I’m here to start my third  year as a member of  Great Graphic Novels for Teens, a YALSA selection committee.  Throughout the year we seek out graphic novels that are both “great” and “great for teens,” and mold them into a selection list at the Annual and Midwinter ALA conferences.  You can take a look at our current list of nominated titles here.

And, if you discover any “great” new titles at the conference, feel free to nominate them here.

First Second, the graphic novel publisher, hosted a dinner for my committee and other graphic novel fans on Thursday.  Gene Yang, author of Printz winner American Born Chinese, was a special guest.  He told us about a new project of his titled Level Up, a graphic novel about a gamer who receives a divine calling to go to medical school.  Yang told us that he was inspired by his brother, a doctor who is also a video game fan.  When his brother decided to become a gastroenterologist, Yang wondered why anyone would want to become a “poop doctor.”  His brother, though, raved about the wonders of performing colonoscopies, which were like playing “a video game up your ass.” Dessert was served shortly after.

Hungry for more? Visit the Graphic Novel Pavilion on the Exhibits Floor.

– Lisa Goldstein