Know a graphic novel fan? Chances are you do! In recent years, this genre has taken off and now there are so many wonderful and diverse graphic novels for young readers. The following high school and middle school graphic novels are some of our favorites for the classroom.
Middle School Graphic Novels
Allergic: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Finding a pet proves to be challenging for a kid with severe allergies. And unfortunately, the household is too distracted to notice.Â
Class Act by Jerry Craft
This is the illustrated sequel to Craftâs âNew Kid,â which won the 2020 Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize.
Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani
A teen travels to India thanks to the help of a magical pashmina! There she seizes the opportunity to learn more about her heritage.
Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte
A middle schooler is desperate to fit in at a new school. She also wants to win a cooking contest and use the money to help her grandmother visit from Taiwan.
Princess Princess Ever After by Katie OâNeill
Two princesses realize they are each otherâs heroesâand happy endingsâin this LGBTQ+ fairy tale.
Pie In the Sky by Remy Lai
A humorous comic listed âBest Kids Book of the Yearâ by Horn Book and Kirkus. Follow the baking-inspired escapades two brothers stir up after immigrating to the United States.
Twins by Varian Johnson
Twin siblings start to embrace their differing personalities in sixth grade, without sacrificing their close bond in the process.
SĂ©ance Tea Party by Reimena Yee
This whimsical story explores the challenges of leaving childhood. Follow a girl still yearning for playtime, while she slowly finds herself with only a ghost left as a friend.
Stargazing by Jen Wang
Chinese-American best friends try to support each other during good and bad times after one becomes seriously ill.
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
A fantasy read that grapples with real issues such as bullying, single-parent households, and transgenderism.
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Co-author Omar Mohamed recounts the trials and triumphs he experienced growing up in a Kenyan refugee camp in this National Book Award Finalist.
High School Graphic Novels
Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Womenâs Fight for Their Rights by Mikki Kendall
This modern feminist reference book follows influential movements primarily spearheaded by women.
Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder
This graphic memoir depicts the authorâs personal journey of losing a parent to cancer. It also provides a glimpse into the Jewish custom of âsitting shivaâ after a family member dies.
Displacement by Kiku Hughes
A historical graphic novel about the plight of Japanese-Americans forced to live in internment camps during World War II.
Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir by Maggie Thrash
A 15-year-old suddenly realizes sheâs attracted to her female counselor at sleepaway camp. And unraveling the internal and external drama which ensues may take all summer.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki
The social consequences of staying stuck in an unhealthy relationship is a major theme explored in this queer YA read that NPR ranked one of the âBest Books of 2019.â
Quincredible Vol. 1: Quest to be the Best by Rodney Barnes
After a celestial event, a bullied teen discovers he now has a unique superpower.
The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures by Noelle Stevenson
A New York Times bestselling author-illustrator gets real about the highs and lows of pursuing oneâs artistic dreams, coming out, and dealing with depression.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
Dual narratives, with a folklore thread woven throughout, tell this poignant story about a Vietnamese teenager struggling with how and when to reveal his sexual orientation.
The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp
A teenager hacker adapts to being differently-abled while also investigating why other rehabilitation center patients have vanished.
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Plus, 10 Diverse Anthologies for Middle and High School Classrooms.
