What’s your favorite genre? Biography? Self-Help? Humor?
There are hundreds of graphic novels in these genres and others!
No matter your interest, librarians can help you find graphic titles to try – here are 18 new and upcoming non-fiction graphic novels:
All the Answers by Michael Kupperman
A graphic memoir of mid-century radio and early television history, the pro-Jewish propaganda entertainment used to counteract anti-Semitism, and the early age of modern celebrity culture.
All the Answers will be published on October 8th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women’s Fight for Their Rights by Mikki Kendall and A. D’Amico
A history of women’s rights, from the ancient world to modern times, introducing a wide range of important historical figures and political movements including suffrage, abolition, labor, LGBT liberation, waves of feminism, and more.
Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists will be published on November 5th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Americana: An Illustrated Journey Along the Pacific Crest Trail by Luke Healy
An autobiographical work from an Irish visitor to the United States recounting his attempt to walk the length of the USA’s west coast – the 2,660 mile Pacific Crest Trail.
Americana will be published on September 10th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Capitalism: A Graphic Guide by Sharron Shatil, Dan Cryan, and Piero
Tells the story of capitalism’s remarkable and often ruthless rise, evolving through strife and struggle as much as innovation and enterprise.
Capitalism will be published on September 11th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Commute: An Illustrated Memoir of Female Shame by Erin Williams
An intimate, clever, and ultimately gut-wrenching memoir about the daily decisions women must make between being sexualized and being invisible.
Commute will be published on October 8th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Drawing Power: Women’s Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survival by Diane Noomin and Roxane Gay
A collection of original nonfiction comics by more than 60 female cartoonists from around the world to share personal experiences with sexual violence and harassment.
Drawing Power will be published on September 17th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Invisible Men: Black Artists of the Golden Age of Comics by Ken Quattro
The riveting stories of Black artists who drew, mostly covertly and behind the scenes, superhero, horror, and romance comics in the early years of the industry.
Invisible Men will be published on September 22nd, 2020 and can be put on hold here.
Is This the Right Color to Prove I Dont Have a Shitty Life by Jon-Michael Frank
Simply drawn with an elemental color palette, these sad and relatable drawings reflect on mundane and ordinary life with poetic defeat in a direct and biting dialogue intended to serve as a personal growth aid.
Is This the Right Color to Prove I Dont Have a Shitty Life will be published on November 12th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Little Book of Rock by Herve Bourhis
A rock bible in comic form featuring anecdotes, memories, snapshots of play-lists, rock stars (and losers), and everything else about rock. From mega-hits to obscure classics, this history dives into every corner of the genre providing fascinating tidbits of information about all of your music heroes.
Little Book of Rock will be published on March 30th, 2020 and can be put on hold here.
The Mighty Elvis: A Graphic Biography by Seymour Chwast and Steven Brower
Beautifully illustrated, this book presents an enhanced portrait of one of America’s greatest celebrities – his early life, his meteoric rise to fame, and how he was affected by, and in turn, affected, the world of music in the many genres he mastered.
The Mighty Elvis will be published on November 12th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration by Bryan Caplan and Zach Weinersmith
With a conversational tone, exhaustive research, and vibrant illustrations, this is a new, compelling perspective to the immigration debate: that opening all borders could eliminate absolute poverty worldwide and usher in a booming worldwide economy.
Open Borders will be published on October 29th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Qualification: A Graphic Memoir in Twelve Steps by David Heatley
A memoir brimming with black humor that explores the ultimate irony: an author’s addiction to 12-step programs.
Qualification will be published on October 1st, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Showtime at the Apollo: The Epic Tale of Harlem’s Legendary Theater by Ted Fox and James Otis Smith
With breathtaking art, this graphic narrative illuminates the theater’s significance in music history, African-American history, and urban culture.
Showtime at the Apollo will be published on February 25th, 2020 and can be put on hold here.
Spring Rain: A Graphic Memoir of Love, Madness, and Revolution by Andy Warner
An intimate memoir of the author’s semester abroad in Beirut as he parties with a crowd of LGBT students and suffers a mental breakdown while the city unravels around him.
Spring Rain will be published on January 28th, 2020 and can be put on hold here.
The Tenderness of Stones by Marion Fayolle and Geoffrey Brock
A fable offering a vision of family illness and grief that is by turns playful and profound, literal and lyrical. It captures the strange swirl of love, resentment, grief, and humor that comes as we watch a loved one transform before our eyes, and learn to live without them.
The Tenderness of Stones will be published on September 3rd, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Things to Do Instead of Killing Yourself by Tara Booth and Jon-Michael Frank
100 snapshots to help one live life using dark humor and a focus on the inane as a vehicle for self-help. Featuring alternatives to struggling with poor mental health by way of untamed animals, positive affirmations, and one-star yelp reviews.
Things to Do Instead of Killing Yourself will be published on September 10th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.
Three-Fifths a Man: A Graphic History of the African American Experience by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon
An essential, vividly illustrated primer on African American history, from the Middle Passage to Black Lives Matter
Three-Fifths a Man will be published on May 1st, 2020 and can be put on hold here.
Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television by Koren Shadmi
A biographical tale following Hollywood revolutionary Rod Serling’s rise to fame in the Golden Age of Television, and his descent into his personal Twilight Zone.
Twilight Man will be published on October 8th, 2019 and can be put on hold here.