Blankets, a long, quick graphic novel that recounts the Craig Thompson’s own story of first love. While a bit sappy at moments, the story comes across as honest and a plausible look back at growing up. Additionally the novel is very well illustrated. Many of the pages stand on their own, apart from the framework they have been set up in, as pieces of art.

Even at six-hundred pages, it moves quickly, pulling you in right from the start. Oh! And, it has been banned, likely due to its somewhat negative spin on Christianity and its later scenes of, well, young adults being young adults. So. If you are going to read a coming of age story, you might as well read it with pictures.