Teaching pushed me to find great graphic novels and - wow - some of them blow me away!! I don’t k ow these though and will give them a closer look. Always a delightful read, Tara.
Ooo, I’d welcome any favorites you want to mention. Another of mine (for younger readers, age 10ish and history buffs) is Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales. The series name alone is worth a prize, and the stories tell history well, with humor.
Oh I adore teaching Persepolis and Maya. Cassandra Drake is an interesting one I came across via a show of the artist’s here in Basel. Inua Ellams, who mostly writes poetry and drama, has a fantastic one and I adore the City of Glass adaptation to graphic novel. I’m forgetting a couple but am without my bookshelf at the moment :) I shall also look at Hale, thanks!!
Thank you, Jen! Nice to meet you. :-) I found it a funny coincidence that both of you are YA writers. I love the "Midlife Chrysalis" theme of your Stack.
Yes, your eldest might enjoy these, and as a kid-supporting dad, I think *you* will appreciate The Prince & the Dressmaker. I mentioned to Julie G down below that my daughter read that one in the school library before I found it. She was probably 12 at the time, and it was good for her age. She enjoyed it. Her social circle had already prepped her for gender fluidity, so that part of the story did not faze her. Stargazing could also go over well at your house. It's a book that *respects* a young reader. I love that.
Thank you for this introduction Tara. I am looking forward to checking out Jan’s books. I especially love how you describe art at the end, it is a simple yet powerful way to look at creativity.
Thank you, Donna. I think you'll love the positive and self-empowering messages of these books, if you check them out. Sometimes people say that "literature" and "art" are highbrow things approved by gatekeepers, which is a cynical way to keep us from noticing when art "sees" us and moves us, no matter where we find it. A great graphic novel storyteller like Jen Wang provides an excellent opportunity to clarify that art does not require gatekeepers. (Preach it!) 💪 😉
Thank you, Julie. I wonder if some of your students will have read Wang. When I first brought home The Prince and the Dressmaker and set it on the dining table, my daughter (then 11 or 12) saw it and wondered what I was doing with a book she'd read in the library at school. I was considering it for a young adult lit class, but she got to it first. :-)
I love this and I've been reading more graphic novels lately so this list comes at a perfect time. It can be so hard to get diversity right and I love how you describe "the thousand tiny ways that individuals open themselves to the difference of others in order to make friends". For me this is what really makes a difference and the best characters are usually those that have multiple traits that go against stereotypes.
So glad you found your way here, Aurelie! Nice to meet you. Glad to hear this post is well-timed. The graphic novel market has definitely been booming. Do you have some other favorite artists or series in this genre? Thank you for sharing the post! 🙏
They do have a section for English books. It's not bad, but I think it is growing mostly at the pace of my requests :-D I think we get to request 2 books a month. My wife meanwhile, is part of the hardcore reader group that helps the library buy new books via the local bookstore (the book store orders them, she reads them, and then they go directly to the library shelves). She reads a lot more than I do.
Anyway, really excited to get to know this author's work. Thanks, Tara sensei!
I've been a fan of Jen Wang for quite a while. I especially liked The Prince and the Dressmaker, and I need to check out Stargazing when I get the chance. I would also recommend Koko Be Good, which came out back in 2010.
Thank you for reading and sharing. 🙏 The Prince and the Dressmaker caught my attention first. Thanks for mentioning Koko Be Good. Anyone who finds themselves a fan like us may want to read the complete set of her solo and co-authored books. Are you watching for Ash's Cabin next week?
I'm so grateful for you showing me to way to Wang's writing and drawing. These books all feel so needed and important, and I'm not just saying that as a genderwild critter or a dad to two almost-teens.
But the thing I really wanted to say here was how beautiful it is that you invite us to act on behalf of books and children and stories and openness by nudging our libraries to make shelf space for these beautiful creations. That's the ticket to real change.
Thank you, Robin. Libraries and librarians need all the help we can give them nowadays. I learned that my library has a simple online form allowing any of us to request a book. Many of us probably don't think to do that, but the libraries do hear when someone wants a book removed. I think Jen Wang has a great deal of wisdom, and I'm glad she's so productive at her art.
BTW, I love the phrase "genderwild critter." I think gender talk could use a little imprecision. Of all people *not* to pin down, it seems to me gender explorers don't need labels until they say so.
If I can convince you to use a kindle, I will let you convince me to read a graphic novel. Deal?
I’ve been around a lot of diversity efforts, a lot of diversity training and ideology, much of which was, for want of a better description, strained and embarrassing.
But also, the best years of my career were spent as a team leader of 22 professionals, all of whom I considered the best of the best, from 16 countries and who altogether spoke about 40 languages. Our program portfolio included about 30 countries on 4 continents.
We were a close group, probably as close to a family as possible in the work place. We cried on each others shoulders, drew courage and strength from one another, had each others backs, and could debate policy and problems with fervor for hours and then enjoy lunch together. But I never heard the D word once in those five years. We were all just people who worked together to solve tough problems. I would listen to the different perspectives in awe until one day I realized we were all seeing facets of the same thing, like looking at a cut diamond, and synthesizing those perspectives created sound, wise solutions.
I remember a teleconference once with an underperforming field office management team. As we discussed the problems, one of the field team blurted out that I had no idea what they were facing. I replied that it might be true, but my six colleagues on my end of the call absolutely did understand. The “poor me, nobody understands me” sentiment immediately evaporated and we were able to resolve the problems.
Workplace "training" can start with the best intentions and just crash into institutional heavy-handedness. This is one thing I enjoy about these books. Spending time in Jen Wang's imagination is kind of a tonic to those institutional training sessions that use all kinds of language but never the word "love."
Nice job on the teleconference. I'm glad you had a close team around you at least some of the time when you needed it.
I think the word love about sums it up. I don’t recall who said it, but some wit said we replaced 10 easy to understand laws and replaced them with millions of conflicting laws that anyone might transgress. “Show me the man and I will show you the crime.” - Lavrentiy Beria
“In an example of a failed attempt to tally up the number of laws on a specific subject area, in 1982 the Justice Department tried to determine the total number of criminal laws. In a project that lasted two years, the Department compiled a list of approximately 3,000 criminal offenses. This effort, headed by Ronald Gainer, a Justice Department official, is considered the most exhaustive attempt to count the number of federal criminal laws. In a Wall Street Journal article about this project, “this effort came as part of a long and ultimately failed campaign to persuade Congress to revise the criminal code, which by the 1980s was scattered among 50 titles and 23,000 pages of federal law.” Or as Mr. Gainer characterized this fruitless project: “[y]ou will have died and [been] resurrected three times,” and still not have an answer to this question.”
Teaching pushed me to find great graphic novels and - wow - some of them blow me away!! I don’t k ow these though and will give them a closer look. Always a delightful read, Tara.
Ooo, I’d welcome any favorites you want to mention. Another of mine (for younger readers, age 10ish and history buffs) is Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales. The series name alone is worth a prize, and the stories tell history well, with humor.
Oh I adore teaching Persepolis and Maya. Cassandra Drake is an interesting one I came across via a show of the artist’s here in Basel. Inua Ellams, who mostly writes poetry and drama, has a fantastic one and I adore the City of Glass adaptation to graphic novel. I’m forgetting a couple but am without my bookshelf at the moment :) I shall also look at Hale, thanks!!
Thank you! I’ll check these out. Some are new to me. That’s pretty good recall without the books handy. :-)
They are in moving boxes. I can’t really think without them, or spell apparently 😆
I blame the auto-editor. It has a limited vocabulary. 😂
*Maus (not Maya)
Haha - I thought I had a new one to find. My AI editor wants to rewrite it too. Maus, editor: Learn that.
Wow, very cool substack and thanks for taking the time to distinguish me!
Thank you, Jen! Nice to meet you. :-) I found it a funny coincidence that both of you are YA writers. I love the "Midlife Chrysalis" theme of your Stack.
Interesting post -- possibly good fits for my eldest. Thank you!
Yes, your eldest might enjoy these, and as a kid-supporting dad, I think *you* will appreciate The Prince & the Dressmaker. I mentioned to Julie G down below that my daughter read that one in the school library before I found it. She was probably 12 at the time, and it was good for her age. She enjoyed it. Her social circle had already prepped her for gender fluidity, so that part of the story did not faze her. Stargazing could also go over well at your house. It's a book that *respects* a young reader. I love that.
Thank you for this introduction Tara. I am looking forward to checking out Jan’s books. I especially love how you describe art at the end, it is a simple yet powerful way to look at creativity.
Thank you, Donna. I think you'll love the positive and self-empowering messages of these books, if you check them out. Sometimes people say that "literature" and "art" are highbrow things approved by gatekeepers, which is a cynical way to keep us from noticing when art "sees" us and moves us, no matter where we find it. A great graphic novel storyteller like Jen Wang provides an excellent opportunity to clarify that art does not require gatekeepers. (Preach it!) 💪 😉
Yes, preach it!
🎙️ 😂
Beautiful synopses and recommendations, Tara! I’m going to check these out.
Thank you, Julie. I wonder if some of your students will have read Wang. When I first brought home The Prince and the Dressmaker and set it on the dining table, my daughter (then 11 or 12) saw it and wondered what I was doing with a book she'd read in the library at school. I was considering it for a young adult lit class, but she got to it first. :-)
I love this and I've been reading more graphic novels lately so this list comes at a perfect time. It can be so hard to get diversity right and I love how you describe "the thousand tiny ways that individuals open themselves to the difference of others in order to make friends". For me this is what really makes a difference and the best characters are usually those that have multiple traits that go against stereotypes.
I'm so happy I stumbled across your newsletter :)
So glad you found your way here, Aurelie! Nice to meet you. Glad to hear this post is well-timed. The graphic novel market has definitely been booming. Do you have some other favorite artists or series in this genre? Thank you for sharing the post! 🙏
What beautiful sounding stories!
I'll try to order this to the local library here in Korea. They're usually pretty accommodating ;-)
I love that you already know how your local library handles requests. :-) Do they have much in English?
They do have a section for English books. It's not bad, but I think it is growing mostly at the pace of my requests :-D I think we get to request 2 books a month. My wife meanwhile, is part of the hardcore reader group that helps the library buy new books via the local bookstore (the book store orders them, she reads them, and then they go directly to the library shelves). She reads a lot more than I do.
Anyway, really excited to get to know this author's work. Thanks, Tara sensei!
Hooray for Team Possible City! Dōitashimashite. 😊
Lovely and inspiring. Thank you for introducing those of us who did not know to Jen Wang.
Thank you, Renée. I’m so encouraged by young people hitting their groove as she has clearly done. It makes me hopeful.
I've been a fan of Jen Wang for quite a while. I especially liked The Prince and the Dressmaker, and I need to check out Stargazing when I get the chance. I would also recommend Koko Be Good, which came out back in 2010.
Thank you for reading and sharing. 🙏 The Prince and the Dressmaker caught my attention first. Thanks for mentioning Koko Be Good. Anyone who finds themselves a fan like us may want to read the complete set of her solo and co-authored books. Are you watching for Ash's Cabin next week?
I'll definitely be looking out for it!
I'm so grateful for you showing me to way to Wang's writing and drawing. These books all feel so needed and important, and I'm not just saying that as a genderwild critter or a dad to two almost-teens.
But the thing I really wanted to say here was how beautiful it is that you invite us to act on behalf of books and children and stories and openness by nudging our libraries to make shelf space for these beautiful creations. That's the ticket to real change.
Thank you, Robin. Libraries and librarians need all the help we can give them nowadays. I learned that my library has a simple online form allowing any of us to request a book. Many of us probably don't think to do that, but the libraries do hear when someone wants a book removed. I think Jen Wang has a great deal of wisdom, and I'm glad she's so productive at her art.
BTW, I love the phrase "genderwild critter." I think gender talk could use a little imprecision. Of all people *not* to pin down, it seems to me gender explorers don't need labels until they say so.
Thank you for dropping by my little bookroom. :-)
If I can convince you to use a kindle, I will let you convince me to read a graphic novel. Deal?
I’ve been around a lot of diversity efforts, a lot of diversity training and ideology, much of which was, for want of a better description, strained and embarrassing.
But also, the best years of my career were spent as a team leader of 22 professionals, all of whom I considered the best of the best, from 16 countries and who altogether spoke about 40 languages. Our program portfolio included about 30 countries on 4 continents.
We were a close group, probably as close to a family as possible in the work place. We cried on each others shoulders, drew courage and strength from one another, had each others backs, and could debate policy and problems with fervor for hours and then enjoy lunch together. But I never heard the D word once in those five years. We were all just people who worked together to solve tough problems. I would listen to the different perspectives in awe until one day I realized we were all seeing facets of the same thing, like looking at a cut diamond, and synthesizing those perspectives created sound, wise solutions.
I remember a teleconference once with an underperforming field office management team. As we discussed the problems, one of the field team blurted out that I had no idea what they were facing. I replied that it might be true, but my six colleagues on my end of the call absolutely did understand. The “poor me, nobody understands me” sentiment immediately evaporated and we were able to resolve the problems.
Workplace "training" can start with the best intentions and just crash into institutional heavy-handedness. This is one thing I enjoy about these books. Spending time in Jen Wang's imagination is kind of a tonic to those institutional training sessions that use all kinds of language but never the word "love."
Nice job on the teleconference. I'm glad you had a close team around you at least some of the time when you needed it.
I think the word love about sums it up. I don’t recall who said it, but some wit said we replaced 10 easy to understand laws and replaced them with millions of conflicting laws that anyone might transgress. “Show me the man and I will show you the crime.” - Lavrentiy Beria
Don't look at Leviticus.
Those are regulations, not laws.😁
But think about this:
“In an example of a failed attempt to tally up the number of laws on a specific subject area, in 1982 the Justice Department tried to determine the total number of criminal laws. In a project that lasted two years, the Department compiled a list of approximately 3,000 criminal offenses. This effort, headed by Ronald Gainer, a Justice Department official, is considered the most exhaustive attempt to count the number of federal criminal laws. In a Wall Street Journal article about this project, “this effort came as part of a long and ultimately failed campaign to persuade Congress to revise the criminal code, which by the 1980s was scattered among 50 titles and 23,000 pages of federal law.” Or as Mr. Gainer characterized this fruitless project: “[y]ou will have died and [been] resurrected three times,” and still not have an answer to this question.”
I give up. I’m guilty. No question.
😵💫 I’m glad I chose education over law. Closest I got to the bar was Dickens’ Bleak House, and that was close enough.
Closest I got was Tennyson:
Crossing the Bar
Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have cross’d the bar.