Graphic novels

It is a book-length story told in comic form, usually in a bound paperback or hardcover. Some are written as a single original book, and others collect a series of comic issues. The name describes the format, not the genre, so graphic novels can be fiction or nonfiction.

No. Many of the best known are nonfiction: Maus and Persepolis are memoirs, March is a memoir about the civil rights movement, and Understanding Comics is a book about how comics work. There are also science and history titles for young readers.

Try a complete, single-volume story in a genre you already like: Maus or Persepolis for memoir, Fun Home for literary memoir, Watchmen for a superhero story aimed at adults, or Saga for science fiction and fantasy. Check content notes, as several are intended for mature readers.

A trade paperback is a bound collection of several single issues, such as Batman: Year One. A graphic novel is a book-length story, which may be written as a single book or collected from issues. In stores they are shelved together, so the terms overlap in everyday use.

Look for the publisher’s age range, flip through the pages, and read a short description. Popular teen picks include Heartstopper, Nimona, American Born Chinese and Lumberjanes. Some teen-rated books deal with serious themes, so preview them if you are choosing for someone else.