Beloved tales are getting a new life with the surge of graphic novel adaptations for young readers. We spoke with the editors of notable graphic novels featuring familiar faces that are releasing this year.
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes, illus. by Setor Fiadzigbey. (Little, Brown Ink, Dec. 2 $24.99 ISBN 978-0-316-27979-6; $13.99 paper ISBN 978-0-316-27967-3). Rhodes’s middle grade novel, which earned the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, follows the ghost of 12-year-old Jerome after he’s shot and killed by police and watches his community unravel in the aftermath. “It took on the countless violent deaths of Black boys in America in a really visceral, personal, and unique way,” said editorial director Andrea Colvin of the original novel. “And though she wasn’t the first, and won’t be the last, author to take on this topic, I think Jewell’s approach was really special and unique.”
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park, adapted by Colleen AF Venable, illus. by Honie Beam (Random House, Apr. 29 $20.99 ISBN 978-0-593-70670-1; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-0-593-64563-5. The beloved Junie B. Jones, who first appeared in 1992, makes her graphic novel debut for her first day of kindergarten—except riding home on a bus with a strong odor proves to be a challenge. “Junie B.’s world was so wonderfully imagined by the late Barbara Park and illustrated by Denise Brunkus that I knew readers would be excited to enter that world even further,” said Shana Corey, editorial director at Random House Brands and Graphic. “So many kids get into reading through graphic novels, and Barbara always said that reading should be fun, so we—and Barbara’s family—felt that Junie B’s stories in this format would be a great way to build on the fun for today’s readers.”
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, illus. by Karen De La Vega (Clarion, Apr. 29; $24.99 ISBN 978-0-06-331040-7; $15.99 ISBN 978-0-06-331038-4). Siblings Evan and Jessie started a “war” in 2007 with the release of The Lemonade War and now the dynamic duo’s rivalry is showcased in a graphic novel format. “You pick it up thinking it’s going to be a fun summer story about rival lemonade stands, but it’s so much more than that,” said HarperCollins Children’s Books executive editor Amy Cloud. “The closeness and love, but also the vulnerability and shame, that sense of constant comparison. She captures all of that and then shows us how to move through it.”
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, illus. by Sharee Miller (Quill Tree, May 6 $24.99; ISBN 978-0-06-293559-5; $15.99 paper ISBN 978-0-06-293558-8). Garcia’s novel about a trio of sisters who leave Brooklyn to see their mother in Oakland, Calif., and spend their summer at a day camp run by the Black Panthers was a Newbery Honor book, National Book Award finalist, and Coretta Scott King Award winner. “I was so happy for Rita; we had worked together for years, and she is a singular talent,” said Garcia’s longtime editor Rosemary Brosnan, VP and publisher of HarperCollins imprints Quill Tree Books and Heartdrum. On the adaptation into a graphic novel, Brosnan said, “The book has become a classic, and we thought it would be a great idea to offer it in another format. And we were so lucky to have Sharee Miller illustrate the book! She did a marvelous job with the artwork and brought the characters and story to life in such a fun, accessible way.”
The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel by Maggie Stiefvater and Stephanie Williams, illus. by Sas Milledge (Viking, July 29 $24.99 ISBN 978-0-593-62117-2; $17.99 paper ISBN 978-0-593-62118-9). The graphic novel adaptation of Stiefvater’s popular YA series centers around the mysterious students from an all-boys school, who invite Blue, a lone psychic, on a quest to find a magical king. Originally released in 2012, The Raven Boys found instant popularity, landing on the New York Times bestseller list, and has more one million copies in print, in more than 28 languages. “Maggie has intricately woven magic and family and grief and love into each and every one of the characters all in such different and complex ways,” said Viking associate editor Meriam Metoui. “No wonder they feel so alive.” Stiefvater heads out on a five-city tour later this year to present the graphic novel.
Refugee by Alan Gratz, illus. by Syd Fini (Scholastic/Graphix, Oct. 7 $24.99 ISBN 978-1-338-733976; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-338-733969). Adam Gratz’s 2017 middle grade novel about three young refugees from different countries and eras is also getting the graphic novel treatment. “Graphic novels are a very cinematic medium, of course, so the adaptation felt like a natural extension of Alan’s style,” said Aimee Friedman, an editorial director at Scholastic. Gratz acted as the adapter for the graphic novel script. See our exclusive reveal of the cover here.
Song of the Lioness, Book 1: Alanna by Tamora Pierce, adapted by Vita Ayala, illus. by Sam Beck. (Abrams Fanfare, May 13 $26.99 ISBN 978-1-4197-6558-2; $17.99 ISBN 978-1-4197-6557-5). Tamora Pierce’s four-part fantasy series originally began as a book for adults, but while working as a housemother, she transformed the work into a YA edition for her daughters, which became the juggernaut it is today. The titular heroine Alanna comes from a noble family but dreams of becoming a knight, and bucks traditional gender roles by escaping to the capital to start her training, while dressed like a boy. “Addressing feminism, diversity, socioeconomics, politics, gender, and sexuality, Alanna feels as impactful—and even radical—today as it ever was,” said Charlotte Greenbaum, executive editor of graphic novels at Abrams. See our story on the 40th anniversary of the original book.
Space Case the Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs, illustrated by Ward Jenkins. (S&S, Aug. 19 $24.99 ISBN 978-1-66593-480-0; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-66593-481-7). Stuart Gibbs adds a new graphic novel series to his catalog, after the Spy School series, with the first in the Moon Base Alpha the Graphic Novel series. Space Case traces the life of tween space dweller Dashiell, who finds life in outer space isn’t all it’s been made out to be. When a lunarnaut suddenly dies, Dashiell investigates their death, suspecting foul play. “The heart of Space Case, as with all of Stuart’s books, lies in the wonderful dynamics between families, the value of good friends, and figuring out one’s place in the world,” said S&S executive editor Krista Vitola. “Whether it be in solving a mystery, escaping the bad guys or hunting down a secret treasure, the characters in Stuart’s novels feel real—they are flawed and funny and have interesting back stories and skills that are assets to whatever task lies ahead.”
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, adapted and illus. by K. Woodman-Maynard (FSG, Sept. 2 $22.99 ISBN 978-0-374-39185-0; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-0-374-39186-7). In honor of the 50th anniversary of the late Babbitt’s novel about a girl, a boy, and a spring that grants everlasting life, a new fully illustrated edition will be hitting shelves. FSG executive director Wesley Adams describe Babbitt’s original novel as “a perfectly cut gem that sparkles from whatever angle you examine it.” Noting that the graphic novel edition features the original dialogue from the book, Adams said, “It’s comforting to us at FSG, to Natalie’s family, to illustrator Katharine Woodman-Maynard—and it will also be a comfort to those generations of fans who love the novel and know much of it by heart.” The new edition will also include an exclusive conversation between Woodman-Maynard and the author’s daughter Lucy.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, illus. by Fred Fordham (Clarion, Mar. 11 $26.99 ISBN 978-0-06-328576-7). This story from late writer Le Guin follows Ged, who is now the best sorcerer in all of Earthsea but was once a boy who had to learn how to master his powers. Chris Ayala-Kronos, senior editor at Clarion Books, said, “When Ursula Le Guin first published it in 1968, she layered in confounding questions about the human experience into a book written for young readers, like coming to terms with the self and how to tame power. Through the adaptation, Fred Fordham goes from extreme shadow to extreme lightness, brilliance, and airiness: Ged’s meeting his shadow, the light meeting the dark, and the space between that connects it all.”
