2026 Maverick List - Great Graphic Novels for Grades 6-8

Check out these recommended graphic novels for grades 6-8 that appear on the 2026 Texas Library Association's Maverick Reading List.* (Looking for graphic novels for teens? Try the Maverick List for grades 9-12!)

*Not listed: I Witnessed: The Lizzie Borden Story by Jeramy Kraatz, and Charles M. Schulz: Creator of Snoopy and Peanuts by Yuzuru Kuki

About the Maverick Reading List: "The Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List (TMGNRL) is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young Adult Round Table (YART). The list’s purpose is to encourage students in grades 6-12 to explore a variety of current books. The TMGNRL list is intended for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum." (from the TLA website)

Updated February 20, 2026
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Almost sunset
Algarmi, Wahab
Paper Book
In a contemporary middle grade graphic novel debut that Gene Luen Yang calls "funny, endearing, and an intimate look at a Muslim family," Almost Sunset follows a young Muslim American boy during Ramadan as he finds the balance between his family traditions and his secular middle school life....
How it all ends
Hunsinger, Emma
Paper Book
Nominated for the 2025 Will Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids 2025 Harvey Award nominee Kirkus Reviews Best Book School Library Journal Best Book The Horn Book Fanfare Common Sense Media Best Book New York Public Library Best Book<...

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