Research Guides
Recommended Reads for Equity: Graphic Novels
Graphic Novels A - L
Almost American Girl
Recommended by: Anonymous, Student UW Seattle, iSchool
- E-BOOK AVAILABLE UW Libraries has a separate listing of this book as an e-book. Click the link to see if the book is currently available online.
Recommended by: Melissa, Staff UW Bothell, Library
"Thi Bui painstakingly interviewed members of her family, and researched their past, so that she could tell their stories spanning three generations (or more) in Vietnam, their experience as refugees, and citizens in America."
Recommended by: Anonymous, Student UW Seattle, Public Health-Global Health
" The book gives important insight to the real lived experiences of one's family who had to flee South Vietnam after the Vietnam war. The author being able to learn about her family history helped her to understand herself and her parents more, and have grounded her in her new journey as a mother."
Recommended by: Aydin Kwan, Student UW Seattle, iSchool
"Bingo Love is a romance comic about two black girls who fall in love in the 60s, are separated, and reunite half a century later. As elderly black women, the protagonists represent populations that are largely missing from LGBTQ romance. The story also takes great advantage of its visual medium by depicting body diversity and a range of skintones among its black characters."
Recommended by: Aydin Kwan, Student UW Seattle, iSchool
"This intersectional feminist sci-fi satire depicts a near future dystopia in which women are incarcerated for "non-compliance," i.e., being too big, too old, too brown, too queer, too loud, and so on. It shines a light on aggressions experienced by specific populations of women, such as Black women and Asian-American women, as well as by women as a whole in a patriarchal society."
Gumballs
Recommended by: Anonymous, Staff UW Seattle, Libraries
" Some of the best autobiographies lately have been graphic novels and this one is one of the best I've read in a long time. The combination of the drawings and text seem to allow for a better understanding of the life of the creator than text or drawings alone. The many of problems, joys, and daily minutia of that are shared in Gumballs though specific to the author will sound familiar to anyone working their way though their 20s & will leave you feeling like you know Erin and can better understand the ways in which gender transitioning changes and doesn't change his life."
Recommended by: Melissa, Staff UW Bothell, Library
"This Manga explores the issues deaf & hearing impaired people face in Japan. The story is told through an individual perspective - one of the main characters is hearing impaired, and a big-picture perspective - his boyfriend (spoilers!) begins working for a company that provides support services to deaf people, but not to hearing impaired people. He tries to change this!"
Kim and Kim - This Glamorous, High-Flying Rock Star Life by ISBN: 9781628751604Publication Date: 2017-01-03
Recommended by: Melissa, Staff UW Bothell, Library
"Kim is a cheerful, chaotic, impulsive, tough, trans, and imaginative bounty hunter. Her partner Kim, a queer, POC, who's a little more level headed & practical (but just barely), and does some necromancy on the side. They're lives are a bit of a mess - but not because of their identities. Being a bounty hunter is hard!"
- E-BOOK AVAILABLE UW Libraries has a separate listing of this book as an e-book. Click the link to see if the book is currently available online.
Recommended by: Jose D Sanchez Frugone, Student UW Seattle, Bioengineering
"Fresh perspective on pre-war african american slave history, uses science fiction to insert a contemporary into the midst of a history-drenched era. The contrast of a modern individual having to suffer history that seems ancient and closed helps cast a deeply personal, relatable light to a story that is many times told in a divisive manner."
Graphic Novels M - Z
Recommended by: Carolyn Martin, Staff UW Seattle, Health Sciences Library
"This is a memoir of the author's, Ellen Forney, experience of bipolar disorder. It gives the reader some insight to what a person with bipolar experiences during episodes of mania and depression. Along with that, the author also includes aspects such as finding the right combination of medications and therapy, the effect on her personal and work life, and the financial burden associated with taking care of herself. Forney's book not only brings awareness but also acts as a health literacy tool in her education of bipolar disorder to the general reader as well as to the health professional.
Forney is a local artist who also served as guest curator for the National Library of Medicine traveling exhibit, "Graphic Medicine: Ill Conceived, Well-Drawn" which the Health Sciences Library will be hosting starting November 5. Marbles has also been chosen as the Health Sciences Common Book for 2018-2019."
Forney is a local artist who also served as guest curator for the National Library of Medicine traveling exhibit, "Graphic Medicine: Ill Conceived, Well-Drawn" which the Health Sciences Library will be hosting starting November 5. Marbles has also been chosen as the Health Sciences Common Book for 2018-2019."
My Brother's Husband
Recommended by: Le A. Button, Staff UW Seattle, Tateuchi East Asia Library
" This graphic novel explores issues of race, family, and sexuality in modern day Japan. Japanese single father Yaichi must welcome Canadian Mike Flanagan - the husband of Yaichi's recently deceased brother - into his home. Unsure of how to deal with this unexpected addition to his family, Yaichi must confront the prejudices and cultural attitudes that drove a wedge between his brother and himself. I'd recommend My Brother's Husband because it explores issues of cultural difference in a way that is engaging and informative to a wide range of readers. Its story is straightforward, but it manages to avoid simplifying the complex issues that are at its core. Queer identity and homophobia are discussed in plain terms, but with enough depth and nuance that readers more familiar with these topics won't feel talked down to. And although it deals with heavy subject matter, the tone is upbeat and optimistic, focusing primarily on how conversations leading to understanding and acceptance can be started and maintained."
Recommended by: Melissa, Staff UW Bothell, Library
"It's a graphic novel set in late 19th century Paris, about a cross-dressing prince & a career-focused woman. Even though both main characters face obstacles, and that time period would have been friendly to neither of them, they are both able to create the life they want for themselves. It's a positive & hopefully message to anyone who identifies with either character."
Recommended by: Melissa, Staff UW Bothell, Library
"This story puts Sherlock Holmes & John Watson in Harlem in the 21st century, as black men. Almost all of the characters are black, except inspector Lestrade who is portrayed as a woman. It seems to end just as it's getting started, which is unfortunate, but it nonetheless creates a new & newly compelling version of this story."
Recommended by: Melissa, Staff UW Bothell, Library
"This book takes a broad look at many physical, social, and psychological issues women are judged for - and then gives them words of support. Uplifting, inclusive, accessible and positive. I often buy extras of this book, and give them to women in my life."
Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey
- E-BOOK AVAILABLE UW Libraries has a separate listing of this book as an e-book. Click the link to see if the book is currently available online.
Recommended by: Ann Birnbaum, UW Alumni
" Brilliant graphic memoir about an artist who family chose to flee from Cuba in the 1980 Mariel boatlift."
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