute.

This collection for ages 11 and up offers rich narratives that shift the Métis oral tradition into other media. Following each of the five illustrated stories, the storytellers’ original transcripts are available for further reading.

Katin, M. (2006). We are on our own: A memoir. Montreal, PQ: Drawn & Quarterly.

Katin’s poignant story began in 1944 when the Jewish population of Hungary began to feel strongly the Nazi occupation. This gripping memoir involves Katin as both a child and an adult, with black and white pencil drawings and colour cleverly distinguishing between ‘worlds’. For young adults and adults due to its mature content.

Labatt, M. & Rioux, J. (2010). Mummy Mayhem: A Sam & Friends Mystery. Toronto: Kids Can Press.

Book Three in a series starring a detective dog named Sam and friends Jennie and Beth, both ten-years-old. This time a combination of facts about Ancient Egypt and mysterious dog treats adds up to a fun read for ages 6 to 9.

O’Donnell, L. (2010). Food fight: A graphic guide adventure (M. Deas, Illustrator). Victoria, BC: Orca Books.

While Nadia is spending summer vacation as a counsellor at a university camp for little kids and her brother Devin is an unwilling camp participant, their mother’s agricultural research project is vandalized and her integrity is questioned. An adventure story for ages 8 to 13.

O’Donnell, L. (2009). Media meltdown: A graphic guide adventure (M. Deas, Illustrator). Victoria, BC: Orca Books.

When a greedy developer tries to force the sale of a local farm, Pema, Bounce, and Jagroop take the story to a local TV station only to discover that the station has ties to funding from the developer. An adventure story for ages 8 to 13.

O’Donnell, L. (2009). Soccer sabotage: A graphic guide adventure (M. Deas, Illustrator). Victoria, BC: Orca Books.

Nadia and Nate, highly invested in league soccer, take a run at the championship only to discover suspicious accidents and mounting threats designed to take down the team. An adventure story for ages 8 to 13.

O’Donnell, L. (2008). Ramp rats: A graphic guide adventure (M. Deas, Illustrator). Victoria, BC: Orca Books.

Bounce and his friends avoid skate park goons and outlaw bikers to establish their place on the course and perfect their skills. An adventure story with authentic skateboarding scenes for ages 8 to 13.

O’Donnell, L. (2007). Wild ride: A graphic guide adventure(M. Deas, Illustrator). Victoria, BC: Orca Books.

When their plane crashes in remote British Columbia, Devin, Nadia and Marcus must find a way to survive. An adventure story for ages 8 to 13.

Speers, M. (2010). Wanderlust. Erin, ON: The Porcupine’s Quill.

An adult wordless graphic novel told in wood engravings that crossovers to young adult fare, this story follows a girl immersed in punk culture living the life of a small-town outsider. Images of the ‘youthful wanderer’ reflect other texts in other times, and the resulting rhythms are startling and evocative.

Torres, J. (2002). Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures (J. Bone, illustrator). Toronto, ON: Tundra Books.

The spare language carries the mystery at a rapid pace but leaves room for word plays which add a whimsical quality. At times, the illustrations move the storyline forward without words, a sensation that links the work of Torres and Bone to films in terms of its effect. Rather glib in the portrayal of stereotypical villains and heroes, but this is perhaps a result of the genre of the books rather than their graphic form. For ages 8 – 13.

Torres, J. (2002). Alison Dare: The Heart of the maiden(J. Bone, illustrator). Toronto, ON: Tundra Books.

Another Torres and Bone mystery.

Watts, I. R. (2008). Goodbye Marianne: The graphic novel (K. E. Shoemaker, Illustrator). Toronto, ON: Tundra Books.

A visual translation of Watts’ 1998 holocaust novel, this graphic version carries a strong message made even more powerful in its illustrated form. For ages 11 and up.

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