Kid Tested Librarian Recommended: Graphic novel mash-ups

My favorite genre is fantasy fiction. A strong heroine, plenty of magic, a dark force threatening, intrepid companions and of course a dragon friend are what I look for every time. But sometimes I crave a little variety. Not too much variety - I'll always want a dragon companion - but what if I found that dragon in an outer space setting? Or solving a mystery? Or showing up in the middle of the American Revolution? 

The recommendations below don't all include dragons. They are books that combine two or more types of stories (genres) in such a way that you get the best of both forms in one delicious mash-up of a story. Kind of like the chocolate peanut butter cups of the literary world.

The Fairytale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm) written by Michael Buckley & illustrated by Peter Ferguson

This mash-up of fantasy and mystery truly is magical and mysterious. When Sabrina and Daphne move in with their Grandmother Grimm they learn they are all fairy tale detectives. They meet a LOT of fairy tale characters in their new magical hometown. The Sisters Grimm series is suspenseful and filled with secrets, magic and adventure. There are nine books in this series.

The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor

The heart of this blending of magical realism and historical fiction are American tall tales like Paul Bunyan and his big blue ox, Babe. This graphic novel takes it's richness from the history of a Sierra Nevada logging camp and the characters who live there. The book's depth comes from the racism and entitlement the protagonist battles with in the stories she weaves together from her imagination and the wonderful words of Auntie Po.

“A sweet book that places a Chinese girl squarely at the center of the frame... the art is lovely, it's enjoyable for young kids who can relate to Mei as a protagonist or enjoyable to adults who only remember what it was like to be thirteen.” –NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke

Get ready for a few heart-pounding moments when you read this graphic novel mash-up of fantasy and reality. You'll fall into a story of bravery and friendship. In the quest for a missing sock, Milo finds himself pursuing a thief in a world that is home to a floating skull, a one-eyed tentacled creature, and a ghost. He will need all of them to locate the sock and get back home. 

“Ben Hatke's inspired plot is visually driven, creative, and multilayered...Things in the Basement is a gorgeous, maze-like graphic novel for young readers...” ―Shelf Awareness, starred review