Graphic novels are books too. Art and writing combine to bring these true stories to life. Featuring biographies of everyone from sports stars to musicians, poets to politicians, as well as deeply moving memoirs of ordinary people in extraordinary situations, these books will transport you, challenge you, and inspire you.
This list is loosely ordered from ‘light’ to ‘gritty’ reads. A Christchurch City Libraries’ list.
Perfect for NCEA.
This teen-friendly illustrated biography tells the inspirational story of Ruth Bader Ginsberg (RBG), from her childhood in New York through to her role as one of the few female Supreme Court justices. A modern feminist icon, RGB is…
Follow Tupaia as he grows up in Ra'iatea, becoming a high-ranking 'arioi and master navigator. Join him as he meets up with Cook in Tahiti and sails as part of the crew on the Endeavour across the Pacific to Aotearoa. Witness the…
An enchanting graphic memoir from New Zealand’s poet laureate, Selina Tusitala Marsh. At age 10, the kids at school teased Selina for her wild, frizzy hair. She does everything to tame her hair and avoid being called ‘mophead’, until one…
In this honest reflection on life after loss, Tyler Feder explores all the awkward and silly moments that came after the loss of her mother to cancer. She offers some honest advice to those who are wanting to know how to communicate with…
This illustrated biography uses expressive drawings and accessible text to tell the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who decided to sacrifice everything in order to take a stand again Adolf Hitler and the Nazis during WWII.…
An innovative illustrated biography of the 23-time Grand Slam award winner, Serena Williams, which explores her tennis style like never before. Using stunning graphics, both her play style and astonishing records are on display. Drawing on…
A loving and feminist look into the lives of a lot of feisty and influential women through history (herstory?); every woman featured here is connected through one characteristic: her indomitable spirit. Some world-famous names, some less…
David Bowie: the man, the myth, the legend. The androgynous rock 'n' roll superstar of 1000 faces is explored here, chronicling his rise from obscurity to fame. Phenomenal illustrations capture his iconic looks throughout the years, and a…
One of the most instantly recognisable artists of all time – famous for her iconic style, her deeply poetic artworks and her extraordinary passion for life. An icon of female resilience and a prolific and haunted artist, Kahlo struggled…
A candid collection of personal essays and mini-comics centred on Noelle Stevenson’s life, growing up. She explores the highs and the lows that come with being a creative individual, from winning awards for her work with "Lumberjanes" and…
Liz found it hard to fit in. She wasn't a girly girl playing pretty princess, but she also wasn't one of the guys either. She found sitting in 'The Middle' a hard place to be. This award-winning book explores the artist's early years with…
This three-part graphic novel series is an autobiography of civil rights leader and U.S Congressman John Lewis. The series takes you through his childhood experiences of segregation and his later involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.…
George Takei is famous for being a Star Trek actor and an LGBTQ+ icon, but his breath-taking memoir focuses on his early childhood in an American concentration camp for people of Japanese descent during WWII. This teen-friendly illustrated…
Cartoonist Emei Burrell shares her mother's true experience during the Down to the Countryside Movement of the early 1970s China, which sought to increase agricultural outreach and spur social and ideological change amongst youth. Teens…
Thi Bui’s heartfelt retelling of her parent’s journey from Vietnam to America and how this experience has shaped her as an individual. As she embarks on the new journey that is the beginning of her own small family, she reflects on how…
In an elegant, contemplative, and sombre graphic memoir, Walden immerses readers in an adolescence dominated by competitive figure skating. For ten years, figure skating was Tillie Walden's life. It was a central piece of her identity, her…
Keith Haring’s highly stylised and simplified figures are a truly iconic feature of the Pop Art movement – from the streets of New York to the Berlin Wall. Haring passionately believed that “art is for everybody”, creating murals around…
Insightful, funny, and heart-breaking. This iconic memoir takes you through Marjane Satrapi's childhood growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Through the eyes of a child, Marjane captures the history of the country and the…
The first authorised graphic novel adaption of Anne's famous diary beautifully depicts Anne's life, from her early childhood in Frankfurt to her family's time in the attic. Gorgeous illustrations, many of which were painstakingly recreated…
The first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize, this incredibly poignant story depicts the illustrator's father's experience as a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor. His story is framed by interviews between the father and son, who have…
