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Books by genre

Top 14 graphic novels for ages 10 to 14

The best middle-grade graphic novels deal with friendship, family, identity and history. The final several here are for 13 and up, and a few address war, racism and violence directly. Most are available in libraries in multiple formats.

Titles were chosen from award winners, ALSC notable lists and long-running library favorites, then each title and author was checked against Open Library in Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.

  1. Smile

    Raina Telgemeier · Ages 9-13

    Raina breaks her front teeth in sixth grade and goes through years of dental work. A memoir graphic novel.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  2. New Kid

    Jerry Craft · Ages 9-13

    Jordan, a Black seventh grader, enters a mostly white private school. Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King winner.

    Watch for: Racism in school settings.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  3. El Deafo

    Cece Bell · Ages 8-12

    Cece loses her hearing and gets a hearing aid she turns into a superpower. Newbery Honor.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  4. Amulet: The Stonekeeper

    Kazu Kibuishi · Ages 9-13

    Emily and Navin enter a world of robots and elves to save their mother. First of nine books.

    Watch for: Monsters and peril.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  5. Bone: Out from Boneville

    Jeff Smith · Ages 8-14

    Three cousins are lost in a valley full of strange creatures. Long saga, funny and epic.

    Watch for: Fantasy violence.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  6. Real Friends

    Shannon Hale · Ages 9-13

    Shannon's elementary-school memoir of friend groups. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham.

    Watch for: Social cruelty.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  7. Nimona

    Noelle Stevenson · Ages 12-17

    A shapeshifting girl becomes sidekick to a villain. Funny and darker than it first looks.

    Watch for: Violence and some language.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  8. Anya's Ghost

    Vera Brosgol · Ages 12-17

    Anya falls into a well and befriends a ghost. Teenage themes.

    Watch for: Mild dark content.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  9. American Born Chinese

    Gene Luen Yang · Ages 12-16

    Three storylines about identity come together, including the Monkey King. National Book Award finalist.

    Watch for: Racial stereotypes depicted on purpose.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  10. March: Book One

    John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell · Ages 12+

    Congressman John Lewis tells his youth in the civil rights movement.

    Watch for: Violence and racist language.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  11. Persepolis

    Marjane Satrapi · Ages 14+

    The author's childhood in Iran after the 1979 revolution. A major memoir.

    Watch for: Violence, executions, some sexual content.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  12. Maus

    Art Spiegelman · Ages 14+

    Mice and cats tell the Holocaust story of the author's father. Pulitzer Prize winner.

    Watch for: Genocide, suicide. Has been banned in some places.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  13. Hey, Kiddo

    Jarrett J. Krosoczka · Ages 12+

    The author's memoir of growing up with a mother who struggled with addiction. National Book Award finalist.

    Watch for: Addiction, neglect.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  14. Pashmina

    Nidhi Chanani · Ages 10-14

    Priyanka finds a pashmina that shows her India. Mother-daughter secrets.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

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