Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2019

10 Peter and Ernesto: The Lost Sloths by Graham Annable

I’m not going to say this title is incredibly memorable, because if I’m being honest, I’ve forgotten the plot. Annable has so many other things going for him, though, it doesn’t need to be memorable. The art is so cute, the writing is funny, heartwarming, and clever, and I would read 100 more books in this series if they published them. Peter and Ernesto belong with the ranks of other famous kid lit duos like Frog & Toad and Elephant & Piggie. You should read them.

9 Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savannah Guancheau

Kevin Panetta and Savannah Guancheau are another great duo, though on the back end of things in the case of Bloom. The art is beautiful, the characters are sweet, and the playlist in the back is a nice “icing on the cake” addition. Even if you don't normally go out of my way for a feel-good romance (same), this is worth a quick read.

8 A Girl in the Himalayas by David Jesus Vignolli

I don’t have much to say about the plot of this, either. I remember that it had an eco-friendly agenda, and the art was really whimsical and fun. Despite it not sticking with me too much, I’d rank it slightly above the others just because of my preference of the sort of cartoon/Ghibli mashup it has.

7 Sincerely, Harriet by Sarah Winifred Searle

I was so pleasantly surprised by this one. It brings awareness to the prejudice/ableism that people tend to have towards people with less visible disabilities. Plus, much of the plot revolves around reading; can’t go wrong there!

6 Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen

Pilu takes a really sweet and gentle approach to a tale about grief; something I love both in general, and for its target audience of middle-grade kiddos. Emotions are handled just right here, with an emphasis on being mindful to acknowledge what we feel without taking it out on others. Pairs nicely with a walk in the woods (with canine companionship optional).

5 Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

Rowell and Hicks are so good on their own, one might fear an "all-star cast"-esque flop from a collaborative title. Fear not, though! They bring dynamic, diverse characters to the table, along with the cutest setting and plot. Much like Bloom, I went in hesitant about a feel-good romance plotline, but I came out with my heart as warm as a pumpkin spice latte.

4 The Worst Book Ever by Elise Gravel

Apparently the only truly lighthearted story I read this year, this is obviously not the worst book ever. The title offers exciting opportunities to talk about good writing and breaking the fourth wall (if only I were better at voices in read-alouds). Much like her writing in general, Gravel's little critters are such a good mixture of silly, smart, and just plain wholesome.

3 Are you Listening? by Tillie Walden

Walden is getting better. That's not to say she wasn't amazing already, but with her latest title, it's clear that her writing and art are more comfortably aligned than ever before. Are you Listening? is beautiful, trippy, and worth a read by the fire, or wherever you land when you get it.

2 Operatic by Kyo Maclear

I keep saying I don't go out of my way for titles that are serious or sweet, but Operatic is one which, like Pilu of the Woods, handled some heavy emotions really beautifully. Take what I loved about Twilight as a teen-- mousy female character who is beyond relatable-- and take away the plot line that makes male attention seem like the necessary ingredient for happiness. If you're skeptical about opera being made palatable to a middle grade audience, I was too. Read this book to be convinced.

1 This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

Judging a book by its cover, I was sucked in from the outset and never disappointed by Andrews' title. Be it magical realism or fantasy, the story is charming, beautifully executed, and inspiring. A favorite Ghibli movie meets "Over the Garden Wall".

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