YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association, announced its list of the Best Books for Young Adults in 2006, and included four graphic novel titles among them; and well as choosing one of those titles for its Top Ten list.  The announcement was made at the recently concluded American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

 

The four titles drew from both comics lit and superhero titles:

Pyongyang:  A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle (Drawn and Quarterly)

The Plot:  The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion by Will Eisner (Norton)

Runaways Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan (Marvel)

Superman:  Birthright by Mark Waid and others (DC)

 

Brian K Vaughan's Runaways was chosen as one of the Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults for the Year. 

 

The announcement said that the books chosen 'meet the criteria of both good quality literature and reading appeal for teens.'

 

This kind of endorsement not only represents an important sign of increasing acceptance of graphic novels for the library community, it's also an opportunity for retailers to feature these well-written titles for their young adult customers.