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IST 605: Graphic Novels

A LibGuide designed to expose more people to different types of graphic novels, and scholarly resources related to the topic of graphic novels.

Challenges and Reading Censorship

Did you know that the most challenged book of 2022 was in fact, a graphic novel?

Book challenges have been on the rise as of late, and pose a great risk to our personal freedom. Below you will find some information regarding book challenges, as well as recommendations of graphic novels that have been banned or challenged frequently.

Information on Book Challenges

American Library Association. (2022, September 7). Library bill of rights. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues.
                    https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

The American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights is an important piece in maintaining intellectual freedom in our institutions. According to the Bill itself, "The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services." These different tenets are important to consider as you add banned books to your collection.  This is a great source to reference if you are dealing with challenges to books in your own classroom or library, and has many different helpful resources to utilize to educate yourself and others on the topic of intellectual freedom.


American Library Association. (2023, April 25). Censorship by the numbers. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues.
                     https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/by-the-numbers

The above data is assembled by the American Library Association, based off of the reports made by librarians from varying institutions about the book challenges they have personally received. Last year, in 2022, there were a record of book challenges noted, and the numbers are currently the highest they've been in 20 years. The site above gives a very clear snapshot of where challenges are frequently occurring, who frequently initiates these challenges, and steps we can take to prevent and assist institutions that are affected by these challenges. 

The Right to Read: Suggested Graphic Novels

Kobabe, M. (2019). Gender queer: A memoir. Simon & Schuster.
 

  • 2020 ALA Alex Award Winner
  • 2020 Stonewall — Israel Fishman Non-fiction Award Honor Book
     

Kobabe's (who uses e/em/eir pronouns) first published work is not only a touching memoir, but an important text for everyone to read. It describe's Kobabe's life, and how e discovered eir happiness through living outside the gender binary. The interesting thing about this graphic novel was that Kobabe created it to explain to eir family about identifying as non-binary. This book is one of my personal favorites, and has been the source of frequent bans and challenges. It was the most banned and challenged book in 2021 and again in 2022.

 

Tamaki, J., & Tamaki, M. (2014). This one summer. First Second.
 

  • A 2015 Caldecott Honor Book
  • A 2015 Michael L. Printz Honor Book
  • An Eisner Award Winner


Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, cousins, collaborate on this beautiful and touching graphic novel. This book was the number one most challenged book in 2016, according to ALA's data. Reasons for the challenges include: profanity, LGBTQIA+ themes, drug use, and sexual themes/explicitness. Despite all the challenges, this book is extremely well written, with beautiful artwork, that doesn't shy away from real-life situations that teens may deal with as they come of age.
 

 

Telgemeier, R. (2012). Drama. Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

  • Stonewall Book Award Winner - 2013
  • Harvey Award Winner - 2013
  • declared a Notable Children's Book and a Teen Top Ten by the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC) and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

This graphic novel by Telgemeier was named the 8th most challenged book of 2019 according to the ALA's findings, and challenged frequently between the years 2012-2019, and beyond.

Drama is a very popular middle grade graphic novel depicting LGBTQIA+ themes within the setting of a school drama club.

Telegemeier has stated in multiple interviews that this book was based on her own childhood and experience growing up, yet it is challenged due to the LGBTQIA+ themes, and because it features two same-sex characters sharing a kiss.