YA Comics and Graphic Novels (Mikaela's picks)

We love comics and graphic novels of all stripes. Here is a list, lovingly hand-picked by Mikaela from Johnsonville Library, of some great graphical works, from the popular and well-known to the lesser-known-but-still-amazing.

Updated April 29, 2024
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Miles Morales. Straight out of Brooklyn
Ahmed, Saladin
Miles Morales swings back into the spotlight! Balancing a normal life, school, friends, family and super-heroing has never been easy for Miles, but when the rampaging Rhino and a cadre of mysterious criminals start plaguing Brooklyn, things take a dark turn for the young Spider-Man! And Miles doesn...
Speak : the graphic novel
Anderson, Laurie Halse
The bestselling, award-winning modern classic Speak is now a stunning graphic novel--adapted by Laurie Halse Anderson herself and brought to life visually by Eisner Award winner Emily Carroll. "Speak up for yourself--we want to know what you have to say." From the first...
Frontera
Anta, Julio
YALSA 2024 Great Graphic Novels for Teens  2024 Children's Book Council's Young Adults' Favorites Award 2024 Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Mateo makes the dangerous journey back home to the United States through the Sonoran Desert with the help...
Project Nought
Furedi, Chelsey
For fans of Kiss Number 8 and On a Sunbeam, this debut graphic novel is a fast-paced time travel adventure with a hint of romance that has garnered 1.5 million views as a Tapas webcomic. Ren Mittal's last memory in the year 1996 is getting on a bus to visit his mystery...
Teen Titans : Raven
Garcia, Kami
A New York Times bestseller! USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller! When a tragic accident takes the life of 17-year-old Raven Roth's foster mom--and Raven's memory--she moves to New Orleans to recover and finish her senior year of high school.<...
Amulet. The stonekeeper
Kibuishi, Kazu 1978-
The first book in Kazu Kibuishi's #1 New York Times bestselling series that features a beautiful but dangerous world of new friends, giant robots, and shadowy enemies! After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great...
Salt magic
Larson, Hope
The epic, Eisner Award-winning graphic novel about a jealous witch, a withering curse, and one girl's journey to save her family-- no matter the cost. Recipient of the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids ages 9-12 When Vonceil's older brother, Elber,...
A map to the sun
Leong, Sloane
A Map to the Sun is a gripping YA graphic novel about five principle players in a struggling girls' basketball team. One summer day, Ren meets Luna at a beachside basketball court and a friendship is born. But when Luna moves to back to Oahu, Ren's messages to her friend go...
Stephen McCranie's Space Boy. Volume 1
McCranie, Stephen 1987-
To Amy, everyone has a flavour. Her mum is the flavour of mint-sharp and bright. Her dad is like hot chocolate - sweet and full of gentle warmth. Amy lives on a mining colony out in deep space, but when her dad loses his job the entire family is forced to move back to Earth. When Amy arrives on...
Danger and other unknown risks
North, Ryan 1980-
"Easily my favorite book of the year." --Tillie Walden, Eisner Award-winning creator of Spinning A twisty, spellbinding adventure about a girl and her dog who want to save the world, Danger and Other Unknown Risks is the highly anticipated YA graphic novel debut from...
Heartstopper. Volume 1
Oseman, Alice
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. A sweet and charming coming-of-age story that explores friendship, love, and coming out. This edition features beautiful two-color artwork. Now streaming on Netflix! Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to...
The witch boy
Ostertag, Molly Knox
From the illustrator of the web comic Strong Female Protagonist comes a debut middle-grade graphic novel about family, identity, courage -- and magic.In thirteen-year-old Aster's family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross...
Persepolis : the story of a childhood
Satrapi, Marjane 1969-
A New York Times Notable Book A Time Magazine “Best Comix of the Year” A San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times Best-seller Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s memoir of growing up in...
Squire
Alfageeh, Sara
From two incredible rising talents comes the fantasy graphic novel Molly Knox Ostertag calls "instantly compelling." A New England Book Award and Harvey Award winner! Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It's the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt...
Maus : a survivor's tale
Spiegelman, Art.
The definitive edition of the graphic novel acclaimed as "the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust" (Wall Street Journal) and "the first masterpiece in comic book history" (The New Yorker) * PULITZER PRIZE WINNER * One of Variety's "Banned and...
Nimona
Stevenson, Noelle
Now a Netflix animated film! Nimona is the New York Times bestselling graphic novel sensation from ND Stevenson, based on his beloved and critically acclaimed web comic. Kirkus says, "If you're going to read one graphic novel this year, make it this...
Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me
Tamaki, Mariko
One of FORBES Best Graphic Novels of 2019 On BCCB 2019 Blue Ribbons List One of NPR's Best Books of 2019 Booklist 2019 Editors' Choice One of Bitch Media's Best Queer YA Novels of 2019 Author Mariko Tamaki and...
Drama
Telgemeier, Raina
From Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile and Sisters! Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't...
Squad
Tokuda-Hall, Maggie
An IndieBound Bestseller "Squad is a fast-paced and feminist horror story for every girl who's ever felt like prey, and asks how far a girl should go to hunt the hunters."--Laura Ruby, author of National Book Award Finalist Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All "Squad is a story...
The magic fish
Nguyen, Trung Le
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR by New York Public Library . Kirkus Reviews . Booklist . Publishers Weekly In this gorgeous debut graphic novel, fairy tales are the only way one boy can communicate with his Vietnamese immigrant parents. But how will he find the...
On a sunbeam
Walden, Tillie 1996-
"Tillie Walden is the future of comics, and On a Sunbeam is her best work yet. It's a 'space' story unlike any you've ever read, with a rich, lived-in universe of complex characters." --Brian K. Vaughan, Saga and Paper Girls Two timelines. Second chances....
The prince and the dressmaker
Wang, Jen 1984-
A fairy tale for any age, Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart. Paris, at the dawn of the modern age: Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride--or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his...
Ms. Marvel. No normal Vol. 1
Wilson, G. Willow 1982-
Marvel Comics presents the new Ms. Marvel, the groundbreaking heroine that has become an international sensation! Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City - until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as...
American born Chinese
Yang, Gene Luen.
Original Series Now Available on Disney+ A tour-de-force by New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Gene Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to...

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