Graphic Novels & Games
Category: Graphic novels & Games
A Map to the Sun
A Map to the Sun
By Sloane Leong
This gorgeous graphic novel presents a diverse group of friends forming a basketball team in a school dismissive of girls’ sports and as a positive alternative to their difficult home and personal lives.
Themes of friendship and teamwork are realistically portrayed with all the arguments, communication breakdowns, and make-ups that are common in true friendship and team sports.
Overall, you’ll get a respectful engagement with painful topics like body image, family issues, sexism, and inappropriate relationships but also a heart warming message of friendship, understanding, and respect.
Throughout, the opportunities sport provides for self-determination and growth are strongly represented. Plus, if you’re into art, you’ll love how Leong uses colour to create mood and how she portrays dynamic and dramatic movement in the sports scenes.
Bibliographic data
| Publisher & imprint | First Second |
| Publication date | 16 October 2020 |
| Pages | 368 |
| Format | Paperback graphic novel |
| Subjects | Sport, Relationships, Coming of Age, Comics |
| ISBN | 9781250146687 |
Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy
Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy
By Faith Erin Hicks
Alix is a talented ice hockey player with anger issues, a mother who doesn’t even like sport, and a bullying, jealous teammate. Could Ezra the popular, queer, drama kid be just the friend, even boyfriend, that she needs?
Hicks’ graphic novel is both a feel-good romance and sensitive exploration of serious issues, including family violence. Topics of gender and sexuality are also foregrounded as both Alix and Ezra refuse to be labelled and tied to a single, defining identity.
The art can be cute when it suits but also powerful bringing both the sports action to life and and making the more emotional scenes hit harder.
Sports players will appreciate how Alix’s focus on her game at first isolates her but later becomes the way to build bridges with her parents and her new friends. It’s especially gratifying to see the mother character come to understand Alix’s passion for sport.
Bibliographic data
| Publisher & imprint | Pan Macmillan Australia |
| Publication date | 3 October 2023 |
| Pages | 304 |
| Format | Paperback graphic novel |
| Subjects | Sport, Romance, Relationships, Coming of Age, Comics |
| ISBN | 9781761560576 |
Jusant
Jusant
By Don’t Nod
This game is both a realistic climbing experience and a relaxing fantasy story.
Although there are challenges, you can explore at your own pace with no timer or bosses to battle. Similarly, there is no risk of your quiet, androgynous character dying or having to repeat whole sections. Even the authentic climbing mechanics are introduced in a stepped way, supporting those with no experience in the sport.
The graphics are beautiful, encouraging rest breaks, and the music is peaceful. Along the way you’ll pick up and read texts that slowly reveal a story with an environmental message. There’s also a cute companion character who helps you on your journey.
This is a perfect game for resting after a busy day at school or playing sport and may even inspire you to take up climbing or explore fantasy stories.
Bibliographic data
| Developer | Don’t Nod |
| Release date | 31 October 2023 |
| Pages | N/A |
| Format | Game (Computer/Console) |
| Subjects | Sports, Puzzle, Adventure |
| ISBN | N/A |