The first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day and the fifth is National Cartoonist’s Day so this month’s task for our 2021 Reading Challenge is to read a graphic novel or two. Below you’ll find a few recommendations to meet the task, but for even more suggestions, give us a call at 708-867-7828. Your librarians are here to help.

Download a printable form and keep track of your reading tasks throughout the year to earn a free book.

Miles Morales: Straight out of Brooklyn by Saladin Ahmed and Javier Garron

When the rampaging Rhino and a cadre of mysterious criminals start plaguing Brooklyn, things take a dark turn for the young Spider-Man! What mystery lurks under the surface of this newest villainous uprising? Why does the Rhino have minions? And who is the new antagonist who may just become Miles’ most dangerous foe? Maybe Captain America has the answers! Then, get ready for…Miles Morales’ day off! Vice Principal Drutcher is determined to figure out the reason for his student’s tardiness and absences, so Miles, Judge and Barbara must stay one-step ahead by playing hooky – while our hero tries to keep his secret safe from all of them! Plus: the quiet-but-deadly Tombstone! And introducing…Starling! Is she friend or foe? And is she single?

The Sacrifice of Darkness by Roxane Gay, Tracy Lynne Oliver, and Rebecca Kirby

Expanding an unforgettable world where a tragic event forever bathes the world in darkness, The Sacrifice of Darkness follows one woman’s powerful journey through this new landscape as she discovers love, family, and the true light in a world seemingly robbed of any.

Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction, David Aja, and Javier Pulido

Clint Barton – aka the self-made hero Hawkeye – fights for justice! With ex-Young Avenger Kate Bishop by his side, he’s out to prove himself as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! SHIELD recruits Clint to intercept a packet of incriminating evidence – before he becomes the most wanted man in the world.

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli

Year One tells the entire dramatic story of Batman’s first year fighting crime. By turns brutal, tender, grim and hopeful, Miller and Mazzucchelli’s masterful reimagination of Bruce Wayne’s first year as Gotham City’s champion has electrified generations of readers with its unprecedented fusion of gritty realism and elegance of form.

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

When artsy misfit Jane Beckles is forced to leave her beloved city life behind for the boring suburb of Kent Waters, she thinks her life is over. But then she finds where she belongs: at the reject table in the cafeteria, along with fellow misfits Brain Jayne, Theater Jane, and sporty Polly Jane. United by only two things-a shared name and frustration with the adults around them—the girls form a secret club dedicated to fighting suburban apathy with guerrilla works of art scattered around their small town.
But for Main Jane, the group is more than simple teenaged rebellion; it’s an act of survival. She’s determined not to let fear rule her life like it does her parents’ and neighbors’ lives. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, the PLAIN Janes are out to prove that passion, bravery, and a group of great friends can save anyone from the hell

Dept. H, Vol. 1: Pressure by Matt Kindt

Mia is a special investigator hired to uncover possible sabotage taking place at a deep-sea research station, where a bitter and paranoid crew try to keep the base functional. What she uncovers is a mind-blowing crime scene filled with suspects with terrible secrets, strange deep-sea creatures, and an impending flood!

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

Laura Dean, the most popular girl in high school, was Frederica Riley’s dream girl: charming, confident, and SO cute. There’s just one problem: Laura Dean is maybe not the greatest girlfriend.

Reeling from her latest break up, Freddy’s best friend, Doodle, introduces her to the Seek-Her, a mysterious medium, who leaves Freddy some cryptic parting words: break up with her. But Laura Dean keeps coming back, and as their relationship spirals further out of her control, Freddy has to wonder if it’s really Laura Dean that’s the problem. Maybe it’s Freddy, who is rapidly losing her friends, including Doodle, who needs her now more than ever.

Fortunately for Freddy, there are new friends, and the insight of advice columnists like Anna Vice to help her through being a teenager in love.

Scarlet Witch Vol. 1: Witches’ Road by James Robinson and Steve Dillon

Witchcraft is broken – and the Scarlet Witch is on a journey across the globe to fix it. From the back alleys of Manhattan to the serene Greek Isles to the Irish countryside, the former Avenger will face myths and legends from ancient lore, cure curses, and discover there’s is even more to her complex family history than she knew. In Spain she will visit a church where witches like her were once burned at the stake – and be haunted by the ghosts of the Spanish Inquisition! But will the powerful mage known as the Emerald Warlock be friend or foe to Wanda – or the Uncanny Avengers? And as she solves magical crimes and pieces witchcraft back together, one vital question remains: Who shattered it in the first place?