In 1957, The Montgomery Story told the story of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Montgomery Bus Boycott. It was both a powerful tool for teaching nonviolent civil resistance and an accessible way to get the information to a wider audience. It was also a comic book.
Over the years, the comics medium has been a powerful force in amplifying a diverse range of voices and overcoming language, cultural, and political barriers. They have also been essential in promoting social awareness — the “ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.” The combination of stories by creators from all walks of life, spanning every imaginable topic, and artwork that can communicate a thousand words in every panel, makes them an exemplary medium for education and entertainment.
My Pick Six this month focuses on aspects of social awareness that can amplify a reader’s understanding of the world they live in, while still having fun while reading. These titles are part of our Indie Spotlight list, which represents a diverse range of independent publishers and creator’s voices and perspectives. I hope you enjoy my picks, while also diving into the full list to discover your next favorite read!
Middle Grade
Tuskegee Heirs: Flames of Destiny by Greg Burnham and Marcus Williams (Heir Apparent)
The year is 2049, and manned aircraft are illegal in favor of Artificial Intelligence pilots. Despite this fact, Able is deposited into a dysfunctional, yet talented, squadron of teenaged aviators training to fly famed the P-51 Mustang aircraft. While completing their first battle simulation in real P-51s, one of the pilots, Genesis, is shot down by an unseen bogey. When the culprit is revealed to be a squad of evil robots, the still-in-training Tuskegee Heirs set out to save a US Senator, only to become political pawns themselves, forced into hiding until they can figure out the robot’s motives and clear their names. While a variation of a familiar tale, this exciting, gorgeously illustrated adventure is an all-ages friendly introduction to the concept of history being written by the “winners.”
Interwoven throughout the story are interesting facts about the real-life Tuskegee Airmen, who are infamous for their elite fighting skills and successful escort missions on behalf of the United States during WWII. Despite their impeccable flight records and never-before-seen aerial skills, the talented American military squadron endured constant strife because they were Black pilots. Faced with battles both physical and political, their historical legacy has been both rightfully celebrated and unscrupulously challenged, including the recent attempt to remove United States lesson plans and military training courses referencing the airmen.
The fictional Tuskegee Heirs practice the flight routines of the war time heroes and model their six guiding principles: “aim high; believe in yourself; use your brain; be ready to go; never quit; and, expect to win.” The rise in attempts to erase history makes the fun-loving Tuskegee Heirs a great choice to introduce the real Tuskegee Airmen to a new generation.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Elementary, Children’s Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Teens
Djeliya: A West African Fantasy Epic by Juni Ba (TKO Studios)
Awa Kouyte is not living up to her destiny. As Djeli, or royal historian and sworn guiding companion to Prince Mansour Keita, her fate is intertwined with a man who perpetually chooses shortcuts and cheap solutions over ambition and hard work. Despite it not being the life her mother trained her for, Awa makes the best of it by attempting to ensure Mansour does not lower himself any further. After all, there is an order to things, and their only chance at reclaiming their formal ancestral glory is for Awa to keep them both focused. Mansour and Awa are survivors of the day the apocalypse came in the form of wizard-god Soumaoro, who destroyed the kingdom’s era of peace and prosperity with his mighty tower. Despite Mansour being the only person who wields the battle-ready powers of his ancestors through the use of a magical mask, he shamefully did nothing to stop Soumaoro. Awa sticks with Mansour hoping to facilitate the right opportunity or guidance that will inspire him to rise and reclaim his kingdom to restore order.
There is a lot to take in with Djeliya: a futuristic dystopian setting; African folklore; dynamic artwork with multiple influences; and nonstop action sequences spilling over panels and pages. Juni Ba, the award winning author and illustrator, just barely reigns all of these elements in through earnest characterization and the authenticity of the folklore his tale is based on.
Djeliya explores social awareness in numerous ways, including how labor and intellectual contributions of marginalized people, in this case women, are harnessed by powerful men to gain even greater power — without proper credit or compensation. In the story, Soumaoro brought wisdom and innovation to specific cultures, who rewarded his contributions by allowing him to pick their most talented females to take as wives. He would then harness the women to bring value to yet a different culture of people, who in turn eagerly sold their brightest young ladies into slavery. While the value of women’s contributions has too often been downplayed or erased throughout history, it’s interesting to see it as a large theme in African folklore. There’s also room for classroom or book club discussion about who has to suffer in order for others to thrive.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Middle School, High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
What We Don’t Talk About by Charlot Kristensen (Avery Hill)
Farai has fallen in love and she’s ready to let the world know. But first, she has to meet Adam’s parents. Of course it’s normal to be anxious, but Farai and Adam have the additional hurdle of being a young, interracial couple. Farai’s worries quickly come to fruition when she meets and is almost immediately subjected to a series of micro-aggressions from Adam’s mom, Martha. When Adam gets Farai to open up about what’s bothering her, his reaction to her experiences is gaslighting and excuses.
This disturbing dance between the three characters — with Adam’s checked-out father chiming in to support Martha’s viewpoints — continues throughout Farai’s visit, until she reaches a breaking point. It is evident that, despite Farai’s calm attempts to educate Martha, the older woman is set against changing her beliefs. The question becomes, can Adam step up and support Farai and, even if he does, will it still be too little, too late?
What We Don’t Talk About is a fast read, which is probably good since I felt my blood pressure rise with each page. Refreshingly, Farai is the modern leading lady every young person can aspire to be: someone who does not hesitate to speak up for herself and for what is right, and does so in a way meant to educate rather than intentionally challenge or embarrass Martha. Despite her positive character attributes, Farai should not have to constantly speak her truth, especially without the support of her supposedly loving partner. The strife between characters provides a window to explore race relations and ideologies within people’s inner lives in a way that will intrigue and resonate with readers.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): Middle School, High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Young Adults
1/6: The Graphic Novel by Alan Jenkins, Gan Golan, and William Rosado (OneSix Comics)
1/6 is a work of historical fiction that asks the question: what if the people who stormed the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 had succeeded in their mission? In this alternate history, any news outlet wishing to spread the truth is considered an “enemy of freedom,” and reporters who resist are met with violence. The American people are now divided into warring factions where nobody benefits but the few in power. Sage is a reporter who narrowly escapes the violent takeover of his news station, just seconds before he was set to run a verified true account from the insurrection. Through his plight, we enter into the world of the resistance, a group dedicated to exposing the truth and recapturing American democracy.
Despite technically being a work of fiction, the actual timeline of that day’s events is laid out via real social media posts, texts, and interviews which set the backdrop for the world the characters must navigate. This is a well-researched account that comes with receipts. Written by Harvard Law Professor Alan Jenkins and New York Times bestselling author Gan Golan, backmatter for the first issue reveals their process and reasoning for writing 1/6. In researching the events of January 6th, they interviewed people from a wide variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The running theme of these discussions was the sense of unease about how some politicians and media pundits minimized or excused the documented violence on the Capitol.
The authors’ stance is that the rioter’s intentions don’t match the core values most Americans still hold dear, and this book serves as a cautionary tale for national unrest. Until enough time has passed for history books to accurately report on the true events of the day, 1/6 is a must read in a world where history is too often destined to repeat.
- Comics Plus Collection(s): High School, Teen Public Library, All-Access for Schools, Full Collection
Adults
The Day the Klan Came to Town by Bill Campbell and Bizhan Khodabandeh (PM Press)
The Day the Klan Came to Town is another work of well-researched historical fiction, this time examining the true events from August 25, 1923 when the Ku Klux Klan organized a march on Carnegie, Pennsylvania. The so-called march was actually more of a scheduled riot, with Klan members arming themselves to the teeth and bribing officials to look the other way while they spread hate and intolerance. During this time of a documented rise in Klan participation, Cabbriele “Primo” is watching history repeat itself before his terrified eyes. Having fled from political persecution in Italy, where he was forced to work in the mines, Primo is quick to recognize the same type of bigotry rearing its head in the name of patriotism. His heavily pregnant wife, Gianna, is less inclined to acknowledge the signs. Tension mounts within their home, in addition to in the streets, where citizens live in fear of being in the Klan’s route of destruction. This culminates into the true events of the fateful summer night when residents came together against the violent mob to reclaim their town.
Writer Bill Campbell grew up in Carnegie, a mere fifty-five years after the events in the story, yet its history was not taught in schools. He had no idea that a Klansman was killed on the sidewalk in front of the church he attended. Even as a local community member, information about that August night was extremely hard for him to obtain, hence the need to fictionalize some events, characters, and conversations in order to finally bring the truth of the riot to light.
Too often, human history either goes uncommunicated or ignored. This story brings these instances to the forefront in a way that engages and educates readers. Beyond the obvious and important theme of racism and intolerance, readers will learn to spot the signs of bigoted movements that have brought the oppression of peoples throughout human history. They will also take inspiration from the spirit of the people, themselves a mixed group, who came together to put a decisive end to the Klan’s reign of terror.
NOTE: The Day the Klan Came to Town is also one of our first Book Club Picks, including a custom reader’s guide to help spark conversations.
- Comics Plus Collection: Full Collection
Adversary by Blue Delliquanti (Silver Sprocket)
Set in barely post-Covid lockdown Minneapolis, Curtis is enjoying an afternoon drink at a neighborhood bar when the bartender sends him a drink courtesy of bar regular, Anton. Curtis is newly out and single, and invites Anton to join him. Coincidentally, the two have crossed paths before, years ago, during a self-defense class Curtis taught and Anton attended. Anton invites Curtis over to his place for a flirtatious review of self-defense techniques, and the two begin a sexual relationship that doesn’t really deepen, despite Curtis’ attempts at connection. Anton remains mysterious to the point of hostility, while Curtis is open about his life, including his long marriage to Lisa. Anton has pointed opinions about Curtis and his former life, but never elaborates. Readers may believe they’ve seen variations of this story before, but it’s doubtful that most will anticipate the shocking twist.
Adversary comes with massive trigger warnings, including consensual violence in sexual situations and grief, and is only for mature readers. It’s a short story with many layers, and the Covid aspect is a time capsule back to our collective experiences from 2020 that lead to so many losing loved ones and carrying lasting trauma. The characters are wary of police presence and must navigate a divided city after the George Floyd protests. Everyone is coping with their grief, fear, and distrust of their neighbors for so many reasons. For readers, the swirl of social issues and emotions are an undercurrent that brings creeping dread and painful memories to what should be a straightforward love story.
Rarely do I recommend a read that is potentially this divisive, but sometimes we consume stories that burrow into our brains and we just need to share the experience. Adversary is a short read with a shocking gut-punch ending that provides awareness of the traumatic experiences marginalized communities had during a time we usually try to forget.
- Comics Plus Collection: Full Collection
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Moni Barrette, MLIS is the Director, Collection Development for LibraryPass, as well as former President of American Library Association’s Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table, and co-founder of the nonprofit Creators, Assemble! Inc. As a former public library manager, Moni won the California Library Association PRExcellence Award (2018 & 2019) for library events aimed at underserved adult library users, and has proven success using comics to increase library circulation. She is a frequent panelist at San Diego and New York Comic Con, San Diego Comic Fest and Wonder-Con, hosting industry networking events and providing instruction to educators and librarians.
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