Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can seem like a simple personality quirk to those who don’t live with it, but New Yorker and MAD Magazine cartoonist Katzenstein’s graphic memoir introduces readers to the complexity of growing up and living with OCD.
Spooked!
Fake news might be a trending topic today, but in 1938 (when radio was a major source for news), a Sunday night drama started a national panic. This look at “The War of the Worlds” is perfect for families, it’s exciting, has just enough background & lots to talk about.
The Cat I Never Named
Amra’s true story of survival during the Bosnian Genocide is one ultimately fueled by hope and love—of family, friends and, indeed, one incredible cat. Haunting and unforgettable.
Fat Ham
When Juicy – young, black, queer, sensitive, and emotionally aware – runs into the vengeful ghost of his dead father at a family barbecue, he is determined not to let his version of Hamlet play out as written by Shakespeare.
Woman, Eating
Lydia is 23 years old and dealing with her mother, her job, her crush, her multi-racial identity. She’s also a vampire who has run out of pig blood and is very hungry. This book is a unique take on struggling to find a place in the world despite the obstacles women face.
The Emperor and the Endless Palace
Three spirits are doomed to repeat their story of love and betrayal through the centuries. Chapters alternate between Han dynasty court intrigue, a Qing dynasty innkeeper, and modern day circuit parties as Huang mixes mythology, history, and tragic love in this sweeping tale.
Rabbit Chase
A non-binary Anishinaabe middle schooler wanders off on a field trip and has an Alice in Wonderland adventure. They spend time with spirits trying to stop development of their land while also dealing with being bullied for being non-binary. Wonderful illustrations.
The Choice
In this moving memoir, Eger details her long journey to physically and emotionally heal after surviving Auschwitz, fleeing communism, and immigrating to the US. Eger uses her life and psychological training to offer advice and hope on living with trauma.
Our Wives Under the Sea
Miri tries to make sense of what happened to her wife, Leah, when she was missing for six months on what should have been a 3-week submarine expedition. Meanwhile, Leah reveals to us what happened to her and her crew under the sea.
Kafka
A feverish and surreal manga interpretation of Kafka’s work, this slim and slightly claustrophobic book is both a dizzying visual translation and a translation (into English from Japanese) or a translation (of the original German into Japanese.)