Top 5 graphic novels

Hello bookworms!! Welcome to Top 5 Tuesday!! This week’s Top 5 Tuesday is top 5 graphic novels.

Another week, another nice topics!! Look at me being somewhat prepared for April to smack me in the face!! Was I prepared for this month?? No, not even in the slightest. But, let’s talk about happy things!! Graphic novels!! Or, at least graphic novels that make me happy.

If you missed the April topics post, please click here!! Top 5 Tuesday was created by Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm, and is now being hosted here @ Meeghan reads. May topics will be out later this week, if the blog gods are listening to me.

Top 5 graphic novels

Bloodlust and Bonnets – Emily McGovern

Welcome, welcome!! Step right up!! Come and be awed and amazed by a little known graphic novel that I love with all of my heart, called Bloodlust and Bonnets. This is my go-to recommendation for, well, basically everyone. And there’s a reason for this. No matter what you like to read, it’s very likely in this story.

Yup. Crazy, I know. But honestly, this story has it all: historical fiction, well known fictional characters, vampires, feminist cults, satire, romance, telepathic giant eagles, awkward social interactions and sword fights. There’s probably other things that I forgot too. It’s been a while since I’ve read it. But all of a sudden, I have a hankering to reread this baby.

In all seriousness though, Emily McGovern is an absolutely amazing individual. She is the creator of the Background Slytherin comics that were wildly popular on instagram (until You Know Who wrecked it for everyone). And she’s also just a genuinely lovely person who would meet a stranger from instagram for coffee at King’s Cross Station in London. *memories*

Where was I? Right. If there is only one graphic novel you pick up from my list today (although you should pick up all of them), please let it be this one.

Mooncakes – Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker

Ahhhh, Mooncakes. I do love this graphic novel a lot. In fact, the more I read it, the more I love it. I think the first time I read this one, I was so overcome by the beautiful depiction of so much diversity, that I kind of overlooked the story. But the story itself is also a beautiful tale.

Speaking of diversity though, I would love to draw your attention there first. Our MC, Nova, is a witch, who uses hearing aids. Our second MC, Tam, is a non-binary werewolf. Nova is raised by her two grandmothers (as in they’re together, not her two separate grandmothers from different bloodlines). And the acceptance of everyone’s pronouns and preferences and choices to love who they want – this is what I wish the world was like. Also, witchcraft. You know, if I get to wish things into existence.

Finally, the story itself is sweet with enough action / drama to keep it from being too soft. There are character arcs, even in such a short novel, which is amazing. Honestly, I wish they Suzanne and Wendy would write more stories because I am here for these kids.

Check Please – Ngozi Ukazu

*cue internal screaming* Hi, my name is Meeghan, and I am absolute trash for this duology. It has everything I love in a sports romance: gay boys, ice hockey and baking. Plus Bitty (our MC) is so freaking adorable I would 100% adopt him in less than 2 seconds.

OK, so Check Please follows all four years that Bitty is at Samwell University. Volume 1 is Bitty’s freshman and sophomore years, and volume 2 is his junior and senior years (I hope I got that right – I don’t understand the US school system at all). Bitty was a figure skater who somehow wins an athletic scholarship to play ice hockey. I think. It’s been a looooong time since I read volume 1. Also, he has a YouTube channel where he bakes pies and talks about his life at university.

Honestly, I know I said that it’s a sports romance, but it isn’t too heavy on the sport side. But the team mates are amazing, and the way they support each other through everything is just the most adorable thing ever. Highly recommend these books!!

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo

*cries in earnest* Yes, I had to squeeze my favourite Little Women retelling into this list. Is it perfect? No. But is it an amazing modern-day adaptation that will bring you to tears? Yes. If you’re me.

I have half-written a review for Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, but I still haven’t finished it. (Honestly, this is the story of my life for 2021… Reads books? Yes. Writes reviews? We don’t know her.) But the main thing that I want to scream about it how Terciero and Indigo absolutely nailed how they adapted this for modern day. In this, Meg’s dad and Jo’s mum marry, and together they have Beth and Amy. So we have this beautiful family that is dealing with a multitude of issues, including more modern issues of systemic racism and sexuality. As well as still dealing with the themes that Alcott wrote about in the original, like classism, disability, health, the effects of war, finding yourself and love.

Is that a lot for one graphic novel? Yes. But is it worth every page? Absolutely.

Heartstopper – Alice Oseman

Hi, if you’ve been living under a rock in the middle of nowhere, being raised by wolves, you’ve probably still heard of Heartstopper. This is Alice Oseman’s absolutely gorgeous and amazing tribute to being young and in love.

Heartstopper will be a 5 volume series (Volume 4 is out on 13 May!!) and it will wreck your soul. In the best way possible. It’s the story of high schoolers Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, how they meet, and how they fall in love while traversing all the fun modern day highlights of life. This includes fun topics such as homophobia, bullying, eating disorders, mental health and anxiety, self-harm, and people just being absolute jerks. And while all of that is absolutely horrible, this story is actually about something so much bigger than all of that. It’s about hope and love and found family and having the courage to be who you are.

If you haven’t read this one, then it is a must-read addition to your TBR. Or, you can wait until the tv series adaptation is out on Netflix!!

Please don’t forget to link to one of my posts (not my home page as I won’t get the pingback), or comment your link below, and I will link back to all of your posts as soon as I can!!

PARTICIPANTS

Happymess Happiness
The Punk Theory
MARgINAlia
My Book Throne
Wings and Fables
Zezee with Books
Becky Bookstore
DB’s Guide to the Galaxy

What are your top 5 graphic novels?