According to my book tracker app, I read 128 books last year. There were lots of really interesting reads and comics that got me excited about the medium. But here is a list of my absolute top reads for 2022 (and the reasons why I liked them). I’ve posted them in alphabetical order for lack of something more original.
Apple Crush
by Lucy Knisley
I like this book because: It really captured some of the feelings I had growing up when some of my friends and schoolmates started crushing on each other (and I just didn’t get it). Plus I’m always here for Lucy Knisley’s art.
Read if you like: Slice-of-life stories about being an awkward pre-teen who likes drawing. Also halloween!
2. Button Pusher
by Tyler Page
I like this book because: This memoir about Page’s experiences growing up, getting diagnosed with ADHD & starting medication trials was sensitively told. I particularly enjoyed the information sections of the book (coloured only in shades of blues to distinguish them from the main full coloured story). They were clear and very interesting.
Read if you like: Finding out about people’s personal experiences around ADHD.
3. Cat’s Cradle: The Golden Twine
by Jo Rioux
I like this book because: Of the very beautiful art and exciting fantasy world building. Just a fun, well-told fantasy comic with lots of fun lore to get stuck into. I definitely wanted more at the end of the book though (this book is labelled book 1, so here’s hoping that number 2 comes out soon).
Read if you like: Cheeky and confident street urchin characters with great storytelling skills.
4. Freestyle
by Gale Galligan
I like this book because: It was just a heck of a lot of fun! Galligan is a master of drawing over-dramatic emotions and showing complex interpersonal relationships between friends and families! Freestyle made me laugh a lot reading it and made me want to take up yo-yo-ing!
Read if you like: Yo-yos and fun stories about misunderstandings and friends.
5. the greatest thing
by Sarah Winifred Searle
I like this book because: It’s the book I wish I’d read as teen. This fictional story is based on Searle’s experiences navigating high school, eating disorders, budding friendships and zine publishing. I particularly loved the weaving of the character’s zines throughout the story and I think it was my favourite book I read in 2022.
Read if you like: Books that don’t shy away from the hard subjects but handle them with care. Zines and zine creators.
6. Just Roll with It
by Veronica Agarwal & Lee Durfey-Lavoie
I like this book because: The interpersonal communications in this book, dialogue and depictions of anxiety and OCD were really well written. I found the character of Maggie incredibly relateable and her journey throughout the book heartening. I couldn’t put it down!
Read if you like: Stories about anxiety, OCD and Dungeons & Dragons!
7. Lightfall book 2: Shadow of the Bird
by Tim Probert
I like this book because: Its beautiful art and succinct storytelling easily sucked me into this fantasy world. I particularly enjoyed how easy the action is to follow and how anxiety is visualised.
Read if you like: Main characters with anxiety overcoming their worries and going on fantastical adventures.
8. Ride ON
by Faith Erin Hicks
I like this book because: Hicks really knows how to capture people’s personalities and emotions. Reading her comics I feel like I’m just slipping in alongside her characters and I’m part of the gang. And boy, can she draw horses!
Read if you like: Awkwardly making friends, bonding over your favourite sci-fi show and horses. There are a lot of horses.
9. The Tryout
by Christina Soontornvat & Joanna Cacao
I like this book because: It surprised me. I thought I would enjoy the story but didn’t expect to really love it! Having never really felt like I fitted into (or even wanted to fit into) the “popular girl/cheerleader” image, I was surprised when I was drawn into these stories of growing up, wanting to fit in but also wanting to be yourself, which were brilliantly handled by Soontornvat & Cacao.
Read if you like: Feel-good and relatable personal stories, memoirs about growing up as a person of colour in a predominantly white city, and delightful art.
10. Twin Cities
by Jose Pimienta
I like this book because: It deals with the complex relationships between siblings who are growing apart and school friends that you’re not sure should be your friend and what comes from living on the border of two countries. I enjoyed learning more about what life living on the US/Mexico border is like.
Read if you like: Stories about siblings and growing up.
11. Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure
by Lewis Hancox
I like this book because: Of how unapologetically British the language was (I love comics that use region-specific dialogue - if I’m not sure about something I get to look it up and learn something new!). Also how this memoir tackled changes of views over time (particularly with parents).
Read if you like: Personal memoirs with trans stories.
Looking for great comics to read? Check out my Recommended Reading List. It’s a list of some of my favourite comics, organised loosely into reading ages and fiction & non-fiction.
What have been some of your favourite comics, books or zines to read this year? I’m always looking for reading suggestions - comment below if there is a cool comic you recommend!
Following on from my last post about how the design of the characters in my graphic novel, Oh Brother, have changed over the 7-ish years I’ve been working on the book, this post is about my absolute favourite thing: drawing emotions!