STAFF PICKS: FAMILY

In this graphic memoir Bechdel, best known for Fun Home and Dykes to Watch Out For, explores her complicated relationship with her mother and her somewhat subconscious search for mother figures in other women in her life, particularly her therapist. She masterfully weaves in references to notable psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott, Virginia Wolfe, and other great authors that influenced her understanding of her relationship with her mother, in a way that is nothing but literary.

Adults with a strained relationship with a parent will relate to Bechdel's search for the deeper understanding of her relationship with her mother.

Nudity and sexual situations, brief depiction of body horror

Tayla Cardillo

Charise has a little brother, Daniel. They have a lot of fun together, but Charise isn't always the kindest or most responsible with her brother. This heartwarming story explores the complicated feelings of growing up as the older sibling while asking the question of what makes someone a bad or good sibling?

Readers who enjoy the sibling dynamics in Smile and Sisters

Megan Rupe

This graphic novel shows that it's never too late to be with the love of your life, or to be your truest self. This story follows Hazel and Mari, who meet in 1963 when Mari moves to New Jersey from California and starts attending the same school as Hazel. They become fast friends, but both of them secretly want more. Soon after they both confess their feelings to each other, they are caught kissing by Mari's grandmother and are forced to stop seeing each other by both of their families. They both go on to marry men and start families of their own, but both of their lives are turned upside down when almost 50 years later they meet, and kiss, again.

Everyone looking for a rainbow romance with a happy ending.

Homophobia

Tayla Cardillo

The family that slays men-turned-demons-by-racist-anger stays together but the Sangerye family is wearing thin. Mama Etta conjures cures and ammunition to fight the jinoo, while Blink bridles at the women's work of the family business, itching to put her moves to the test and avenge her parents. It's the Harlem Renaissance and Bitter Root gives us a stunning Afrosteampunk window into raucous fights, gritty history, and unforgettable characters. The marks of generational trauma are vivid when they cross dimensions as well as time.

Fans of the latest Watchman adaptation on HBO, Lovecraft Country, lyrical yet kickass stories of generational magic, and the nexus between arcane gadgetry and myth.

Cartoonish blood, gore and violence

Sunny Carito

For a charming story about what family can mean, follow the stories of different brides joining their new families across Central Asia in the 19th Century. Every few volumes, the story shifts to another bride and her story, with an overarching plot involving the events of the time. Also, enjoy the most lovingly drawn illustrations of wood carvings and hand woven cloth!

Perfect for fans of historical romance, and those interested in learning more about the tribal peoples of Central Asia, but also a phenomenal choice for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a beautifully crafted manga.

There is some nudity, but it's brief and not sexualized. There are cases of age gaps between couples, but it's depicted with care and not as fetishization. There are dead animals occasionally, though no gore.

Shannan Prukop

Roz Chast details her experience helping her aging parents make end-of-life preparations. This memoir tackles a delicate topic while maintaining the sense of levity for which Chast is known.

Humor readers who don't shy away from tough topics

Shira Pilarski

Tyler Feder explores the impact of her mother’s cancer diagnosis and death on her and the rest of her family in this moving graphic memoir.

Readers experiencing the loss of a family member

Parental death; frank discussion of medical topics (cancer) and death

Megan Rupe

MIra Jacob opens her memoir with her curious half-Jewish, half-Indian son asking complicated questions about race and identity, while Jacob does her best to explain. What follows is an examination of a lifetime of conversations about race, sexuality, love, and family. She explores her relationship with her son, her husband, and her parents, and her parent's relationship with each other. The conversations also navigate personal and political issues during the 2016 election. Readers will appreciate her candor and vulnerability.

As we sit down with family over the holidays, many of us may want to avoid difficult and overt conversations about race and identity, but Jacob's candid reflections in this memoir will appeal to those who are trying to navigate these waters themselves. Adult graphic memoir readers and those who are drawn to the unconventional memoir or comic will also appreciate this book.

Emily

Olive, Darwin, and Charlotte are visiting their abuela's defunct hotel in Mexico for the summer. They're still getting used to being family. Darwin and Charlotte are worried they'll end up back in the orphanage and Olive is searching for what's separated her father and abuela for so long. When they each discover portals to fantasy worlds they'll find out how family builds them up and has broken down their ancestors.

For fans of Wonderland, Narnia, Neverland and anyone who dreams of finding themselves in the faraway world of a book.

Sunny Carito

Malaka grew up going between her Filipino family and her Egyptian father's homes while navigating their expectations of living the American dream and the reality of actually living in America. With witty observations and expressive, colorful art, this graphic memoir about family and coming of age will make you laugh and think!

Readers who enjoy memoirs that explore about the complexities of living in America (for example Almost American Girl )

Microaggressions

Megan Rupe

Shahi and her cousin Naz discover a magical jukebox that sent Shahi's father back in time. To find him, Shahi will have to get in touch with her father's favorite pastime: listening to old vinyl records.

Fans of Chanani's previous middle grade graphic novel Pashmina, anyone who enjoys realistic middle grade graphic novels with just a hint of fantasy

Shira Pilarski

This graphic novel depicts Knisley's journey through her pregnancy with her first child. This part memoir and part cultural history of pregnancy is funny, smart, and unflinching in its honesty. Knisley address aspects of pregnancy and motherhood that are not frequently addressed in mainstream media, such as miscarriage, difficult symptoms related to pregnancy, and traumatic birth experiences. She handles all of these tough topic with care, without sugarcoating things.

Fans of Relish and Knisley's other works will enjoy this depiction of her transition into motherhood in her signature style.

miscarriage, traumatic birth experiences, near death experiences

Tayla Cardillo

A fairy and a troll beast find an abandoned baby in the forest and decide to raise it together. After a tumultuous start, they start to settle into a life where their focus is raising Melody; to their surprise, a love grows between them. When a summons threatens their peace, will they be able to find their way through?

Fans of stories about found family; readers who enjoy gentle fantasy such as the Tea Dragon Society and The Magic Fish

Megan Rupe

Not just a story of Tien and his mother bonding over learning to open up more to each other, but also a series of fables, and a look into how Tien's mother and her family got to America. It's a story of immigration, acceptance, and how culture can grow and change with time. Come for the story, stay for the stunning illustration.

This is an excellent choice for readers of fairytales, especially fairytale retellings. It's also a fantastic choice for readers looking for a story of a parent and child learning to accept and understand each other.

The main character experiences some bullying, and there's descriptions of cannibalism and abuse.

Shannan Prukop

Cici misses her grandmother, who had to remain in Taiwan when Cici’s family moved to America. Determined to bring her grandmother to the States, Cici enters a cooking contest, which puts her at odds with her family’s expectations. Will Cici’s cooking skills be enough to win?

Readers looking for a warm, tender story about keeping family connections and navigating a new culture.

Megan Rupe

Yaichi is a stay-at-home dad focused on raising his daughter Kana on his own when he gets the news his twin Ryoji has died. Ryoji's husband Mike arrives in Japan, and Kana is immediately enthusiastic and welcoming while Yaichi wrestles with his complex feelings surrounding the fact that Ryoji and Mike were partners Together, Yaichi, Kana, and Mike forge a relationship while dealing with their family history and the homosexual bias in Japanese culture.

Readers looking for a touching and thoughtful slice of life drama

Nudity (but makes sense in context)

Megan Rupe

The Order has protected the Seven Secrets for millennia, and into this order is born Caspar. His mother and father both serving as Keeper and Holder for the Order, Caspar must find a place in the Order even as its enemies are bearing down on them and the secrets they possess.

Young adults who love action and adventure.

Within a candy coating of espionage and exotic locales is a heartfelt coming-of-age story.

James Gardner

Jen has had a lot of changes in her life: her parents divorced, and she now lives on a farm with her mom and her mom's new boyfriend. On top of having to deal with chickens and everything that comes with them, she also gets two part-time stepsisters, Andy and Reese. Can Jen figure out how to live with her new family and survive farm life?

Readers who like the family dynamics and coming of theme age themes in books such as Smile

Megan Rupe

Sunny Lewin takes a trip to Florida to stay with her Grandfather, but it's not the exciting theme park filled summer she wanted. Sunny is escaping some difficult situations at home, but who has time to think about that when there are alligators and comic books!

Fans of Holm's other books who have aged out of Babymouse. People looking for a grandparent relationship on the page.

Shawn Norton

In this compelling memoir, Thi Bui explores her family's family history--including their eventual displacement from Vietnam to the United States--and reflects on how these experiences have shaped her and her family.

Readers looking for an excellent refugee memoir; fans of historical nonfiction graphic novels

Megan Rupe

Like everyone else in Founder's Bluff, thirteen year old Moth knows all about the stories of the witch hunts back in the day. She didn't expect to discover that her own mother and grandmother were right at the center of those stories... and that Moth herself is a witch too! The Okay Witch tells a story of embracing your family's history, standing up for what is right, and the bond between parents and children. (Oh, and there's a talking cat.)

middle grade graphic novel lovers, fans of all things witchy, readers who like strong mother/daughter relationships

Meredith McGovern

A young witch, Sophia, is sent to stay with her estranged Great Aunt Lan and Aunt Sage in preparation for the entrance exam to the Royal Magic Academy. Sophia's anxiety about the upcoming exam and her own abilities threatens her relationships with her family and others around her. In a misguided attempt to prove herself, Sophia almost drowns and endangers the harmony between the witches and sea dragons, but her family and friends are there to offer support and wisdom. The beautifully illustrated novel explores the costs of long-held grudges and the power of family love and acceptance.

Middle-grade fantasy readers (along with any fan of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli films) will love the world-building, characters, and illustrations in Tidesong.

Maureen is nervous about starting middle school, but at least she has her twin sister Francine. They've always done everything together. But then Francine starts pulling away, taking different classes and joining different clubs. How is Maureen supposed to handle this? Well, by running against her sister for student president, for a start . . .

Fans of Raina Telgemeier's books and other realistic fiction about family, friends, and middle school drama.

While the word “racism” is not used, it is clearly in play during one incident at the mall when a white store clerk brushes off Maureen and her friends (all POC), making it clear she does not take them seriously as customers. Refreshingly, there are consequences: the clerk is reprimanded by customers, who decide to shop elsewhere. By the end of the book, the shop’s “Store Close Out Sale” sign is visible in the background of one panel.

Nic Willcox

Omar and his brother, Hassan, grow up in the Dadaab refugee camp after they are separated from their mother in Somalia. An older woman in the camp takes in the brothers and care for them like family. The graphic memoir follows their difficult life at the refugee camp. Food and water are not readily accessible and medical care is scarce. Omar is given the opportunity to go to school, but that means leaving his brother behind every day. It is an intimate and moving story about family and resiliency.

Middle grade and tween graphic novel readers, along with anyone who wants to learn more about the refugee experience, will appreciate this heartwarming graphic memoir.

Emily Bredberg

When Joon and Noona find their halmoni (grandmother) has gone missing, they enter a magical world to find her again.

Fans of other world fantasy, as well as Korean folk tales and mythology.

Shira Pilarski