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Staff Picks: Spooky YA Graphic Novels

by walkerk

It's the season for some light and spooky fun! We're talking young adult graphic novels with friends solving mysteries, ghost hunters, witches searching for missing classmates, and endearing retellings of Halloween favorites: Sleepy Hollow, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Hollow by Shannon Watters | Request Now
The cover of Hollow by Shannon WattersCity slicker-skeptic Isabel "Izzy" Crane and her family have just relocated to Sleepy Hollow, the town made famous by Washington Irving's legend of the Headless Horseman. Navigating her new life, Izzy has no time for superstition, but she gets pulled into the orbit of the town's teen royalty, Vicky Van Tassel, and lovable varsity-level prankster Croc Byun. The trio is haunted by the Horseman himself, uncovering a curse set on destroying the Van Tassel line. Now, they have only until Halloween night to break it—meaning it's a totally inconvenient time for Izzy to develop a massive crush on the enigmatic Vicky.

Weaving together threads of mystery, coming-of-age stories, friendship, and light romance, this is a cute, inclusive, modern retelling of Sleepy Hollow. With its lovable characters, its fast-paced story, and surprising twists on the Horseman tale, Hollow makes for a fun Autumn read.

Ghost Roast by Shawnelle Gibbs | Request Now 
The cover of Ghost Roast by Shawnelle GibbsChelsea Grant can't shake her reputation as Ghost Girl, not when her dad keeps advertising his business, Paranormal Remover Services, all over New Orleans. This year, Chelsea's attending a prestigious high school, and she's finally made friends with the popular crowd. Things are looking up—until she gets in trouble. Her punishment? Working for her dad. All. Summer. Eventually, she discovers: While her dad hunts ghosts with his DIY tech, Chelsea can actually see them. And when she meets Oliver, a friendly spirit—at the fancy mansion her dad is getting paid to exorcize—she realizes she has to save his after-life, even if it risks everything her father's worked for.

With its beautiful artwork, Ghost Roast is a lively, paranormal slice-of-life with a sweet romance and a father-daughter relationship at the core of it. While filled with humor and charm, this title thoughtfully discusses moments of history as they arise. And, notably, it depicts quiet—but often overlooked—domestic moments, such as Chelsea and her mom eating breakfast together in their bonnets. Overall, this is heartwarming and fun title.

Over my Dead Body by Sweeney Boo | Request Now 
The cover of Over my Dead Body by Sweeney BooOne day, everything was exactly as it was supposed to be. And the next, the closest thing Abby had to a sister, Noreen, was just . . . gone. Distracted by the annual preparations for the Samhain festival, Abby’s classmates are quick to put Noreen’s disappearance aside. But Abby can’t let it go. A search for answers leads her down a rabbit hole that uncovers more secrets than she can handle. As mounting evidence steers her toward the forbidden forest surrounding the magic academy, she begins to see that Noreen’s disappearance has a lot in common with another girl who went missing all those years ago.

If you're looking for a casual read with a plot that reworks familiar but fun tropes, explores a found family of witches at a magic institute, and has stunning atmospheric artwork that encapsulates dark academia and a warm autumnal vibe, this book might be for you!

M is for Monster by Talia Dutton | Request Now
The cover of M is for Monster by Talia DuttonWhen Doctor Frances Ai's younger sister, Maura, died in a tragic accident six months ago, Frances swore she would bring her back to life. However, the creature that rises from the slab is clearly not Maura. This girl, who chooses the name "M," doesn't remember anything about Maura's life and just wants to be her own person. But Frances expects M to pick up where Maura left off, and continue the plans she and Maura shared. And M wants nothing to do with Frances' attempts to change her into something she's not.

As a nod to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this graphic novel, told from M's point of view, explores feelings of grief, identity, what it means to live up to—or defy—expectations, and what it means to reinvent yourself. If you're looking for a story that explores the act of performing and feeling stuck under the weight of expectation (paired with some really cool artwork), this title is for you. This is a more popular title, but you can get on the list to join the queue.

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