Newly published graphic novels
The Summer we Crossed Europe in the Rain : Lyrics for Stacey Kent by Kazuo Ishiguro
A beautiful and visually stunning work of art with illustrations by Bianca Bagnarelli, that will appeal to fans of the Nobel Laureate's writing, Stacey Kent's music, and anyone who appreciates the power of words and images to evoke emotion.
Read for: literary graphic novels, music, romance, liminal spaces
Self-Esteem and the End of the World by Luke Healy
In the face of a changing climate and rising sea levels, a fictional Luke Healy is stalled in his life after he loses his job. Part autobiography, part social history, this is a darkly funny and very personal story of identity, loss, redemption and existential dread.
Read for: dark humour, autofiction, mental health, millennial angst
My Favourite Thing is Monsters Book Two by Emil Ferris
Inspired by the imagery of B-moves and pulp horror comics, My Favourite Thing is Monsters is told through the eyes of 10 year old Karen who is navigating coming of age in Chicago in the tumultuous years of the late 1960s. When her neighbour, a Holocaust survivour is murdered, Karen is determined to find the killer and bring justice. Read part 1 first.
Read for: the 1960s, heroism in the face of evil, pulp horror, sexual identity, death and grief.
Heavyweight by Solomon J. Brager
In Heavyweight, Brager explores the complex histories of his great-grandparents who fled Nazi Germany, as well as the broader history of the Holocaust and colonialism. Blending personal narrative and historical research this is a beautifully illustrated and deeply effecting story of loss and resilience.
Read for: autobiographies, Holocaust histories, inherited trauma, LGBTQIA+
The Wendy Award by Walter Scott
Wendy is an artist navigating the complexities of the contemporary art world. When she is nominated for a prestigious art prize, she is thrust into the spotlight and her insecurities and pressure points are laid bare.
Read for: art and artists, millennial life, addiction, the price of success, humour
Di Morris explores the roles and lives of women in colonial New Zealand through the lives of Margaret and Elsie Balfour, who were raised on a farm in South Canterbury in the latter part of the 19th century. While Margaret stayed at home, Elsie broke gender norms and traveled to Edinburgh to study medicine. Beautifully illustrated and packed full of ephemera, The Writing Desk highlights and important story of New Zealand.
Read for: NZ author, family dynamics, women in colonial New Zealand, ephemera, biographies
Over 140 short comics, contributed by artists from around the world document our collective experience during COVID-19. From isolation and loneliness, community and resilience, these authors capture the impact of the pandemic on families, individuals and society as a whole, as well as the creative ways we used to fight back.
Read for: social histories, life during crises, community, shared experiences, compilations
Woman Life Freedom by Marjane Satrapi
When Mahsa Amini was murdered by the Iranian regime in September 2022 for wearing her head scarf incorrectly, the country and the world rallied under her name. Here Satrapi gathers contributions from artists, activists, journalists and academics offering unique perspectives on the uprising that followed and the future for women in Iran.
Read for: Iran, politics, protest fiction, essays, poetry, current events
