Akiko

Volumes: 4, 6, 7; complete
Written and Illustrated by: Mark Crilley
Genre: Fantasy
Softcover

Synopsis: Akiko is an ordinary 10 year old, except for the fact that she's visited a planet called Smoo. There, she meets some unforgettable friends, Spuckler, Gax, Poog and Mr. Beeba. The stories are extremely imaginative, and full of vivid imagery. Currently only volumes 4, 6, and 7 are available, however others may become available to us in the future.
Black and white.

Alison Dare

Volumes: 2; complete
Written by: J. Torres
Illustrated by: J. Bone
Genre: Adventure
Black and White
Softcover

Synopsis: Alison Dare is the 12 year-old daughter of an archaeologist/adventurer and the masked hero known as the Blue Scarab. She has a love of danger and adventure, but her parents, wanting her to be safe, enrol her at St. Joan of Arc Academy for Girls, hoping she will settle down. However, she still manages to get into all sorts of adventures. The stories have an Egyptian element, as the Blue Scarab is an Egyptian hero, and the strong female character will appeal to girls.
Also by this author: Jason and the Argobots, Legion of Superheroes in the 31st Century, Teen Titans Go!

Asterix

Volumes: 24; ongoing
Asterix Omnibus

Volumes: 2; ongoing

Written by: Renee Goscinny
Illustrated by: Uderzo
Genre: Humour, Historiography
Colour
Softcover and Hardcover

Synopsis: The year is 50 BC. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely... one small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. The village is home of Asterix, Obelix, and many other unforgettable characters. The secret is in the magic potion, made by the druid Getafix. The books each comprise a stand-alone adventure in which Asterix and Obelix generally fight the Romans, and meet other races. There is a range of humour, allowing the books to appeal to a wide audience. Also, the books serve as a good introduction to the Romans, as well as other ancient civilizations, as they are quite historically accurate. Translated from French.

Baby-Sitters Club

Volumes: 4; complete
Written and Illustrated by: Raina Telgemeier
Genre: Fiction
Black and White
Softcover

Synopsis: The Baby-Sitters Club is a group of girls who offer a babysitting service to the neighbourhood. Each girl is unique and has their own issues. For example, Stacey is diabetic, and the volume focusing on her describes what that means, and how it affects her life. The stories centre around the girls working together and forming friendships to help each other with their individual problems.

Blue Monday

Volumes: 4; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: Chynna Clugston
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-White
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Blue Monday is a manga-style tale about a group of teenagers who are determined to hold onto their sense of individuality. This is shown clearly as, in volume one, Bleu L. Finnegan, the main character, is desperate to get tickets to the Adam Ant concert, and to do so, she has to get through all sorts of trials and tribulations, including prank-playing boys, and a sexist radio DJ. A humorous tale, which focuses on relationships, and being an individual.

Bone

Volumes: 9; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: Jeff Smith
Genre: Fantasy Colour

Synopsis: After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins, Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone are separated and lost in a vast uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures, including a dragon and rat creatures. They also meet a vast array of characters, including Thorn, a girl who has a bigger role to play than she could imagine. This fantasy epic has won wide international recognition and acclaim.

One Volume: This reprints the entire series of Bone in one volume, in the original black-and-white format.

Stupid, Stupid Rat Tales: This book collects two stories set in the Bone universe, both written by Tom Sniegoski. The first story, drawn by Jeff Smith tells the story of Big Johnson Bone, in his fight against Rat Creatures before becoming opening his trading post on the Rolling Bone River. The second story, drawn by Stan Sakai tells the story of two Rat Creatures as they rather unsuccessfully attempt to capture dinner. Both stories capture the fun and adventure of the Bone series.

Breaking Up

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Aimee Freidman
Illustrated by: Christine Norrie
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover

Synopsis: Sixteen-year old Chloe is a student at Georgia O'Keeffe School for the Arts. She has three best friends, Erika, Isabel, and MacKenzie. However, although they've been best of friends for years, this year is different, as MacKenzie begins to trade popularity for friendship, Erika deals with her boyfriend pressuring her for sex, and Isabel finds it harder to communicate with the others, Chloe finds herself drawn to Adam, an unpopular boy in her art class. Chloe finds herself unable to tell her friends about Adam, worried they will judge her because she's dating an unpopular boy. Friendships fall apart and come back together in a heart-warming tale that will surely echo the feelings many teenage girls have about how to maintain a delicate balance of friends, boyfriends, and popularity.

Burnout

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Rebecca Donner
Illustrated by: Inaki Miranda
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Danni has a hard time coping with her dad leaving and an even harder time when her mom moves them in with her new, alcoholic boyfriend. Danni must turn a blind eye to what's going on at home, and distracts herself with a crush on her step-brother, Haskell. Haskell has his own way of dealing with his situation and sneaks out of the house every night to commit acts of ecoterrorism against loggers. When Danni follows him in order to find out his secret, she becomes involved in the danger and excitement. Their romance blossoms, but Danni soon realizes that their deeds aren't victimless as she risks losing her best friend and Haskell goes too far in his actions, setting the forest ablaze and disappearing. While Danni copes with everything, her mom finally stands up to her abusive boyfriend and the two leave to start a new life.
Part of the Minx line of books aimed at teenage girls.

Castle Waiting

Volumes: 1; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: Linda Medley
Genre: Fantasy
Black-and-white
Hardcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Castle Waiting is an inventive amalgamation of timeless fairy tale tropes, centred around the character of Jain and the strange place known as Castle Waiting. The story begins when pregnant Jain leaves a less-than-desirable home to find the legendary sanctuary of Castle Waiting. When she finally finds this well-hidden castle, she meets an unlikely cast of characters, including the stork steward, Rackham, the horse warrior Chess, the bearded nuns, well-meaning Simon, the gruff woodsman, and an infestation of poltersprites. This is a strongly feminist tale about acceptance, strength, and proving one's own capacity for growth and achievement. It will appeal to a variety of age groups, as a simple fairy tale full of quirky characters, and as a witty metaphor for everyday life. It is also a great way to deconstruct traditional fairy tales within the English curriculum.

Chickenhare

Volumes: 2; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by:
Genre: Humour, Fantasy
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: Chickenhare is a strange creature, part chicken, part hare, and all adventure. With his turtle friend Abe, and other pals they meet along the way, Chickenhare tries to avoid trouble, such as an insane taxidermist in volume one.

Clubbing

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Andi Watson
Illustrated by: Josh Howard
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Charlotte "Lottie" Brook has been caught trying to get into a chic London nightclub with a fake ID, and is now forced to spend the summer with her grandparents in the country. However, all is not lost for this hipster, as although she has a hard time adjusting to a life without platform heels and iPods, and finds it difficult to relate to the local teens, she does find herself embroiled in a murder mystery that results in a more exciting summer than she could have imagined.
Part of the Minx line of books aimed at teenage girls.

Confessions of a Blabbermouth

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Mike Carey and Louise Carey (his 15-year old daughter)
Illutrated by: Aaron Alexovich
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Tasha is an avid blogger. Her newest reason to blog? Her mom's new novelist boyfriend and his daughter who seems to be the complete opposite to Tasha. At first Tasha is unwilling to give this new girl a chance, but soon realizes she needs her help, and the blog that she once used as a social weapon, she now uses as a weapon for good. This is a moving and humorous story about personal growth, and understanding how and when to use one's words.
Also by this author: Re-Gifters
Also by this illustrator: Kimmie 66
Part of the Minx line of books aimed at teenage girls.

Coraline

Written by: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Fantasy

Illustrated Novel: Black-and-White, Softcover
Illustrated by: Dave McKean

Graphic Novel: Colour, Softcover
Illustrated by: P. Craig Russell

Synopsis: One of several children's books written by Neil Gaiman. This is a fantastical and sometimes dark story about a girl named Coraline, who discovers a mysterious door on a rainy day. The door leads to a creepy, alternate world that she must then try to escape. Coraline proves to be a highly resourceful girl with a great deal of courage as she fights to overcome the forces trying to trick her into abandoning her own world.
Also by this author: Stardust

Courtney Crumrin

Volumes: 4; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: Ted Naifeh
Genre: Fantasy
Black-and-White
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Courtney liked her life, and then her parents dragged her out to a high-to-do suburb to live with her creepy Great Uncle Aloysius in his spooky old house. And while her parents have slipped easily into their new social status, Courtney now has to deal with snobby classmates and the strange shadowy visitors that often come to visit her uncle. Courtney soon figures out how to deal with the strange and awkward events around her, and becomes a strong heroine.
Also by this author: Death Jr. and Polly and the Pirates.

Death Jr.

Volumes: 1 (vol.1 is currently out of print, only vol.2 available); complete
Written by: Gary Whitta
Illustrated by: Ted Naifeh
Genre: Fantasy
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: Death Jr. is not your average kid. His dad is Death, and he has a skull for a head. Luckily, he's managed to find a group of friends who are just as strange as he is. Junior and his friends can't seem to help getting themselves into trouble, and then they have to figure out how to get out of it. This is an incredibly humorous and adventurous tale of teamwork and being individuals.
Also by this illustrator: Courtney Crumrin and Polly and the Pirates.

Dramacon

Volumes: 3; complete
Written and Illustrated by: Svetlana Chmakova
Genre: Manga, Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Christie is a shy girl by any definition. She's also a budding manga writer. She attends her first anime convention with her artist and boyfriend, who instantly begins to ignore her in favour of the attentions of female fans, and to hang out with friends. Christie, too new to the anime scene to feel comfortable, finds solace in Matt, who she initially hates, but finds herself ever drawn toward. Matt's dark glasses conceal an eye disfigurement, and a lot of bitterness. As the two grow closer, Christie develops the courage to take her destiny into her own hands, standing up to her boyfriend, and approaching her favourite manga artist. However, her relationship with Matt is not so easy, as although they find a connection in volume one, they both return to the anime con the next year in volume two, Christie with a new artist, and Matt with a new girlfriend. This series will appeal to manga fans, and especially those familiar with anime conventions.

Emiko Superstar

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Mariko Tamaki
Illustrated by: Steve Rolston
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Emiko is a confused teenager, seeking to figure out how to be "cool". When she finds out about a performance art event called "The Freak Show", she imagines it to be the gateway to a new world of cool which she's only imagined. At "The FreakShow", she sees the myriad of ways one can be cool, and begins to figure out what she can perform and how she can dress in order to be accepted by this group of social misfits. When her first foray into performance poetry ends with her being booed off the stage, she finds an ally in Henry, a journalist covering the event, who shares her passion for art. One day, she happens to find the diary of her babysitting employer and, without thinking about the repercussions, uses it as her performance art at the next Freak Show. Soon, Emiko is the most popular girl around, but at the expense of her friendship with Henry and the guilt she feels in doing something she knows is wrong. She realizes that she has to find her own artistic voice before it's too late.
Part of the Minx line of books aimed at teenage girls.

Fruits Basket

Volumes: 22; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: Natsuki Takaya
Genre: Manga, Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: This highly successful series is the story of a teenage girl, named Tohru Honda, whose life gets turned upside down by the death of her mother. The rest of her family will not take her in, and with nowhere left to go she ends up living in a tent in a forested area near her school. Unbeknownst to her, the land is owned by the family of one her classmates, the Sohma clan. Finding her in ailing health and living in a tent, the Sohmas take her in without consulting their current family head, who would surely have disapproved. Tohru quickly finds out why the family is so secretive. They carry a curse. Members of the Sohma clan cannot be embraced by the opposite sex, or else they are transformed into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Although this secret has been closely guarded by the family for generations, the acceptance and grace shown by Tohru when she learns of it makes them question the way their clan has been run for generations. The story is very well-written with a good balance of romance, action and comedy. Conflict after conflict keeps the reader interested, while the loveable Tohru is easy to relate to. Fruits Basket was made into an animated series, but it only follows part of the manga series.

Fullmetal Alchemist

Volumes: 18; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: Hiromu Arakawa
Genre: Manga, Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: While trying to use alchemy to bring their mother back from the dead, the brothers Elric both lost something important. Alphonse, the younger of the two, lost his body, and Edward, his older brother, sacrificed his own arm and leg to transfer Al's soul into an oversized suit of armour. Now both are searching for a way to return themselves to normal. To do so, Edward becomes the youngest member of the alchemy division of the military. This not only increases his abilities but gives them both a means of survival and access to the military's research materials. In a world of magic based on fair trade how would you calculate the cost of your own body? Is it the sum of the elements, or is there more to it than that? The manga series does differ in several ways from the anime series.

Gargoyles

Volumes: 2; ongoing
Written by:
Illustrated by:
Genre: Fantasy
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Based on the popular Disney cartoon from the 90s, Gargoyles centres around the story of five actual Gargoyles who have not assumed living form since they were in Scotland centuries ago, now find themselves awake in New York City in the 20th century. Having befriended a police officer named Elisa, they work to protect New York City, while keeping their presence a secret.

Good as Lily

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Derek Kirk Kim
Illustrated by: Jesse Hamm
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Grace is a Korean teenager in the last semester of high school, with an acceptance letter to Stanford. At her surprise birthday party, Grace meets a strange old woman who sells her a pinata that is not only nigh-impossible to break, but is also empty of candy. Later that night, when Grace realizes she's left one of her gifts at the park, she returns, only to find herself rescuing a small child and a woman, and arguing with them and an old lady, and all of them are Grace, but at different ages. Despite getting her into some trouble, Grace's various selves help her figure out what's important to her and see things she was completely blind to before. As each self resolves the things that bother her, they disappear, leaving Grace with a greater understanding of how to live her life.
Part of the Minx line of books aimed at teenage girls.

Hardy Boys

Volumes: 18; ongoing
Written by:
Illustrated by:
Genre: Mystery
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Based on the classic novels by Franklin W. Dixon, these graphic versions update the stories for a new generation of readers. Joe and Frank Hardy solve puzzles and mysteries continue to save the day now with the help of modern technology.

Herobear and the Kid

Volumes: 1; complete
Written and Illustrated by: Mike Kunkel
Genre: Fantasy
Colour
Softcover, oversized

Synopsis: After his grandfather passes away, young Tyler inherits an old stuffed, toy bear and broken pocket watch. Much to Tyler's surprise, the toy bear comes to life, and proceeds to accompany him on many exciting adventures, as well as the simple adventures of everyday life.

Hikaru No Go

Volumes: 17; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by:
Genre: Manga, Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Hikaru is a sixth grader who finds an old Go board in his grandfather's attic. Trapped inside the board is the ghost of the ancient Go master who originally taught the game to the emperor of Japan. Hikaru and the master become one in order to compete in Go tournaments against veteran players, ever seeking the "Divine Move" that will allow the Go master to finally rest.

Inu Yasha

Volumes: 43; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: Rumiko Takahashi
Genre: Manga, Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Kagome is an ordinary teenage girl living with her family near the old Higure shrine. However, her life soon becomes something quite other than ordinary when she accidentally travels to feudal Japan and releases the half-demon half-dog Inu Yasha, equally accidentally. Kagome soon discovers she is the reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo, and the rightful owner of the Jewel of the Four Souls, which she unfortunately shatters into a thousand pieces. Now she had teamed up with Inu Yasha, a monk named Miroku, a demon hunter named Sango, and a fox-demon named Shippo to collect the fragments of the Jewel before the evil demon Naraku can get his hands on it. The series is very humorous, and highly action-packed. It does deviate from the anime series.

Invincible

Volumes: 11; ongoing
Written by: Robert Kirkman
Illustrated by: Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley
Genre: Superhero
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: Mark Grayson seems to be just like any other teenager. However, his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet. As if it wasn't hard enough to keep that secret, Mark starts developing powers of his own, and takes on the superhero persona of Invincible. Now he has to conceal his own superhero identity from his classmates, his friends, even his girlfriend. Things get even more complicated when his father suddenly reveals he is a super-villain, Mark finds himself working for the government, and a girl on his superhero team reveals feelings for him. This is a refreshing addition to the superhero genre, with real characters, with problems, that although fantastical, seem real nonetheless.

Jellaby

Volumes: 2; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: Kean Soo
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: Elementary student Portia cannot stop getting into trouble in class, mostly due to daydreaming. Then one night she meets a sad and hungry dragon-type creature named Jellaby and finds the friend she'd been looking for. Together, Portia, Jellaby, and Portia's friend Jason face adventures such as bullies and a trip to the big city. This is a wonderful tale for kids of all ages (that includes adults). Jellaby vol.1 won the 2008 Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Creator Award in the Comics for Kids category.

Jungle Book

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Rudyard Kipling and adapted by Jean-Blaise Mitildjian
Illustrated by: TieKo
Genre: Historical Fiction
Colour
Hardcover

Synopsis: Adapted from Rudyard Kipling's famous story and realistically illustrated, this is the tale of Mowgli, a young orphan taken in by a wolf pack and raised in the jungle. Although he befriends the wolves, Baloo the bear, and Bagheera the panther, he must develop cunning and strength to survive the dangers of the jungle, such as Shere Khan the tiger. When Mowgli discovers the world of man and, more particularly, the world of woman, he must learn to survive in an equally dangerous environment. At the end of the story, there is a Kipling biography, analysis of the story, historical information about British India, and excerpts from the original story.

Kimmie66

Volumes: 1; complete
Written and Illustrated by Aaron Alexovich
Genre: Science Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Telly Kade is an ordinary 23rd century teen who is never far from the internet. She even has a pair of VR goggles that lets her hang out with online vampires. One day she gets a suicide note from her best friend, Kimmie66. Now she must work to find out whether something has happened to Kimmie66 or whether someone is pulling a terrible prank.
Also by this illustrator: Confessions of a Blabbermouth
Part of the Minx line of books aimed at teenage girls.

Louis Riel
Volumes: 1; complete
Written and Illustrated by: Chester Brown
Genre: Non-Fiction, History
Black-and-white
Softcover

Synopsis: This is a graphic biography of the 19th century Metis leader Louis Riel, as he struggles to win rights for his people. The biography deals with the controversial elements of Riel's character, including his potential madness, in a relatively unbiased way. The author clearly attempts to lay out all the relevant facts in the matter leaving plenty of room for the reader to draw their own conclusion about the motives of Riel and MacDonald. This book fits in extremely well with the grade 8 history curriculum.

Love as a Foreign Language

Volumes: 2; complete
Written by: J. Torres
Illustrated by: Eric Kim
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: A manga-style book about Joel, a Canadian who is teaching English in Korea. The only problem is that he hates Korea. However, his year of teaching is almost over, and he intends to resign immediately and get back to some sense of normalcy. However, just as he's about to do so, he meets Hana, the new secretary at the school, and his dream girl. Now Joel must try to get past their cultural barrier. This is an excellent book for ESL students, as it deals strongly with ideas of culture shock, and how one can come to belong in a country not their own. It resonates particularly strongly with Korean ESL students, as it does include some Korean text (translated at the back), and includes Korean cultural elements.
Also by this author: Sidekicks: The Transfer Student

Magic Pickle:

Written and Illustrated by: Scott Morse
Genre: Superhero
Softcover, digest-sized
Graphic Novel - Volumes: 1; complete; colour
Illustrated Novel - Volumes: 2; complete; black-and-white

Synopsis: Everything was quite normal in the life of Jo Jo Wigman, until she discovered a secret government lab under the floor of her bedroom, and its mysterious inhabitant, the Magic Pickle. His job is to rid the planet of the Brotherhood of Evil Produce who are bent on world domination. What began as a parody of the X-Men has developed into an endearing and humorous series of books perfect for kids of any age.

Magic Trixie

Written and Illustrated by: Jill Thompson
Genre: Fantasy
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Magic Trixie is a young witch with a black cat named Scratches. Her mother runs a catering business and Magic Trixie sometimes helps with broomstick deliveries. She has a variety of weird friends, like the Twins, who are vampires, Loupie Garou, a werewolf, Nefi, a mummy, and Stitch Patch, a patchwork boy. Trixie is a smart and funny young girl who learns valuable lessons in each volume about friendship and family. The stories are fast-paced, charming, and vividly illustrated.

Marvel Illustrated
Titles: The Iliad, Last of the Mohicans, Man in the Iron Mask, Moby Dick, Picture of Dorian Gray, Three Musketeers, Treasure Island

Written and Illutrated by: various
Genre: various
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: These graphic adaptations of literary classics are highly accurate to the original stories and enhanced by realistic art. They are perfect for ESL students or reluctant readers, as the art draws the reader in and the stories focus on the more action-oriented episodes of each tale.

Max Finder Collected Casebook

Volumes: 3; ongoing
Written by: Liam O'Donnell
Illustrated by: Michael Cho
Genre: Mystery
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: From Owl Magazine comes the collected adventures of Max Finder and Alison Santos. Each case has grade 7 students Max and Alison searching for clues to the various mysteries that occur in their hometown of Whispering Meadows. Along the way, Max reveals fun facts. The end of each case leaves the reader to figure out who did it according to the clues. This allows kids to use their own detective skills, rather than simply letting the protagonists solve the mystery for them. A great way to get kids using their imagination and critical thinking skills. Each book contains 10 mysteries, 10 puzzles, along with the solutions to both.

Mighty Skullboy Army

Volumes: 1; complete (although characters also appear in "G-Man vol.1")
Written and Illustrated by: Jacob Chabot
Genre: Humour
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Skullboy is an elementary student who is bent on world domination. He continuously attempts to accomplish this with the questionable help of his sidekicks, a robot and a monkey, who seem to do more harm than good. He also struggles to avoid Booger Ralph who annoys him, and Brutus who bullies him. This hilarious series of stories will appeal to all ages.

Mouse Guard

Volumes: 2; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: David Petersen
Genre: Fantasy
Colour
Hardcover

Synopsis: Mouse Guard is a story of heroic mice who discover their village and lives are in danger, and must find a way to save the day. Each volume is a complete story, weaving together the stories of multiple characters in rich storytelling. The characters are interesting and complex, and their surroundings are beautifully rendered, giving the series an extremely lifelike feel. This series will appeal to fans of Bone, as it has a similar quest aspect, and highly sympathetic characters. The highly detailed illustrations capture the reader's imagination and provide good inspiration for aspiring artists. It is highly recommended.

Nancy Drew

Volumes: 19; ongoing
Written by:
Illustrated by:
Genre: Mystery
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Based on the classic novels by Carolyn Keene, these graphic versions update the stories for a new generation of readers. Nancy Drew encounters intrigue and adventure as she solves puzzles and mysteries.

Naruto

Volumes: 46; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by:
Genre: Manga, Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: One of the most anticipated series in North American manga release history, Naruto is the story of a young boy trying to prove himself to his entire village. Each village has its own ninjitsu style, and to be a true member of society, the children must study and pass many exams to become full-fledged members of their home village's style. Naruto is the black sheep of his village. He is an orphan and none of the adults will acknowledge his existence. This is because he houses the spirit of a nine-tailed fox-demon that tried to destroy the city before he was born. This hasn't stopped Naruto though. Instead he tries twice as hard as every other student to become the best ninja in his class. He is usually unsuccessful, and that is where this action series gets its comedic relief. A good book for boys, containing exciting action sequences.

No Girls Allowed

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Susan Hughes
Illustrated by: Willow Dawson
Genre: Non-Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: This is an anthology of stories about women throughout time who have been forced to dress like men in order to achieve greatness, despite inequality of the sexes. The women portrayed are Hatshepsut, Mu Lan, Alfhild, Esther Brandeau, James Barry, Ellen Craft, and Sarah Rosetta Wakeman. Each story provides historical fact in an entertaining structure with clear, historically accurate illustrations. This is the ideal book to encourage girls to strive and take risks despite perceived adversities. It also provides a jumping off point to discuss the historical context of the stories, from ancient Egypt to New France. Nominated for the Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Creators Award for Kids in 2008.

Annotated Northwest Passage

Volumes: 1; complete
Written and Illustrated by Scott Chantler
Genre: Historical Fiction
Black-and-white
Hardcover

Synopsis: This historical adventure by Canadian Scott Chantler is set in 1755 in Rupert's Land. Kids can learn about this period of Canadian history, along with the frontier politics surrounding English-French relations over the fur trade and the European relationship with the First Nations. The action-packed storyline will keep kids interested and entertained, allowing them to learn while having fun. This edition contains the three original books as well as notes about Chantler's inspiration and research.

Plain Janes

Volumes: 2; complete
Written by: Cecil Castellucci
Illutrated by: Jim Rugg
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Jane is a fairly typical teenager, trying to find the right way to express herself amidst personal drama. After the big city faces disaster, Jane's family relocates her to the suburbs to be safer. There, Jane finds some like-minded friends, specifically seeking out those who don't belong, and rallies them to form PLAIN - People Loving Art in Neighbourhoods. They act as "art terrorists", trying to shake up the status quo by creating art out of the landscape, for example, putting bubbles in the city fountain, and wrapping objects on the street as Christmas presents. While their efforts to make personal statements work adults into an indignant frenzy, it fuels ideals of individuality and personal expression in the teenagers.
Part of the Minx line of books aimed at teenage girls.

Polly and the Pirates

Volumes: 1; complete
Written and Illustrated by: Ted Naifeh
Genre: Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Polly is caught between the prim-and-proper boarding school set she's grown up with and the legendary legacy of the Pirate Queen of which she never knew she was a part. Suddenly Polly is faced with becoming the Pirate Queen while trying to overcome her insecurities. A great book for girls, containing lots of adventure, with a strong female character.
Also by this creator: Courtney Crumrin and Death Jr.

Re-Gifters

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Mike Carey
Illustrated by: Sonny Liew and Marc Hempel
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Jen Dik Seong, better known as "Dixie" to her friends, is a Korean American living in L.A.'s Koreatown. Her favourite thing to do in her free time is practice the martial art hapkido. She's so good at it that she's headed for the championship. But an untimely encounter with surfer-boy Adam leads her unwittingly down the road to love, and she has to fight to retain her focus in the upcoming tournament.
Also by this author: Confessions of a Blabbermouth
Part of the Minx line of books aimed at teenage girls.

Runaways

Volumes: 10; ongoing
Written by: Brian K. Vaughan, Joss Whedon, Terry Moore, Kathryn Immonen
Illustrated by: Adrian Alphona , Takeshi Miyazawa , Michael Ryan, Humberto Ramos, and Sara Pichelli
Genre: Superhero
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Runaways is about a group of teenagers who suddenly, and very accidentally, found out that their parents are actually a team of super-villains called The Pride. With newly-discovered powers, and a dinosaur sidekick, they decide to escape their parents' evil influence, and go on the road, as runaways. Each character is well-developed, with complexities that make working as a team sometimes difficult. Characters deal with their own baggage, the fact that their parents are super-villains, and learning to work as a team. As the series develops, so do the characters; they mature, develop new interests and issues, and develop relationships like real teenagers.
Also by Takeshi Miyazawa: Sidekicks: The Transfer Student

Shaman King

Volumes: 25; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by:
Genre: Manga, Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: This series, based on the popular cartoon, delves into the spiritual world of the shaman. Manta Oyamada is leading a perfectly ordinary life until he meets teenage shaman Yoh Asakura who can tap into the swordfighting powers of a ghost samurai. The two quickly find themselves in action-packed situations.

Sidekicks: The Transfer Student

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: J. Torres
Illustrated by: Takeshi Miyazawa
Genre: Superhero
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Terry Highland, daughter of an ex-superhero sidekick, has her own powers, and attends the Shuster Academy, a school for superhero sidekicks. However, to do well at the school, the students are not allowed to use their powers. This becomes difficult when three new vigilantes appear.
Also by this author: Love as a Foreign Language
Also by this illustrator: Runaways

Simpsons

Volumes: 17; ongoing
Written by: Ian Boothby and various
Illustrated by: various
Genre: Humour
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: These books present new stories centred around North America's most popular cartoon family, mostly written by Canadian Ian Boothby. The series preserves the wit and art style of the TV show.

Spider-Girl

Volumes: 11; complete
Written by: Tom DeFalco
Illustrated by: Ron Frenz
Genre: Superhero
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Set in the future, Spider-Man's daughter May Parker, has inherited her father's super powers, and uses them to fight injustice. When not working to right wrongs, she works at maintaining a normal social life, as complicated as that my be.
Manga-sized. Ongoing series. Written by Tom DeFalco and illustrated by Ron Frenz.

Spider-Man Fairy Tales

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: C.B. Cebulski
Illustrated by: various
Genre: Fairy Tale/Superhero
Colour Softcover

Synopsis: This collection of four issues features all-new interpretations of Little Red Riding Hood, Anansi the Spider-God, Tsuchigumo the Japanese Spider Spirit and Cinderella, with Spider-Man as the main character. Contains four issues.
Also by this author: X-Men Fairy Tales

Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane

Volumes: 5; complete
Written by: Sean McKeever and Terry Moore
Illustrated by: Takeshi Miyazawa , David Hahn, and Craig Rousseau
Genre: Superhero, Fiction
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Unlike the better part of the super hero comic genre this book is aimed towards girls. Though at first glance it may seem to be about Spider-Man, the main character of the story is actually Mary Jane Watson during her high school years. Unbeknownst to Mary Jane, Spider-Man is really her Algebra tutor Peter Parker who tries many times to get Mary Jane to notice him instead of his alter ego. By the time Mary Jane starts to figure out her true feelings, it may be too late as both Peter and Spider-Man can be found with other girls. This is a great high school romantic drama with a little bit of super hero action thrown in. The best part of the action sequences is that they are most often from Mary Jane's perspective instead of Spider-Man's.
Also by Terry Moore: Runaways
Also by Takeshi Miyazawa Runaways and Sidekicks: The Transfer Student

Spiral Bound

Volumes: 1; complete
Written and Illustrated by:
Genre: Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover

Synopsis: This story tales place in a fantastical world in which the water animals moved out of the pond generations ago to live in water-buggies and in which a rhino and hippo can form a rock band. When Ana, the rabbit, becomes an underground journalist with the help of her friend Emily, the bird, she must learn how to follow clues to break stories, without getting herself into trouble. Almost immediately she loses her notebook when she investigates the studio of Turnip the elephant, and accidentally wrecks Stucky the Hound's submarine for his art teacher's proposed sculpture garden. The next morning Ana anonymously breaks a front-page story about the sculpture garden, upsetting the whole town who don't want the sculpture garden to upset the pond monster. Ana and Emily launch a daring undercover operation disguised as Turnip to recover Ana's notebook, and then try to break the story of the year: whether there really is a pond monster! This is a story about friendship, following hunches, doing what's right, getting the truth, finding artistic expression, encouragement, and not judging people.

Stardust

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by: Charles Vess
Genre: Fantasy
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: Tristran Thorn is an inhabitant of the magical town of Wall, who vows to retrieve a fallen star to give to the woman he loves. Now Tristran sets out on a coming of age quest to prove how far he is willing to go for true love. This book was made into a highly successful movie in 2007.
Also by this author: Coraline

Star Wars Adventures

Volumes: 2; ongoing
Written by:
Illustrated by:
Genre: Science Fiction
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: This series follows the adventures of the most beloved characters of the original Star Wars Trilogy. For example, "Star Wars Adventures: Han Solo and the Hollow Moon of Khorya" follows Han Solo and Chewbacca in their smuggling job long before they join the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars: A New Hope.

Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures

Volumes: 10; complete
Written by:
Illustrated by:
Genre: Science Fiction
Colour
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures are four-story anthologies based in the Star Wars universe, and inspired by Cartoon Network's Clone Wars cartoons. New stories of Jedi and Empire are told, using characters and settings that are familiar, while introducing new heroes and villains.

Tellos

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Todd Dezago
Illustrated by: Mike Wieringo
Genre: Fantasy
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: Jarek doesn't live an ordinary life. His best friend is a man-tiger named Koj, and he is an inhabitant of the magical world Tellos. Things get even less ordinary, when Jarek becomes the bearer of a magical talisman which identifies him as the one who will be able to save Tellos from the evil Malesur. He is joined and protected by the pirate Serra, and rogues Hawke and Rikk. It is a dangerous mission, and there is hardship along the way, but there are also Djinn and dragons, and several revelations about Hawke's secret and Jarek's forgotten past.

Token

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: Alisa Kwitney
Illustrated by: Joelle Jones
Genre: Fiction
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Shira Spektor is a fifteen-year-old girl living in South Beach in 1987 When her father becomes involved with his secretary, tension grows between Shira and her dad. Just when things seem darkest, Shira meets a strange, good-looking man who distracts her from her everyday life. She also discovers a new thrill when she steals a ring from a jewellery store. As things with her father grow worse, she finds herself drawn into romance and danger with the strange boy, who teaches her how to steal effectively. But, just as things seem perfect, Shira's father reveals his intention to marry his secretary, her dear friend Minerva falls terribly ill, her father discovers the thefts, and her first love breaks her heart. She works to recover from rock-bottom through a newfound knowledge of herself. This is a story of teenage confusion, as Shira deals with the maturation of her relationship with her father, copes with great loss for the first time, deals with the conundrum of wanting to be both accepted and unique, and finds herself doing things she never would have imagined.
Part of the Minx line of books aimed at teenage girls.

Tsubasa

Volumes: 24; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: CLAMP (a collective of female artists and writers)
Genre: Manga, Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: How far would you go to bring back the memory of the one you loved? In Tsubasa (also known as Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle) this is the reality that a young man named Syaoran must face as the memory of his best friend, and possible love, Sakura, is split into hundreds of feathers and tossed through just as many dimensions. With the help of two others from alternate worlds, this motley crew of adventurers must seek out Sakura's memories and steal them back from those who would use them for evil. This series crosses over with XXXHolic, though it is not mandatory to read both titles to understand the story.
Also by CLAMP: XXXHolic

Ultimate Fantastic Four

Volumes: 11; complete
Written and Illustrated by: various
Genre: Superhero
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: Ultimate Fantastic Four is one of the three titles in the "Ultimate" line that we suggest in the Comics in the Classroom program. These books take familiar characters and teams from the Marvel universe and re-launch them for new readers. Each series starts at the very beginning of the team. Ultimate Fantastic Four, therefore, begins with the accident that turns the team into the Fantastic Four. By volume 2, they still haven't adopted the name "Fantastic Four", and are still trying to figure out their new powers. Fantastic Four is, in general, a science driven series. It is through science that the team is transformed, and it is through science that Reed Richards, leader of the team, views the world and tries to solve problems. The team also includes a strong female figure, a headstrong teenage character, Human Torch, and the temperamental Thing, who struggles to fit into society in his new skin. The variety within the characters will interest a wide audience, and the fact that the series starts off from the beginning means that new readers do not have to wade through decades of continuity to know what is going on.
Schools may wish to avoid volume 5, which deals wholly with zombies. Ongoing series.

Ultimate Spiderman

Volumes: 21; ongoing
Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by: Marc Bagley, Stuart Immonen , and David LaFuente
Genre: Superhero
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: Peter Parker was an ordinary teenager, picked on by bullies, in love with the most popular girl at school, and struggling to find his identity. But then, bitten by a radioactive spider, he takes on an even more challenging identity, as Spider-Man, crime-fighting superhero. This series takes the reader from the beginning of the story, from before Peter Parker became Spider-Man. It focuses heavily on the realities of being Peter, and his struggles to fit in, both as a superhero, and a teenager.

Ultimate X-Men

Volumes: 19; complete
Written and Illustrated by: various
Genre: Superhero
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: Ultimate X-Men is another in the Ultimate series, in which the story of the X-Men starts from the beginning, presuming its readers do not know anything about the characters. The X-Men are a super-team of mutants, regular people, who through a 'mutant gene' have developed super powers. The stories of the X-Men series deal with the fact that these changes make them outsiders, and often persecuted outsiders. Professor X, a mutant with strong psychic ability, has founded a school to train youngsters with the mutant gene, and teach them how to give back to society by fighting injustice and crime. In the meantime, he works as an ambassador to convince the rest of the world that mutants are not evil, and should be accepted into society. This makes the series a good social commentary about prejudice and racism, well-hidden in dynamic plotlines, and fast-paced action.

X-Men Fairy Tales

Volumes: 1; complete
Written by: C.B. Cebulski
Illustrated by: Sana Takeda
Genre: Fairy Tale/Superhero
Colour
Softcover

Synopsis: This collection of four issues, features all-new interpretations of fairy tales from across the globe, starring the X-Men.
Also by this author: Spider-Man Fairy Tales

XXXHolic

Volumes: 14; ongoing
Written and Illustrated by: CLAMP (a collective of female artists and writers)
Genre: Manga, Fantasy
Black-and-white
Softcover, digest-sized

Synopsis: Yuko, a wish granting witch, is at the heart of XXXholic. She runs a business that helps people deal with wishes and occult experiences, but charges the highest price, that which they hold most dear. When a young man named Watanuki Kimihiro finds himself at Yuko's shop as if by magic, he ends up working for her in exchange for her help with his visions of ghosts. Yuko uses this opportunity to make Watanuki's life a living hell, embarrassing him and blackmailing him at every turn. XXXHolic has a very unique art style, and will appeal to all lovers of occult fiction. This series crosses over with Tsubasa, but it is not mandatory to read both to understand the story.
Also by CLAMP: Tsubasa

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