Here we have newer titles, some brand new; some just not old enough to be "classics" but should get some love.
Again, I can't possibly include every good title known to exist, so it's a selection.
Here is the link if you want to listen to the podcast: Alchemy of Genres
Steampunk meets Kaiju in this original and amazingly complex story. Maika is the main character who is suffering from the trauma of war, learning to control a monster that lives within her and is caught within a struggle for control by various factions and gods.
Heathen is a trilogy centered in the Viking mythos, but with a twist. Aydis is a warrior and is good at it; the problem? Aydis is a girl....and not only that but a girl who likes girls. When her tribe catches her kissing a girl, she is exiled (her father tells them he has killed her). She decides to pursue a hopeless quest in an effort to prove her worth, and actually ends up succeeding in freeing Brynhild (a Valkyrie) from Odin's trap....and then finds that the trap has more layers. Aydis and Brynhild then head off to try and fix things and confront Odin, possibly saving the world along the way.
Telgemeier is an award winning author of graphic novels, all aimed at teens & children. Sisters & Smile are two of her semi-autobiographical novels of her middle school and high school years. We actually have copies of her works in both the Tween section as well as the regular graphic novel collection as her books can be read & appreciated by many ages.
Sisters focuses on the tempestuous relationship of Raina and her younger sister over many years but focused especially on a trip they take over the summer around 8th grade.
Smile is a humorous but truthful look at battles with orthodontists and dentists from 6th grade until 12th, and not just the normal ones as she had some other added issues with her teeth. Raina focuses not just on the needed dental work but on the worries of fitting in, looking ok and pressures to conform present in school environments....which makes it sound like a dry book, but it really isn't. You will appreciate, and remember (or anticipate) your school years through her humorous images and writing.
Drama (not pictured here but discussed on the podcast) is entirely fictional but is focused on a middle school girl who loves drama club, and also the DRAMA of being in middle school.
I have spoken endlessly about Lumberjanes, and probably will continue to rave about this series as it is awesome (and given all the awards it has won, I'm not the only one loving it). The first book "Beware the Kitten Holy" introduces you to the girls who share a cabin (and are best friends) at the Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types; Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley They are a variety of ages, ethnicities and sexual identities (those who have thought about it anyway); and they end up investigating a suspicious thing, that draws them into the secret paranormal & magical activities of the camp. The girls are VERY good at kicking butt and working together to fix things, but the group dynamics feel real, as the author throughout the series, shows conflicts and resolutions (both magical and regular) that pop up and how they are handled. This is a summer camp I can only wish I could be a part of. This is another book that is in both collections for Tweens and our general collection as it can be enjoyed on many levels.
If you haven't read Mech Cadet Yu, you really need to. It has all the things you enjoy, a good story, giant sentient robots, government conspiracies, alien threats and good old teen/school pressures to conform.
The basic idea is that these robots came out of nowhere and bonded with people to fight an alien menace. Now, the people know they will get so many new robots each year to train, so the Sky Corps Academy is formed; working with excellent candidates that the government is sure will be perfect fits (and indeed not making any provisions for the robots to choose on their own). Stanford Yu is working at the academy with his mother, a maintenance worker and dreams as many do of being selected, but they can't afford the school; so he just watches on the sidelines as he cleans up after the students. Then, (you guessed it); when the robots come, they pick him....leaving one of the candidates without a robot....and it's the daughter of a very important general.....THEN the VIP says "don't worry, we have a robot we built, my daughter can use that one, I'm sure it's better than these random robots because WE built it and control it". Much of the story actually focuses on group dynamics vs individuals striving for glory (which is a struggle); as well as the paranoia of governments about elements they can't control and how they will do anything to regain it. This is a really good series, with lots of action and GIANT ROBOTS!!!!
This beautiful series is only 3 so far, and they ended it in a way that could be a true ending or just the ending of this portion of the story....I know I am hoping they make more. Sarah Vaughn has written an original story and the artwork by Alissa Sallah is truly gorgeous. The main story is that there is a magical way to make people "sleepless" and is usually used by military people as a way to maintain constant vigilance in war or in protective duties. Cyrenic is a sleepless knight sworn to protect Lady Pyppenia (Poppy) from assassins. Problem is, no one wants to believe there is any danger. Poppy is smart and crafty, Cyrenic is devoted and worried and the story is full of tension and a few twists you won't see coming (or maybe you will, I am not usually good at anticipating twists). Written for an adult audience, but really there isn't any reason it couldn't be enjoyed by anyone (aside from some violence).
Saga is the story of a young family on the run. As you can see from the picture, they are from different races; and in point of fact, they are from warring races (so think Romeo & Juliet). They have gone into hiding from everyone just wanting to be together and raise their child; but of course everyone is chasing them because.....war.....and "they are evil" and ...yadda yadda. Brian K. Vaughan has a reputation for high quality stories and art, and he definitely is maintaining it with this series. This is meant for adults, and I would agree as it delves into all of the conspiracies and atrocities people do to each other in the name of war and genocide and hate; but it also is a hopeful story of love and finding a way to survive against insurmountable odds.
In the Wicked & the Divine; every 90 years, 12 gods incarnate as humans, but with godlike powers, and in two years they are dead and the world is irrevocably changed. In this incarnation, they are pop stars; so not only do they have godlike powers but they have INFLUENCE.....
Gillen really pokes into the snakepit of stardom, the corruption, the adoration and the power of it and then adds in an undercurrent of "what if" with the addition of godlike powers, possession and addiction to power. This is not a series that everyone will like, but it is interesting (but definitely not for kids).
As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the best new characters in the Marvel Universe. Moon Girl is a genius 10 (11?) year old who longs to be a superhero; and then becomes one when she inadvertantly links her mind to a T-Rex brought from an alternate time/dimension to destroy (but now is kind of her pet). She is trying to keep it all a secret but she is very young, making lots of mistakes; but also longing for approval and guidance from those around her. The art is amazing, the stories fun and believable and so I highly recommend it to everyone to try. Honestly. Look at that cover!
Abby, Brit, Christine & Sasha are fed up; Hazelton High never has enough tampons or pads, adults don't seem to think it's important as a "girl problem", and then there are the regular issues teen girls have in school; figuring out who they are, what they stand for and where they want to be in the future. This is a fun but important book about girls finding themselves and their power, aimed at middle and high school teens; but good to be read by anyone.
All Freddy wants is Laura Dean to stop breaking up with her, or at least to understand why it keeps happening. The letters to a "Miss Manners" explaining how things are going or asking relationship questions. This is a really great book exploring relationships, regardless of gender (yes it is featuring an LGBT relationship, but the issues are universal).
This book has been nominated for many awards and won the Amelia Bloomer award.
After an assault, Nina Kamiyama, member of Pure club (a popular Japanese girl group) quits the group and goes back to school under another name. She shuns femininity as a reaction and is determined to maintain a low profile and just get on with her life. Then Hikaru Horiuchi recognizes her, and though he seems nice, what if he isn't......and then someone starts assaulting the girls in her school.
This is an older teen manga that has an interesting story as well as a fascinating undercurrent examining the catch 22 of being a "proper girl" trying to balance on the knife edge of "too sexy" and "too boring" or worse "boy-like".....and the treatment & objectification of women in general.
This is a fun & adventurous series that has just started. Lots of mistakes, silly misunderstandings and plenty of action happen in this manufactured family consisting of a spy father, an assassin mom and a telepathic child who is the only one knowing all the secrets, but without the understanding of most of it.
Garth's journey to a land of ghosts and he is stuck in a world with an evil ruler who wants to use Garth's abilities to secure his kingdom. The art is cool, the story is fun; and while it's aimed at teens & tweens; it could be enjoyed by anyone.
Shannon Hale has mixed a fairy tale with a western tale and the result is a questing adventure that is fun and different. There are two of these, Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack and both are fun to read for anyone though aimed at younger teens/tweens.
Charlie is out & gay, Nick is a athlete and a nice guy. They meet and become friends, Nick even encourages Charlie to try out for the rugby team and tries to look out for him. Charlie is still recovering from his Freshman year, where his sexuality went public against his wishes and he experienced a year of bullying. Nick really likes Charlie, and then realizes that he is starting to REALLY like him, like he likes girls.....but he isn't gay...is he?
This is a sweet story, there are 2 of them so far. It is a realistic look at these two boys, as they meet, become friends, and maybe become more; and also an overview of school life and expectations for being a guy in high school.
This was published for teens but could be enjoyed by anyone. It has been nominated for a ton of awards, read it and find out why.
On Oct 16, 2013, 437 students, 52 teachers and 24 additional staff from Bay Point Preparatory High School in suburban Milwaukee, WI vanished without a trace. Countless light years away 513 people find themselves in an ancient wilderness and hoping for a way home.
This is an exciting, creepy and suspenseful story that really should be more well known. Give it a shot.
June visits her boyfriend Liam on Brody Island for the last weekend of summer. After an escaped group of criminals attacks them, all hell breaks loose and June soon finds that she has no idea who the good guys are and she is on her own.....just her and a weird sword that means when she decapitates someone, their head stays alive....and talking.
Joe Hill is an amazing horror author, and this book is the perfect horror novel; a bit of gore (but not too much), a bunch of supernatural stuff (just vaguely explained) and lots of twists and turns that keep the suspense levels high.
Neil Gaiman is a master. He can write a love story so sweet you feel the love, a horror story so scary, you will always be afraid of whatever it was; or turn a random event into a story with a twist you never saw coming. This is one of the last kind......two boys are going to a party, one is outgoing and confident, one is shy and nervous. They aren't really sure of the address, but hey, it's a party, how hard is it to find? So, they find a party; and things don't turn out exactly as expected. This is one of my favorite examples of Gaiman's writing.
A Study in Emerald is fan fiction done right. Gaiman takes the iconic Holmes story, shakes it up a bit, throws it into another universe where demons rule and voila! This is so good, and every time you read it, you find more items you missed the first time.
30 years after Sandman ended, Gaiman is revisiting the universe, but from the perspective of the new Dream. As an endless he never dies, but in his new entity he still has to figure everything out, and there are always those willing to take advantage of his limited capacity during a learning curve. There are only a few of these so far, but they definitely live up to the complexities and storytelling of the originals.
Easiest description ever: Kitten lost and found and adopted by a family. This is his life as he grows up.
Adorable, sweet and amusing and fun for all ages.
Ennis has written a very graphic and realistic story of a vigilante housewife living a double life as she tries to kill those who deserve it and yet be a good wife and mother. Definitely not a story for kids, but Ennis is, as always, a master.
St. Ivory Academy, an all white wizarding school admits its first black student. Is it a change for good or a trap? Tom Token begins to unravel a conspiracy going back to the Civil War.
This is an interesting story with some obvious but useful parallels that can be enjoyed by anyone.
In this story of children going missing, a stranger comes to town. Can monsters be real? Is this stranger one of the monsters or is she their only hope to survive? This is a cool horror story, with only one book thus far but I am hopeful there will be more and they will be equally good.
This is a story that is aimed at adults due to its graphic violence.
LadyCastle is an interesting fantasy story where there is a curse on a castle, and when all of the men are killed, it is up to the women to step up in a way they haven't been allowed to and save the day.
Rat Queens are maidens for hire going on crazy fantastical adventures. Rat Queens consist of: Hannah Rockabilly, Elven Mage
Violet Hipster, Dwarven Fighter
Dee, Atheist Human Cleric
Betty, Hippy Smidgen Thief
Lots of magic, low brow humor and fun for all (but definitely aimed at adults, so be warned).
This is the graphic novel version of Jason Reynolds award winning novel in verse. Putting this into a graphic novel changes the novel in verse into simply a more graphics and less words novel that will appeal to those who don't want books with a lot of words. Still a stunning and powerful book regardless of format.
Ha tells the story of going from Seoul to Alabama (which is as confusing and awkward as it sounds). Her struggles with culture shock and isolation will speak to many and while this is a fictionalized story, it is based on her own life experiences. A solid piece of realistic fiction for anyone to read.
Hatter M is a steampunk mix of Wonderland and Victorian England, and is base on character's from Beddor's novels set in the Wonderland universe, but time-wise take place before those novels begin. These focus on Hatter M and his search for Alice and his confusion of how the world works outside of Wonderland. The artwork is stunning, the stories are imaginative and exciting; what more can you ask for? The book series was written for teens, so I would suggest this to that audience as well, but able to be enjoyed by adults as well.
Wang's original story with a fairy tale feel is amazing. Frances is a nobody, but dreams of being able to make the dresses she can see in her head and having the power to do as she wants rather than having her ideas stolen and being barely able to keep herself alive with her sewing skills. Sebastian is miserable as an heir, and now he is expected to marry and move on the royal life he was born into....but what he really wants is to explore the nightlife of Paris, as Lady Crystallia. When Frances and Sebastian meet, Lady Crystallia is born and given life......and just maybe they will find their happy ever after as well. This pseudo fairy tale was written for teens, but is able to be enjoyed any all ages.
Sanchez's book is set in the DC universe, but only tangentially....so this is an original story that I fell in love with. The art and the story are just so touching and beautiful. Jake yearns to be a marine biologist, but is afraid of water (and indeed forbidden to be around it due to his father's drowning death). Kenny Liu is a cute boy that Jake just might fall for, if only he could tell his family and friends he is gay....or that he plans to move far away and pursue his dreams of being by the ocean. This sweet metahuman story is completely original and really cool, and is written for teens, but feel free to read it at any age.
Princess Jellyfish is a fun love story with several twists. I have talked about it many times, so I'll just mention it here.....you should read it.
Aiden is at boy scout camp during the summer before high school. He is really excited to be there because middle school has been rough, and he is frightened that high school will be the same or worse but at least with the boy scouts, he is safe to be himself. But it's the 90's and the world is not safe for a boy who doesn't quite fit, who faces bullies due to his ethnicity, his nerdiness, his possible queerness....and when Aiden finds that the boy scouts also have bullies and expectations of what constitutes "manly" behavior, he begins to despair and wonder if life is worth living at all.
This touching story left me crying and I still get emotional talking about it. You should read it. Bring tissues.
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