Four Eyes by Rex Ogle

Graphic novel memoir by the author of Free Lunch, Punching Bag, and Abuela, Don't Forget Me.

From the publisher: "Sixth grade isn't as great as Rex thought it would be. He's the only kid who hasn't had a growth spurt, and the bullies won't let him forget it. His closest friend is unreliable, at best. And there's a cute girl in his class, who may or may not like hiim back. With so much going on, everything is a blur -- including Rex's vision! So when he discovers that he needs glasses, and his family can only afford the ugliest pair in the store, any hope Rex had of fitting in goes completely out of focus.

Rex has his sights set on surviving sixth grade, but now he's got to find a way to do it with glasses, no friends, and a family that just doesn't get it!"

Sequel: Pizza Face

The Fifth Quarter by Mike Dawson

From the publisher: "Lori Block is dedicated to her fourth-grade basketball team, despite being relegated to an extra period before the real game starts, known as the fifth quarter, where the not-so-good kids play and the points don’t count. That doesn’t matter to Lori though, because working on her skills gives her hints of self-confidence, which is a nice break from feeling awkward and out-of-place in her daily life.

With athletic promise and a dogged determination to keep improving, Lori pursues her passion while navigating awkward social dynamics, her own expectations, and her first overnight away from home. Will her drive allow her to find true courage both on the court, in school, and at home?"

Sequel: Fifth Quarter: Hard Court

Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale

Nonfiction stories (9 so far), well-researched and well-told, profiling people and events in history such as Nathan Hale, The Donner Party, The Alamo, Harriet Tubman, the Doolittle Raid, World War I, the Ironclads, and more! Check out the website for all the titles. 

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Kroscozcka

First of the hilarious series. From the publisher: "Serving justice . . . and lunch! Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. What does she do when she isn’t dishing out the daily special? Where does she live? Does she have a lot of cats at home? Little do they know, Lunch Lady doesn’t just serve sloppy joes—she serves justice! Whatever danger lies ahead, it’s no match for LUNCH LADY! "

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-so-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell

First in the series.  From the publisher: "Fourteen-year-old Nikki Maxwell writes and sketches in her diary about her struggle to be popular at her exclusive new private school and about giving up on being part of the elite group, before figuring out a way to simply be herself — and get a new cell phone. "

The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths

From the publisher: "Andy and Terry live in a treehouse. But it's not just any old treehouse, it's the most amazing treehouse in the world!

This treehouse has thirteen stories, a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a secret underground laboratory, and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and automatically shoots marshmallows into your mouth whenever you are hungry.

Life would be perfect for Andy and Terry if it wasn't for the fact that they have to write their next book, which is almost impossible because there are just so many distractions, including thirteen flying cats, giant bananas, mermaids, a sea monsters pretending to be mermaids, enormous gorillas, and dangerous burp gas-bubblegum bubbles!"

Each of the rest of the books in the series doubles the number of stories... 26-Story Treehouse, 52-story Treehouse, etc.

Zebrafish by Peter H. Reynolds

From the publisher: "Zebrafish is not exactly your typical garage band—especially because only one member can play an instrument! But that doesn’t mean that Vita, Tanya, Walt, Plinko, and Jay aren’t dreaming big…or at least stumbling towards a modest success. With a little creativity and out-the-box thinking (and some high-level computer tinkering) this garage band is going virtual—and they’re learning that schoolyard fame is a great way to bring in awareness (and donations) for an important cause.

     This fully illustrated, highly visual novel is a multimedia project complete with webisodes and online components like games and websites. It’s being supported and publicized by Children’s Hospital of Boston and shows kids that they can make a positive impact on their world by finding a cause they believe in and giving charity work their own personal spin. "

Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley

The first of a new graphic novel series, this is a story of a girl coping with her parents' divorce. Even worse, now she has to move away from the city out to a farm, where she has to learn all new chores, and has two stepsisters. The author calls it "fiction with training wheels", because she based it on her own experiences growing up. Fans of Raina Telgemeier will like this, one, too.

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes

From the publisher: "From graphic novel superstar Gene Luen Yang comes Secret Coders, a wildly entertaining new series that combines logic puzzles and basic coding instruction with a page-turning mystery plot! Follow Hopper and her friend Eni as they use their wits and their growing prowess with coding to solve the many mysteries of Stately Academy. "

The Last Kids on Earth by Max Braillier

From the author's website: "Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen year old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he’s armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg. So Jack builds a team: his dorky best friend, Quint; the reformed middle school bully, Dirk; Jack’s loyal pet monster, Rover; and Jack’s crush, June. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it?"

The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin & Raina Telgemeier

If you've read all her other books, give this series a try. they are graphic novel updated versions of the Ann M. Martin books.

Mouse Guard by David Petersen

This is a multi-series collection of an epic story -- Lord of the Rings with mice, with exquisite illustrations. From the website: "Mouse Guard is a New York Times Bestselling, Eisner & Harvey Award winning comic book series written and illustrated by David Petersen.

In the world of Mouse Guard, mice struggle to live safely and prosper amongst harsh conditions and a host of predators. Thus the Mouse Guard was formed: more than just soldiers, they are guides for common mice looking to journey without confrontation from one village to another.

They see to their duty with fearless dedication so that they may not simply exist, but truly live. "

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephen Pastis

If you're a fan of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, check out this series!

From the publisher: "Take Timmy Failure — the clueless, comically self-confident CEO of the best detective agency in town, perhaps even the nation. Add his impressively lazy business partner, a very large polar bear named Total. Throw in the Failuremobile — Timmy's mom's Segway — and what you have is Total Failure, Inc., a global enterprise destined to make Timmy so rich his mother won't have to stress out about the bills anymore.

Of course, eleven-year-old Timmy's plan does not include the four-foot-tall female whose name shall not be uttered. And it doesn't include Rollo Tookus, who is so obsessed with getting into "Stanfurd" that he can't carry out a no-brainer spy mission. From the offbeat creator of Pearls Before Swine comes an endearingly bumbling hero in a caper whose peerless hilarity is accompanied by a whodunit twist. With perfectly paced visual humor, Stephan Pastis gets you snorting with laughter, then slyly carries the joke a beat further — or sweetens it with an unexpected poignant moment — making this a comics-inspired story that truly stands apart from the pack."

Laika by Rick Abadzis

From the publisher: "Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earth's first space traveler. This is her journey.

Nick Abadzis masterfully blends fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of three compelling lives. Along with Laika there is Korolev, once a political prisoner and now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika's health and life."

Babymouse: Queen of the World! by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm

From the publisher: "Meet Babymouse—Her dreams are big! Her imagination is wild! Her whiskers are ALWAYS a mess! In her mind, she’s Queen of the World! In real life…she’s not even Queen of the lunch table. ...It’s the same thing every day for Babymouse. Where is the glamour? The excitement? The fame?!? Nothing ever changes, until…Babymouse hears about Felicia Furrypaws’s exclusive slumber party. Will Babymouse get invited? Will her best friend, Wilson, forgive her if she misses their monster movie marathon? "

The Dam Keeper by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi

From the publisher: "Based on the Oscar-nominated animated short film of the same name...

Life in Sunrise Valley is tranquil, but beyond its borders lies certain death. A dangerous black fog looms outside the village, but its inhabitants are kept safe by an ingenious machine known as the dam. Pig’s father built the dam and taught him how to maintain it. And then this brilliant inventor did the unthinkable: he walked into the fog and was never seen again.

And if Pig fails in his job as dam keeper, the inhabitants of Sunrise Valley could fall victim to the world on the other side…"

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga

From the publisher: "Chocolate or Vanilla? This simple choice is all it takes to get started with Meanwhile, the wildly inventive creation of comics mastermind Jason Shiga... Jimmy, whose every move is under your control, finds himself in a mad scientist's lab, where he's given a choice between three amazing objects: a mind-reading device, a time-travel machine, or the Killitron 3000 (which is as ominous as it sounds). Down each of these paths there are puzzles, mysterious clues, and shocking revelations. It's up to the reader to lead Jimmy to success or disaster. "

Also available in an interactive app.

The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell

From the publisher: "Welcome to a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary boxes into colorful costumes, and their ordinary block into cardboard kingdom. This is the summer when sixteen kids encounter knights and rogues, robots and monsters–and their own inner demons–on one last quest before school starts again. 

In the Cardboard Kingdom, you can be anything you want to be–imagine that! "

Download papercraft designs for free from the website.

Sidekicks by Dan Santat

From the publisher: "Captain Amazing, superhero and savior of Metro City, is getting old. He's out all hours battling arch-villains, catching thieves, and helping little old ladies cross the street. He doesn't even have time for his house full of pets. He needs — a sidekick!

Captain Amazing's four pets agree. But each one of them thinks he should get the sidekick spot — and a chance for one-on-one time with the Captain. Get ready for sibling rivalry royale as pets with superpowers duke it out for the one thing they all want: a super family."

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm

Semi-autobiographical story about Sunny, who is shipped off to Florida to stay with her grandparents because her brother is a 'problem'.  Certain it's her fault he is so troubled, and bored by all the old people she's surrounded by, she meets one friend, Buzz (who REALLY likes comic books).  Family secrets, alligators, runaway cats... how will Sunny figure it all out?  Sequels: Swing it Sunny, Sunny Rolls the Dice, Swing it Sunny!, Sunny makes a Splash.

Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham

From the publisher: "Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends ever since they were little. But one day, Adrienne starts hanging out with Jen, the most popular girl in class and the leader of a circle of friends called The Group. Everyone in The Group wants to be Jen's #1, and some girls would do anything to stay on top . . . even if it means bullying others.

Now every day is like a roller coaster for Shannon. Will she and Adrienne stay friends? Can she stand up for herself? And is she in The Group—or out?"

Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Raul the Third

From the publisher: "Lupe Impala, El Chavo Flapjack, and Elirio Malaria love working with cars. You name it, they can fix it. But the team's favorite cars of all are lowriders—cars that hip and hop, dip and drop, go low and slow, bajito y suavecito. The stars align when a contest for the best car around offers a prize of a trunkful of cash—just what the team needs to open their own shop! ¡Ay chihuahua! What will it take to transform a junker into the best car in the universe?"

Frazzled by Booki Vivat

From the publisher: "Meet Abbie Wu. Abbie is in crisis—and not just because she’s starting middle school or because she’s stuck in a family that doesn’t quite get her or because everyone seems to have a Thing except her. Abbie Wu is always in crisis.

From author and professional doodler Booki Vivat, Frazzled dives right into the mind of this hilariously neurotic middle school girl as she tries to figure out who she is and where she belongs. Akin to Smile by Raina Telgemeier, Frazzled is heavily illustrated, embarrassingly honest, and sure to appeal to anyone in the middle of figuring out how to survive the everyday disasters of growing up."

Start of a series.

Making Friends by Kristen Gudsnuk

From the publisher: "Sixth grade was so much easier for Danny. All her friends were in the same room and she knew exactly what to expect out of life. Now that she's in seventh grade, she's in a new middle school, her friends are in different classes and forming new cliques, and she is totally, completely lost. 

What Danny really needs is a new best friend! So after she inherits a magic sketchbook from her eccentric great-aunt in which anything she sketches in it comes to life, she draws Madison, the most amazing, perfect, and awesome best friend ever. The thing is, even when you create a best friend, there's no guarantee they'll always be your best friend. Especially when they discover they've been created with magic! "

The Big Break by Mark Tatulli

You may have read this author's graphic novel memoir, Short & Skinny. Either way, if you like funny, this is for you! From the publisher's website: "Andrew and Russ are best friends obsessed with finding the legendary Jersey Devil that supposedly lives in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, right in their own backyards. They’re even making a movie about their desperate search for any sign of the mythical creature. But when Russ starts spending less time on their movie, and more time with artsy, first-chair violinist Tara, Andrew feels the cracks in their friendship begin to form.

Suddenly, all of Andrew’s favorite things are too babyish for Russ, and Andrew is left trying to figure out where he belongs without his best friend by his side. Then a rash of Jersey Devil sightings excite their small town, and the boys are thrown back together on a fevered hunt. Can Andrew and Russ put aside their differences for one last chance to find the monster of their dreams, or will the break in their friendship be too big to mend?"

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

Graphic novel memoir about a class trip to Europe that changed Dan's life.  It's a funny and realistic portrayal of the joys and agonies of middle school.

Mexikid by Pedro Martin

Graphic memoir about a kid growing up in a big, loud Mexican-American family who go on an adventure down to Mexico to pick up their abuelo, and bring him home to live with them. Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters, and they all pile into a Winnebago for the road trip. Well, they can't all fit so some of the older kids drive the pickup truck.  Anybody in a big family knows that the big kids stick together, and the little kids stick together, in separate groups. Lots of teasing, and fighting, and joking, and legendary family stories. Like digging up grandma.  Pedro is missing his tv, so he listens to cassette recordings of tv shows (this is the 70s, folks).  And Abuelo isn't some quiet old man -- he's a crimefighting revolutionary! And boy, does he have stories to tell!   If you like movies like Vacation, We're the Millers, or RV, or you've ever been on a road trip vacation with your family, you'll love this book!

Play Like a Girl by Misty Wilson

Graphic memoir about the author's experience in 7th grade as the only girl on her town's football team. From the publisher: "Misty never shies away from a challenge, on or off the field. So when the boys tell her she can’t play football, there’s only one thing to do: join their team and show them what she’s got. But the training is rougher than she thought—and so are the other guys, who aren’t thrilled about having a girl on their team.

Middle school isn’t so easy, either. Misty wants to fit in with the popular kids, but they think a girl playing football is “weird.” Even her best friend doesn’t get it. Can Misty find a way to score points with her teammates, make new friends, and show everyone—including herself—what it means to play like a girl?"

Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

Everyone at this middle school has to do some sort of community service.  Five very different kids get assigned to the cafeteria. Everyone lumps them together, because they're all Hispanic. But they're very different: the brain, the loner, the tough kid, the rich kid, and the athlete. When they try to help out a woman and her little girl living out of a van outside the school fence, they get in trouble. They are accused of stealing. This whole book is them telling their story in the principal's office, with each character's point of view telling a bit. The ending will surprise you!

This book has won more awards than I can count!

The Dire Days of Willowdeep Manor by Shaenon Garrity and Christopher Baldwin.

Haley LOVES classic gothic romances, and knows every trope in them. On a 'dark and stormy night' she sees someone drowning in a river, and tries to save them, but ends up in a strange dimension that is protecting our world from an evil one.  Her knowledge of gothic romance-horror serves her well as she helps three brothers and a ghost protect this dimension and fight off the evil Bile.  Action-packed, funny, and thrilling all at once!

Wink by Rob Harrell

This semi-autobiographical story is perfect for fans of Wonder and Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie.  It's about a 7th grader named Ross who is diagnosed with a rare eye cancer.  The realities of cancer treatment are honestly shown: hair loss (and the attempt to cover it with a giant cowboy hat), gooey eye, friendships with fellow patients, friends who stick with you (and friends who are weirded out and ghost you), and everyone telling you about their uncle who died of cancer, etc. But there's a lot of humor, too. Ross deals with his journey by drawing comics and playing guitar.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

One of the most popular graphic novels, it won the Newbery Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, AND made every 2019 best list!

Jordan is at a new school his parents picked.  He wishes it were art school, as he loves to draw cartoons, but it's not.  It's a fancy-schmancy academy, where he's one of very few kids of color. He has trouble fitting in, and the teacher keeps mixing his name up with the other black kid's. The white bully never gets called out. And even the librarian is guilty of microaggressions, offering Jordan books about broken families, poverty, and hardship, when his father's a CEO. Jordan has to find his place, or make one. Sequels:  Class Act, and School Trip. Book 4 coming soon!

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

A graphic novel memoir by the actor and activist best remembered for his role on Star Trek. In striking pictures and moving text, Takei tells the story of his family's survival after being imprisoned in the Japanese internment camp during World War II.

Raina Telgemeier needs no introduction!

Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke

From the publisher: "Jack might be the only kid in the world who's dreading summer. But he's got a good reason: summer is when his single mom takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his autistic kid sister, Maddy. It's a lot of responsibility, and it's boring, too, because Maddy doesn't talk. Ever. But then, one day at the flea market, Maddy does talk—to tell Jack to trade their mom's car for a box of mysterious seeds. It's the best mistake Jack has ever made.

In Mighty Jack, what starts as a normal little garden out back behind the house quickly grows up into a wild, magical jungle with tiny onion babies running amok, huge, pink pumpkins that bite, and, on one moonlit night that changes everything…a dragon."

Start of a series.

Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson

If you're a fan of Raina Telgemeier, and can't wait for Guts to come out, give Libenson's books a try!

From the publisher: "This is the story of two totally different girls — quiet, shy, artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing, athletic Katie —and how their lives unexpectedly intersect one day, when an embarrassing note falls into the wrong hands. All the crushes, humiliations, boredom, and drama of middle school are compressed into one surprising day in this extraordinary novel."

Other books in the Lakefront Middle School series: Positively Izzy, Just Jaime, Becoming Brianna, Truly Tyler, Remarkably Ruby, Always Anthony, Surprisingly Sarah.

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

From the publisher: "Cardinal rule #1 for surviving school: Don't get noticed by the mean kids.

Cardinal rule #2 for surviving school: Seek out groups with similar interests and join them.

On her first day at her new school, Penelope "Peppi" Torres reminds herself of these basics. But when she trips into a quiet boy in the hall, Jaime Thompson, she's already broken the first rule, and the mean kids start calling her the "nerder girlfriend." How does she handle this crisis? By shoving poor Jaime and running away!

Falling back on rule two and surrounding herself with new friends in the art club, Peppi still can't help feeling ashamed about the way she treated Jaime. Things are already awkward enough between the two, but to make matters worse, he's a member of her own club's archrivals, the science club! And when the two clubs go to war, Peppi realizes that sometimes you have to break the rules to survive in middle school."

Other books in the series: Brave, Crush, Enemies.

The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks

From the publisher: "The Nameless City, by Faith Erin Hicks, takes place in a frequently invaded city with an ever-changing name. The story focuses on Rat who, like most natives, tries to avoid getting caught up in the unending wars and insists that those who try to name the city are forever outsiders. But when a threat to not only to the latest occupying nation, Dao, but also the entire city appears, she must learn to work with Kaidu, a Dao member, to save the city they love so much. "

El Deafo by Cece Bell

A graphic novel memoir about the author's childhood.  She is deaf, and when she first got a powerful hearing aid, she starting going to a regular school.  Her hearing aid was kind of like a superpower -- because the teacher wore a device, Cece could hear her coming back to class and could warn the other kids. But she also struggles to fit in and find a friend. How will she find her place in the hearing world?

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Funny and realistic story of a girl named Astrid, whose former best friend, Nicole, is drifting away. They're just into different things. When Nicole goes to summer dance camp, Astrid is facing a long, boring, lonely summer. Then she discovers roller derby. Know what that is? It's a fun, violent, FAST sport, on roller skates. Played by women and girls. Tough women and girls! Astrid doesn't even know how to skate! Bruised and battered, she feels like giving up, like everything is against her. How will she find the strength? If you're a fan of Raina Telgemeier's books, you will love this one.  Plus, the author is a Roller Derby player, herself! She also wrote All's Faire in Middle School.

When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

The true story of Omar's childhood in a refugee camp in Kenya.  Omar and his brother, Hassan, escaped war in Somalia, though their parents didn't. Alone in the refugee camp, scared and hungry all the time, they are helped by an older neighbor lady. Omar takes care of and protects Hassan, who has special needs and can't speak.  When he is given the chance to go to a camp school, Omar isn't sure he can leave his brother all day. But it may be their only chance to eventually get out of the camp, and have the life they deserve.  This heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful story of triumph over adversity was a National Book Award finalist.

Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag

From the publisher: "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 those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn't shifted, and he's still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be. When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help — as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family, and to be truly himself."

Fake Blood by Whitney Gardner

From the author's website: "A middle schooler comes head-to-head with his vampire slayer crush in this laugh-out-loud funny graphic novel that’s a perfect coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever felt too young, too small, or too average.

It’s the beginning of the new school year and AJ feels like everyone is changing but him. He hasn’t grown or had any exciting summer adventures like his best friends have. He even has the same crush he’s harbored for years. So AJ decides to take matters into his own hands. But how could a girl like Nia Winters ever like plain vanilla AJ when she only has eyes for vampires?

When AJ and Nia are paired up for a group project on Transylvania, it may be AJ’s chance to win over Nia’s affection by dressing up like the vamp of her dreams. And soon enough he’s got more of Nia’s attention than he bargained for when he learns she’s a slayer.

Now AJ has to worry about self-preservation while also trying to save everyone he cares about from a real-life threat lurking in the shadows of Spoons Middle School."

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Have you ever visited the Museum of Natural History? It's an important part of these two intertwining stories. Ben and Rose both have secrets, both run away to New York City to find someone missing in their lives. Ben, whose story is all in words, leaves Minnesota in 1977 on a quest to find his father, whom he has never met. Rose, whose story is all in pictures, seeks the glamorous silent-film actress in her scrapbook in 1927. Their stories weave and finally come together, with wolves, dioramas, deaf culture, the New York City blackout, and the meaning of family in this beautiful, Wonder-ful, book. 

Selznick is an award-winning illustrator and author. Don't miss his other books: The Marvels, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, etc.

The Faithful Spy by John Hendrix

Nonfiction graphic novel biography about Dietrich Boenhoffer, who spoke out against the Nazis. When his church is outlawed, this brave pastor decided to take it one step further... and he made the ultimate sacrifice.

Bad Island by Doug TenNapel

From the publisher: "Something on this island is up to no good...When Reese is forced to go on a boating trip with his family, the last thing he expects is to be shipwrecked on an island, especially one teeming with weird plants and animals.

But what starts out as simply a bad vacation turns into a terrible one, as the castaways must find a way to escape while dodging the island's dangerous inhabitants. With few resources and a mysterious entity on the hunt, each secret unlocked could save them...or spell their doom. One thing Reese knows for sure: This is one Bad Island. "

other works by this author include: Ghostopolis, and Cardboard.

Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani

From the publisher: "Priyanka Das has so many unanswered questions: Why did her mother abandon her home in India years ago? What was it like there? And most importantly, who is her father, and why did her mom leave him behind? But Pri’s mom avoids these questions—the topic of India is permanently closed.

For Pri, her mother's homeland can only exist in her imagination. That is, until she find a mysterious pashmina tucked away in a forgotten suitcase. When she wraps herself in it, she is transported to a place more vivid and colorful than any guidebook or Bollywood film. But is this the real India? And what is that shadow lurking in the background? To learn the truth, Pri must travel farther than she’s ever dared and find the family she never knew."

Fish Girl by Donna Jo Napoli and David Wiesner

Napoli is the queen of fairy-tale adaptations, and Wiesner, originally from Bridgewater, NJ, is an award-winning master of illustration. Fish Girl lives in a tank in her father's house on the boardwalk, and longs for freedom. When another girl visits and befriends her, it's her first hope that she might someday leave her aquarium.

Dogs of War by Sheila Keenan and Nathan Fox

From the publisher: "Dogs of War is a graphic novel that tells the stories of the canine military heroes of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. This collection of three fictional stories was inspired by historic battles and real military practice. Each story tells the remarkable adventures of a soldier and his service dog and is rendered with fascinating and beautiful detail, bringing to life the faithful dogs who braved bombs, barrages, and battles to save the lives of countless soldiers.

Based on the real-life roles of military dogs that served as Red Cross rescuers, messengers, scouts, search-and-rescue teams, sentries, and mascots, Dogs of War captures both the adventure and the devastation brought on by war, as well as the celebrations of life and friendship between boys and their dogs. "

Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson

A graphic novel version of the classic sci-fi story.

Foiled by Jane Yolen and Mike Cavallaro

From the publisher: "Aliera Carstairs just doesn't fit in. She's always front and center at the fencing studio, but at school she's invisible. And she's fine with that . . . until Avery Castle walks into her first period biology class. Avery may seem perfect now, but will he end up becoming her Prince Charming or just a toad? "

Sequel: Foiled Again.

Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

From the publisher: "In Be Prepared, all Vera wants to do is fit in—but that’s not easy for a Russian girl in the suburbs. Her friends live in fancy houses and their parents can afford to send them to the best summer camps. Vera’s single mother can’t afford that sort of luxury, but there's one summer camp in her price range—Russian summer camp.

Vera is sure she's found the one place she can fit in, but camp is far from what she imagined. And nothing could prepare her for all the "cool girl" drama, endless Russian history lessons, and outhouses straight out of nightmares!"

Also by this author: Anya's Ghost.

All Summer Long by Hope Larson

From the publisher: "Thirteen-year-old Bina has a long summer ahead of her. She and her best friend, Austin, usually do everything together, but he's off to soccer camp for a month, and he's been acting kind of weird lately anyway. So it's up to Bina to see how much fun she can have on her own. At first it's a lot of guitar playing, boredom, and bad TV, but things look up when she finds an unlikely companion in Austin's older sister, who enjoys music just as much as Bina. But then Austin comes home from camp, and he's acting even weirder than when he left. How Bina and Austin rise above their growing pains and reestablish their friendship and respect for their differences makes for a touching and funny coming-of-age story. "

Another summer camp story by this author: Chiggers.

83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary by Don Brown

From the publisher: "A city ruined. In once quiet residential streets, two armies battle, driving people into cellars and basements with little food or water. No lights or heat. Dwindling medical supplies. Shells and bullets deliver cruel, random death to the young and old, men, women, and children. 

This is Mariupol, a Ukrainian city and early target of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Bordering Russian-occupied territory, the coastal city seemed doomed to a defeat that would come within days, if not hours. Could Mariupol, and Ukraine, survive? As Russian rockets threatened the city, Ukrainians resisted, and with a heroic combination of sacrifice and bravery, the besieged city endured . . . for months. But it all came at a steep cost.

With compassion and his keen journalist’s eye, Sibert Honor creator Don Brown illuminates the horrors of Mariupol and the depredations of its people not seen in the city since World War II. He also shows that outside of Mariupol, the city’s agonies were mirrored by similar events occurring in towns and cities across Ukraine.

It is the story of senseless destruction, patriotism, and grit against long odds—a brutal battle whose consequences still reverberate across Ukraine and continue to reshape the global political landscape."

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

From the publisher: "From the bestselling, award-winning creator of Almost American Girl comes an epic new graphic novel fantasy—a queer, feminist reimagining of the Fox Maiden legend from Korean mythology. 

Kai Song dreams of being a warrior. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her beloved father, the commander of the Royal Legion. But while her father believes in Kai and trains her in martial arts, their society isn’t ready for a girl warrior. Still, Kai is determined. But she is plagued by rumors that she is the granddaughter of Gumiho, the infamous nine-tailed fox demon who was killed by her father years before.

Everything comes crashing down the day Kai learns the deadly secret about her mother’s past. Now she must come to terms with the truth about her identity and take her destiny into her own hands. As Kai desperately searches for a way to escape her fate, she comes to find compassion, and even love, in the most unexpected places."

The Comic Book Story of Basketball by Fred Van Lente and Joe Cooper

From the publisher: "The Comic Book Story of Basketball gives you courtside seats to the history of hoops. It chronicles the sport from its beginnings in a YMCA in Massachusetts to its current status as a beloved international game for men and women of all ages. Learn the true stories behind the college game, the street game, the women’s game, and the international game, with legendary players and coaches like Dr. J, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Steph Curry profiled throughout."

Wonder Woman Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson and illustrated by Leila del Duca.

A graphic novel story of a teenage Diana, practicing her skills and yearning to grow up and come into her power as a future warrior queen. When a raft of refugees somehow reaches the shores of the Amazons' hidden, women-only island of Themyscira, Diana defies orders to help them.  But outside the protection of the island, she can't return, and becomes a refugee, herself. New friends take her in and help her navigate our world and understand injustice, something Themiscyra didn't have. A modern take on a classic superhero that will appeal to teens who care about social justice.

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

The latest graphic work by the multiple-award-winning author tells a true story of an inspiring coach, a great team, and a championship season.  From the publisher's website: "Gene understands stories—comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins.

But Gene doesn’t get sports. As a kid, his friends called him “Stick” and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it's all anyone can talk about. The men’s varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that’s been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships.

Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realizes that their story is just as thrilling as anything he’s seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn’t know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragons’s lives, but his own life as well."

Watch an interview with the author.

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Kroscoczka

Award-winning memoir in graphic novel format by the author of the Lunch Lady series. Kroscoczka wasn't sure he should tell this story: growing up, his father abandoned him, and his mother was a heroin addict.  He was raised by his grandparents.  Then he took a risk, and did a TED Talk about it.  The response was so overwhelmingly supportive that he decided to finally do it in book form. And we are all so lucky he did! 

March: Book One by John Lewis

The first in a multiple-award-winning series. From the publisher: "March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis’ personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement.

Book One spans John Lewis’ youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., the birth of the Nashville Student Movement, and their battle to tear down segregation through nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins, building to a stunning climax on the steps of City Hall.

Many years ago, John Lewis and other student activists drew inspiration from the 1958 comic book “Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story.” Now, his own comics bring those days to life for a new audience, testifying to a movement whose echoes will be heard for generations. "

First of  a trilogy.  Companion: Run.

Maus by Art Spiegelman

Award-winning memoir. From the publisher: "Maus is a haunting tale within a tale, weaving the author’s account of his tortured relationship with his aging father into an astonishing retelling of one of history’s most unspeakable tragedies. It is an unforgettable story of survival and a disarming look at the legacy of trauma. "   

The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown

From the publisher: "Starting in 2011, refugees flood out of war-torn Syria in Exodus-like proportions. The surprising flood of victims overwhelms neighboring countries, and chaos follows. Resentment in host nations heightens as disruption and the cost of aid grows. By 2017, many want to turn their backs on the victims. The refugees are the unwanted. 

Don Brown depicts moments of both heartbreaking horror and hope in the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis. Shining a light on the stories of the survivors, The Unwanted is a testament to the courage and resilience of the refugees and a call to action for all those who read."

Grand Theft Horse by Greg Neri

From the publisher: "Gail Ruffu was a rookie trainer known for her unconventional methods and ability to handle dangerous horses. When she became part owner of an untamed thoroughbred named Urgent Envoy, everything changed. After Urgent Envoy showed real promise, her co-owners forced Gail to speed up training and race him too early, causing the horse to develop a hairline shin fracture. Refusing to drug the horse to keep it running, Gail lost Urgent Envoy to her partners, who pushed the horse even harder. One more race would kill him. When nobody heeded her warnings, Gail had to act.

So on Christmas Eve, she rescued her own horse. A modern-day outlaw, Gail evaded private investigators and refused to give the horse up. Blacklisted by the racing world, she learned the law at night to take on a powerful L.A. attorney determined to crush her in court. As she stood up for the humane treatment of racehorses, she also faced down the system that caused their demise.

In this gorgeous graphic biography, G. Neri, author of the acclaimed Yummy and Ghetto Cowboy, retells the life of his cousin Gail, a pioneer who challenged the horse racing world for the sake of one extraordinary horse."

Legend by Marie Lu

Graphic novel adapation of the dystopian series.

The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds

From the publisher: "Fresh from his triumphs in the Trojan War, Odysseus, King of Ithaca, wants nothing more than to return home to his family. Instead, he offends the sea god, Poseidon, who dooms him to years of shipwreck and wandering. Battling man-eating monsters, violent storms, and the supernatural seductions of sirens and sorceresses, Odysseus will need all his strength and cunning—and a little help from Mount Olympus—to make his way home and seize his kingdom from the schemers who seek to wed his queen and usurp his throne. Award-winning graphic artist Gareth Hinds masterfully reinterprets a story of heroism, adventure, and high action that has been told and retold for more than 2,500 years—though never quite like this."

Other gorgeous work by this artist includes: Beowulf, Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, Poe, Merchant of Venice, King Lear, and a graphic novel biography Samurai Rising.

The Red Baron: The Graphic History of Richthofen's Flying Circus and the Air War in WWI by Wayne Vansant

Remember Snoopy fought the Red Baron???  Did you know he was a real guy? From the publisher: "...the incredible story of Manfred von Richthofen, whose unparalleled piloting prowess as a member of the Imperial German Army Air Service made him a World War I celebrity both in the air and on the ground. Vansant beautifully depicts the fearsome intelligence and mid-flight awareness that would earn Richthofen 80 air combat victories—from his rough beginnings, to the years he spent commanding Jasta 11 from the cockpit of his fabled red plane, to his eventual leadership of the infamous “Flying Circus,” named for the group’s colorful aircraft and mobile airfields. "

Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang

A duology by award-winning author/artist.  From the publisher: "Boxers & Saints is one of the most ambitious graphic novels ever published. It offers a penetrating insight into not only one of the most controversial episodes of modern Chinese history, but into the very core of our human nature. The first book introduces Little Bao, a Chinese peasant boy whose village is abused and plundered by Westerners claiming the role of missionaries. The sequel tells a parallel story of Vibiana, who’s taken from her village by Christian missionaries but finds a loving home with them. Gene Luen Yang is rightly called a master of the comics form, and this work will cement his reputation. Critically acclaimed, universally praised, these New York Times bestselling books were short-listed for the National Book Awards. "

Also by this author, the award-winning American Born Chinese.

Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography

Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin

From the publisher: "This is a powerful and timely story about one boy's epic journey across Africa to Europe...

Ebo: alone.

His sister left months ago. Now his brother has disappeared too, and Ebo knows it can only be to make the hazardous journey to Europe.

Ebo's epic journey takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his sister."

Ichiro by Ryan Inzana

From the artist's website: "Ichiro is a boy adrift in this world. Raised by his Japanese mother in New York, his American father having been taken from him by war before he ever knew him, Ichiro finds it difficult to figure out where he fits in.

A trip to Japan leaves Ichiro with his Grandfather, a stranger to him in a country he does not know.

And then one night Ichi gets dragged down a hole by a monster.

When he wakes up, he isn't in Japan anymore. In fact, he isn't in the mortal world. Ichi has entered the domain of the gods."

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

From the publisher: "A coming-of-age tale with a spooky twist!

Maggie McKay hardly knows what to do with herself. After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling with her mother and rough-housing with her older brothers, it's time for Maggie to face the outside world, all on her own. But that means facing high school first. And it also means solving the mystery of the melancholy ghost who has silently followed Maggie throughout her entire life. Maybe it even means making a new friend—one who isn't one of her brothers.

Funny, surprising, and tender, Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks is a pitch perfect YA graphic novel full of spooky supernatural fun."

Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld and Alex Puvilland

From the series website: "Nobody’s ever really explained the Spill. Was it an angelic visitation? A nanotech accident? A porthole opening from another world? Whatever it was, no one’s allowed in the Spill Zone these days except government scientists and hazmat teams. But a few intrepid explorers know how to sneak through the patrols and steer clear of the dangers inside the Zone. Addison Merrick is one such explorer, dedicated to finding out what happened that night, and to unraveling the events that took her parents and left her little sister mute and disconnected from the world."

The start of a series.

Battling Boy by Paul Pope

From the series website: "Monsters roam through Arcopolis, swallowing children into the horrors of their shadowy underworld. Only one man is a match for them - the genius vigilante Haggard West.

Unfortunately, Haggard West is dead.

Arcopolis is desperate, but when its salvation comes in the form of a twelve-year-old demigod, nobody is more surprised than Battling Boy himself.

IT'S TIME TO MEET AN ELECTRIFYING NEW HERO."

Start of a series.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll

Stunning graphic novel adaptation of the award-winning novel about finding your voice after trauma.

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

An illustrated memoir. From the publisher: "Bui documents the story of her family's daring escape after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s, and the difficulties they faced building new lives for themselves.

At the heart of Bui's story is a universal struggle: While adjusting to life as a first-time mother, she ultimately discovers what it means to be a parent—the endless sacrifices, the unnoticed gestures, and the depths of unspoken love. Despite how impossible it seems to take on the simultaneous roles of both parent and child, Bui pushes through. With haunting, poetic writing and breathtaking art, she examines the strength of family, the importance of identity, and the meaning of home."  HS

War Brothers by Sharon McKay and Daniel La France, illustrated by Jennifer Bell.

Graphic novel version of the award-winning novel, tells the unflinching story of a Ugandan child soldier's desperate escape from the horrors and violence, and how he managed to reintegrate into society. HS

Terrorist Gavrilo Princip, the Assassin who Ignited World War I by Henrik Rehr

From the publisher: "“I am not a criminal, because I destroyed that which was evil. I think that I’m good.”—Gavrilo Princip, October 23, 1914. 

This much we know: On June 28, 1914, a young man stood on a street corner in Sarajevo, aimed a pistol into a stalled car carrying Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and pulled the trigger. Within a few minutes, the archduke was dead, and Europe would not know peace again for five years. More than 16 million people would die in the fighting that came to be known as World War I. 

Little else is known about the young man named Gavrilo Princip. How could a poor student from a tiny Serbian village turn the wheel of history and alter the face of a continent for generations? Henrik Rehr’s dark and riveting graphic novel fills the gaps in the historical record and imagines in insightful detail the events that led a boy from Obljaj to become one of history’s most significant terrorist."

Animal Farm the Graphic Novel adapted and illustrated by Odyr

A graphic novel adaptation of the classic dystopian novel taught in HS classrooms for generations, and frequently banned in Communist countries, as it criticized the Soviet government, and depicts a rebellion.  The CIA promoted it here in the U.S. when it came out.  If you liked The Giver, this is a step up you might want to try.

Check Please!: Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu

From the publisher: "Ngozi Ukazu’s fan favorite webcomic is now a graphic novel series. Check, Please! is the coming-of-age story of Eric Bittle, an ex-junior figure skating champion turned college hockey player learning to cope with the contact sport—and his feelings towards Jack, his attractive team captain. "   HS

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Graphic novel short stories from the virally popular webcomic, plus new stories. From the publisher: "These are fairy tales gone seriously wrong, where you can travel to “Our Neighbor’s House”—though coming back might be a problem. Or find yourself a young bride in a house that holds a terrible secret in “A Lady’s Hands Are Cold.” You might try to figure out what is haunting “My Friend Janna,” or discover that your brother’s fiancée may not be what she seems in “The Nesting Place.” And of course you must revisit the horror of “His Face All Red,” the breakout webcomic hit that has been gorgeously translated to the printed page."  HS