Jasmine Amiri

Portland

Graphic Novels Editor at School Library Journal

Graphic Novels Editor at SLJ @sljournal Prev: Editor of comics. Titles include Eisner and GLAAD award-winning + Harvey nominated books. She/Her.

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Articles

Funny Animal Comics, from

Jan 22, 2025 | slj.com | Brigid Alverson |Jasmine Amiri |Angie Jameson |Rosemary Kiladitis

Even when they are just being themselves, animals make us smile. There’s nothing like a picture of a cute cat in a box or a capybara in a hot tub to brighten up the social media feed, and it’s not surprising that funny animals have been some of the most popular characters in comics. Funny-animal comic stories usually combine witty dialogue and incongruous situations that adults will find amusing, along with goofy characters and silly plots that will entertain young readers.
9 Middle Grade & YA Graphic Novels About the Holocaust

Jan 22, 2025 | slj.com | Jasmine Amiri |Angie Jameson |Rosemary Kiladitis |Andrea Lipinski

Every year on January 27th, International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the 1945 liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. This year marks the 80th anniversary. Share these graphic novels with young readers leading up ro the day and all year long. Run and Hide: How Jewish Youth Escaped the Holocaust by Don Brown. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Clarion. ISBN 9780358538165. Gr 8 Up–Devastating.
Best Graphic Novels 2024 | SLJ Best Books

Nov 21, 2024 | slj.com | Jasmine Amiri |Rachel Forbes |Joe Pascullo |Lisa Rowland

Cozy fantasies, immigration stories, and reimagined classics—2024’s Best Graphic Novels list isn’t just a collection of 25 unforgettable reads, it’s a showcase of comics that push storytelling to new heights. Aguirre, Jorge. Call Me Iggy. illus. by Rafael Rosado. First Second. ISBN 9781250204158. Gr 10 Up–Iggy is first-generation Colombian American, but can’t speak Spanish and struggles in language class.
Best Manga 2024 | SLJ Best Books

Nov 19, 2024 | slj.com | Jasmine Amiri |Angie Jameson |Rosemary Kiladitis |Andrea Lipinski

AGASAWA, Kocha. You and I Are Polar Opposites, Vol. 1. Viz. ISBN 9781974743766. Gr 7-10–Boisterous Suzuki is always concerned with others’ opinions, while Tani is reserved and truthful. However different their personalities, neither needs to change who they are as their feelings grow. A simple yet sincere rom-com, perfect for young readers. ARAI, Sumiko. The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All, Vol. 1. Yen Pr. ISBN 9781975399689.
Best Manga 2024 | SLJ Best Books

Nov 19, 2024 | slj.com | Jasmine Amiri |Angie Jameson |Rosemary Kiladitis |Andrea Lipinski

AGASAWA, Kocha. You and I Are Polar Opposites, Vol. 1. Viz. ISBN 9781974743766. Gr 7-10–Boisterous Suzuki is always concerned with others’ opinions, while Tani is reserved and truthful. However different their personalities, neither needs to change who they are as their feelings grow. A simple yet sincere rom-com, perfect for young readers. ARAI, Sumiko. The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All, Vol. 1. Yen Pr. ISBN 9781975399689.
Black Sands, the Seven Kingdoms, Vol 5

Aug 9, 2024 | slj.com | Manuel Godoy |Jasmine Amiri |Osamu Tezuka

Gr 7 Up–History meets myth in this exciting comic for middle schoolers. Set in ancient Egypt, this graphic novel follows teen Ausar and his friends as they fight for the safety of their kingdom. Ausar, who hopes to rule someday, must navigate the trenches of Minoa and lead a desperate attempt to halt an incursion beneath the mountain. This installment of the long-running “Black Sands” series, is best enjoyed after reading the previous issues for full context.
Grandparents Play a Key Role in These Graphic Novels | Stellar Panels

Jun 12, 2024 | slj.com | Brigid Alverson |Jasmine Amiri

In graphic novels, as in life, grandparents are complicated characters. Some are simply kind and loving; others carry the trauma of their past lives. Some come bearing unfamiliar foods, such as pickled herring, spicy chocolate, or preserved eggs, and novel interests like tai chi, poker, or classical music. In the best cases, they serve as an important third adult—someone whom children can turn to when they feel their parents won’t understand.
Love Stories: Kate DiCamillo on the Hope, Humor, and Love that Fill her Books

Jan 2, 2024 | slj.com | Tae Keller |Kara Yorio |Jasmine Amiri

Photographs by Joe Treleven Kate DiCamillo hardly needs an introduction. The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, and Flora & Ulysses (all Candlewick; 2000, 2003, 2013) has two Newbery Medals and a Newbery Honor under her belt, and many of her books have been adapted for the theater and the screen. Most recently, Netflix released an adaptation of The Magician’s Elephant (Candlewick, 2009) last year.
Heady Stuff: Graphic Novels Get Inside Characters’ Minds

Dec 20, 2023 | schoollibraryjournal.com | Brigid Alverson |Jasmine Amiri |Jenny Arch |Shelley Diaz

In the series “Elle(s)” by Kid Toussaint and Aveline Stokart, the main character has dissociative identity disorder. Her hair color and facial expressions change depending on which personality is dominant. Color also conveys powerful emotion in My Own World, about an anxious boy who finds refuge in fantasy. Creator Mike Holmes uses harsh yellow-greens to depict the real world, and a softer, black-and-red palette for the imaginary realm into which his younger self escapes.
SLJ Book Reviews Editors

Dec 14, 2023 | slj.com | Jasmine Amiri |Steven Engelfried

With all its ups and downs, 2023 was a great year for books. The reviews editors are taking one last look back at the year by sharing a few "favorites" roundups. Here, take a look at the SLJ book reviews editors' favorite book covers from the 2023 Best Books list. Shelley Diaz, Reviews Editor:Tokyo Night Parade by J.P. Takahashi. Cover art by Minako Tomigahara. Typography by Dana Fritts.