Young Readers - The Best of 2015 - a podcast by Stergios Botzakis & Derek Royal

As the end of 2015 draws near and the holiday shopping season is in full swing, Andy and Gwen have drawn up their lists of their favorite comics for young readers released during the last year. Although their choices run the gamut from texts for early readers up through to texts for teens, every text mentioned creates a fine balance between serious subject matter and engaging artwork and writing. Many of these comics would be great choices for parents and kids to read together. 

Andy’s List:

• Astro Boy Omnibus, Vol. 1, Osamu Tezuka (Dark Horse Manga)


• The Kurdles, Robert Goodin (Fantagraphics)


• Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure, Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio Garcia Sanchez (Toon Graphics)


• Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor (Harry N. Abrams)


• Oyster War, Ben Towle (Oni Press)


• Roller Girl, Victoria Jamieson (Dial Books)

Gwen’s List:

• Secret Coders, Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes (First Second)


• Awkward, Svetlana Chmakova (Yen Press)


• The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Romeo and Juliet, Ian Lendler and Zack Giallongo (First Second)


• March: Book Two, John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (Top Shelf Productions)


• Lumberjanes, Vol. 1, Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooke A. Allen, and Shannon Watters (BOOM! Studios)

Books that both Gwen and Andy Selected:

• Sunny Side Up, Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, (Graphix)


• Hereville: How Mirka Caught a Fish, Barry Deutsch (Harry N. Abrams)

Andy and Gwen alternate leading discussion for each book and finish up by discussing two books that made both of their lists.

Further episodes of The Comics Alternative

Further podcasts by Stergios Botzakis & Derek Royal

Website of Stergios Botzakis & Derek Royal