Graphic Novels

TRONDHEIM, Lewis & Olivier Appollodorus. Bourbon Island, 1730. illus. by Lewis Trondheim. First Second. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-258-1.
In this fine and complex pirate story, the political and natural history of Réunion Island's settlement by former slaves is told through fablelike images and historically researched detail.

BARRY, Lynda. What It Is. Drawn & Quarterly. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-1-897299-35-7.
Barry depicts the struggles she faced on the path to becoming an artist and writer, presenting challenging questions to ponder and allowing readers to believe in the possibility of seeing themselves as artists and thinkers.

HELFER, Andrew. Ronald Reagan, A Graphic Biography. Hill and Wang. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8090-9507-0.
The facts of Reagan's life and times offer insight as well as wit, making this a welcome choice for both researchers and casual readers.

HIRAMOTO, Akira. Me and the Devil Blues, 1: The Unreal Life of Robert Johnson. Del Rey. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-0-345-49926-4.
Successfully stretching manga beyond what most American teens know, the father of the modern blues guitar stars in a fantastically haunting tale of music, self-discovery, and redemption.

JOHNSON, Mat. Incognegro. Vertigo. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-1097-7.
This cinematic portrayal of the deep South during the early years of the 20th century gives teens a front-row seat on racist politics, mob mentality, and an individual's efforts to live a satisfying life in spite of cultural forces and personal choices.

MATHIEU, Marc-Antoine. The Museum Vaults: Excerpts from the Journal of an Expert. NBM ComicsLit and the Louvre Museum. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-56163-514-6.
Set inside the usually nonpublic rooms of the Louvre, and combining mystery with art history, this story has visual puns as well as real insight on art-preservation efforts, resulting in an inspiring and inspired tale.

WILSON, Willow G. Cairo. Vertigo. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-1140-0.
Contemporary magic realism involving ethnic identity for an American of Middle Eastern descent and fast-paced action are beautifully combined in a compelling tale that spans cultures and eras, while offering consistently finely detailed art.

ZINN, Howard & Paul Buhle. A People's History of American Empire. Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt. Tr $30. ISBN 978-0-8050-7779-7.
This study of empire-building by established politicians and big businesses, from the Massacre at Wounded Knee through the current Iraqi War, serves both as historical interpretation and you-are-there observation during many eras and in many areas of U.S. intervention, showing teens the role of narrator and personal bias in creating any historical record.