As readers always interested in finding and sharing titles, the book review editors launched a sure-bet survey last summer in advance of LJ’s yearlong celebration of our 150th anniversary. 

We asked each other, librarians, our reviewers, and readers to share their sure-bet reads. We define a sure bet as a book adored by readers of the genre or subject—a title that they think of as “a keeper” or the all-time great work of its kind, one that they might always have in their bag, in their car, or on their phone for reading emergencies. In each issue, we will highlight the most frequently mentioned suggestions.

This month, we feature graphic novels. This format of storytelling offers readers an alchemy of elements—including text, image, page design, color, and line—to experience as they work together to craft a narrative. From manga to comic strips, from romance to horror, from memoir to history, there is an expansive canon of graphic novels to enjoy.

We hope these lists will aid readers’ advisors long past our anniversary, supplying a librarian-crafted list of books for displays, booklists, shelf-talkers, and more. To further aid the field and mark LJ’s birthday, we plan to conduct this survey every five years, offering space to add new titles. We hope you will keep notes as you work and share your findings. Happy reading.

Download the full list of submitted graphic novel titles or browse the collection on Edelweiss.

Graphic Novel Sure Bets

Backderf, Derf. My Friend Dahmer. Abrams ComicArts.

Beaton, Kate. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. Drawn & Quarterly.

Bechdel, Alison. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. Mariner.

Burns, Charles. Black Hole. Pantheon.

Butler, Octavia E. (text) & John Jennings (illus.). Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation. adapt. by Damian Duffy. Abrams ComicArts.

Ferris, Emil. My Favorite Thing Is Monsters. Fantagraphics.

Hernandez, Gilbert. Palomar. Fantagraphics.

Hulls, Tessa. Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir. MCD.

Kobabe, Maia. Gender Queer: A Memoir. Oni.

McGuire, Richard. Here. Pantheon.

Mohamed, Deena. Shubeik Lubeik. Pantheon.

Moore, Alan (text) & Dave Gibbons (illus.). Watchmen. DC Comics.

Satrapi, Marjane. The Complete Persepolis. tr. from French by Anjali Singh. Pantheon.

Spiegelman, Art. The Complete Maus: A Survivor’s Tale. Pantheon.

Ware, Chris. Building Stories. Pantheon.

Read more about the poll methodology.