Every year the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) releases a list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens. They also pick a top ten. But the question is: do they get it right? Well, I can't speak for all of the titles, but I'd like to touch on a few from this and last year that actually are great. The first is Meanwhile by Jason Shiga. This Choose Your Own Adventure style story let's you make all the decisions. First off, would you like chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Be careful though, your choice may lead you down a path of ice cream bliss, time travel, or accidentally killing yourself and everyone in your town . . . oops! Shiga creates a strange and fascinating world that is goofy and hilarious. This is one of the 2011 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens.  The next book, also a 2011 Top Ten Great Graphic Novel, is Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri and illustrated by Randy DeBurke. This is a highly affecting book that deals with the true story of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer. In September 1994, Yummy landed on the cover of Time magazine. However, his story was one of gangland violence and the 11-year-old had both killed another young girl in his neighborhood before winding up dead himself a few days later. The story tries to make sense of the situation through the eyes of a fictional classmate. Was Yummy a victim or a bully. The story is intense and doesn't pull any punches, yet it is fairly gentle given the situation. Finally, a book from last year's list, but we just got it in a few months ago . . . Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka by Naoki Ursawa. THIS ONE IS AMAZING! Some of the teens who come up here may know that I am not the biggest manga fan. I have a respect for the medium, it just isn't for me. Yet, every now and then I run across something that is just . . . unstoppably cool. This is that one. Based on a story arc from Astro Boy, this series tells the story of a detective trying to catch a killer who is taking out the world's greatest robots. Great art. Great storytelling. All three of these graphic novels have a little bit of violence, and the last two deal with more mature themes, however, they are appropriate for 6th grade and up. I would recommend slightly older for Yummy and Pluto. | 
