Non-Fiction Graphic Books Recommended by Staff

Some of the most moving and profound graphic novels are not "novels" at all but are works of non-fiction.  There are some wonderful memoirs but you can find graphic novels about science, history and current affairs as well.  These non-fiction graphic novels were selected by staff as their favourites.

Dragonslippers: This is What an Abusive Relationship Looks Like by Rosalind B. Penfold
Penfold documents her own journey from successful business woman to abused spouse and demonstrates how women become trapped in violent relationships.

Fun Home: a Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Based on her childhood diaries and memories, Bechdel tells the story of her life with her father, a closeted gay man who taught English and ran the local funeral parlor.

The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media by Brooke Gladstone and Josh Neufeld
A history of media and examination of current media issues from NPR broadcaster Brooke Gladstone.

Louis Riel: a Comic Strip Biography by Chester Brown
A critically acclaimed book examining the life of Métis leader Louis Riel.

Maus: a Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman
Widely considered a masterpiece, Spiegelman illustrates his father's Holocaust experiences.

The Mysterious Death of Tom Thomson: a Wordless Narrative Told in One Hundred and Nine Woodblock Engravings by George A. Walker
The life and death of one of Canada's legendary landscape painters is presented in a series of wood engravings.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
A series of black and white images tells the story of Satrapi's childhood during a time of political upheaval in Iran.

The Stuff of Life: a Graphic Guide to Genetics and DNA by Mark Schultz, Zander Cannon and Kevin Cannon
This entertaining and accessible book teaches the basics of genetics using a narrative about an alien.

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