Alexie, Sherman.
Absolutely True Diaries of a Part–Time Indian
. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2007. The story of Junior Polatkin, who decides to leave "the Rez" in hopes of a better life.
B., David.
Epileptic
. New York: Pantheon, 2006. This autobiographical graphic novel chronicles the author's tumultuous relationship with his older brother, who is epileptic.
Barry, Lynda.
What it Is
. Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2008. Ms. Barry, the author of the syndicated
Marlys
comic strip creates a thought–provoking collection that is part autobiography, part instructional guide to tapping one's creative potential.
Bell, Gabrielle.
Cecil and Jordan in New York: Stories
. Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2009. Ms. Bell's text–heavy graphic stories are deceptively simple, detailing the struggles of growing up as an outsider.
Brunetti, Ivan.
Cartooning: Philosophy and Practice
. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2011. This slight but indispensable book is a great how–to guide to creating one's own cartoons and the inspiration for many of this unit's lessons.
Carlin, John, Paul Karasik, and Brian Walker, eds.
Masters of American Comics
. Yale University Press, 2005. This coffee table companion book to the traveling art exhibit features excellent original art and biographical essays on the great comics artists of the past century.
Larson, Gary.
The Far Side
. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel, 1982. The first collection of the widely syndicated humor strip that ended its run in 1995.
Lethem, Jonathan.
The Ecstasy of Influence
. New York: Doubleday, 2011. A collection of Mr. Lethem's non–fiction writing.
McCloud, Scott.
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
. New York: Harper Perennial, 1994. Simply put, this book was invaluable toward conceptualizing this unit.
Satrapi, Marjane.
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
. New York: Pantheon, 2004. Ms. Satrapi's autobiographical account of growing up in Iran with the consequences of the Islamic Revolution.
Small, David.
Stitches:
A Memoir
. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009. Mr. Small, a long–time children's book illustrator, turns inward in this autobiographical graphic novel about his unhappy childhood.
Spiegelman, Art.
Maus: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
. New York: Pantheon, 1986. The book that put graphic novels on the map details the author's father's trials surviving the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.