New Middle Grade and YA Graphic Novels You're Going to Love. I Promise.

I've found myself reading more and more graphic novels lately. They appeal for many reasons, and for kids, despite what some may tell you, DEFINITELY c0unt as "real" reading. There are many benefits to reading graphic novels, and The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has this cool pamphlet that explains what they are better than I could.

So here are a few newer graphic novels I've read recently and loved.

BAND NERD by Sarah Clawson Willis and Emma Cormarie

Lucy Carver has just started at Windley School of the Arts, thanks to skill playing the flute. She's excited, but her parents are skeptical - the academic standards are higher and they're unsure Lucy can keep up. Lucy's rivalry with snobby Tolli Claybourne and dream of becoming first chair soon consume her and she begins to fall behind in her other classes. At the same time, home life is unraveling as her alcoholic father struggles to maintain his sobriety. This is an unflinching look at addiction in families and how the pressure to be successful can cause children to make choices they may regret. Engaging and real. (Middle Grade)

BROWNSTONE by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia

Almudena has never really known her Guatemalan father. But now her mother is on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so she's spending the summer with him. Fixing up a brownstone. And trying to understand Spanish. It's a lot! She's angry and resentful at first, and hesitant to get to know the other residents of the building as well as her father. But there's a long summer ahead, and plenty of time to figure out where she fits. Beautiful artwork and a heartfelt story make this a must-read. (Young Adult)

DAN IN GREEN GABLES by Rey Terciero and Claudia Aguirre

As an ANNE OF GREEN GABLES superfan since my youth, I will read most, if not all, retellings of the story. See, for example: ANNE OF WEST PHILLY by Ivy Noelle Weir and Myisha Haynes. In this outing, Anne has become Dan, a queer boy who's spent his whole life living on the road with his less-than-reliable mom. But when she leaves him at his grandparents' house in Tennesee, he must decide if he remain true to himself or try to fit into the conservative Southern-Baptist community. Despite the challenging subject matter, Dan remains joyful and watching his relationship grow with his grandmother and fiercely straight-laced and unmoving grandfather makes for an engaging read. Aguirre's detailed illustrations add so much warmth and depth to the story. A wonderful follow-up to Terciero's LITTLE WOMEN retelling, MEG, JO, BETH AND AMY. (Young Adult)

DEAR JACKIE by Jessixa Bagley and Aaron Bagley

This contemporary middle grade graphic novel won't be released until September - but when it is, your Raina Telgemeier and Megan Wagner Lloyd fans are going to snap it up. Jackie's been best friends with Milo since forever. But when they start middle school, Milo begins spending more time with the soccer team kids - leaving Jackie wondering where she might fit. She starts spending time with Adelle and her group, but Adelle just wants to change her - giver her a makeover and find her a boyfriend - neither of which Jackie is sure she wants. So, to get Adelle to abandon this plan, she creates a fake admirer. Instead of taking the heat off, though, Adelle and everyone else in school becomes obsessed with discovering who the admirer is. How is Jackie going to get out of this? This gripping story about trying to fit in - even though you're not sure the rules are meant for you - will appeal to many young readers. (Middle Grade)

DON'T CAUSE TROUBLE by Arree Chung

Ming Lee is starting middle school, and knows that he'll never fit in with the popular kids with his homemade bowl haircut his mom insists on giving him and thrift-store clothes. He sets out to change is circumstances, and along the way, makes some questionable - like challenging a local group of kids who sell candy at school and shoplifting a shirt he thinks will make him look cool. As the number one rule his parents have given him is "don't cause trouble," these choices definitely cause some conflict in his life - and don't necessarily lead to the results he's hoping for. But maybe, just maybe, sometimes you have to cause a little trouble in order to make things better for your family. (Middle Grade)

GAMERVILLE by Johnnie Christmas

Max Lightning is a gamer. In fact, he's a really GOOD gamer. So good, in fact, that he's qualified for Gamerville, a championship where the best of the best players of the game Lone Wolf of Calamity Bay compete. But Max's dad throws Max's dreams into upset when he tells Max that instead of competing in the tournament, he'll be going to summer camp. Worse yet, it's a NO TECH summer camp - the same his dad went to at his age. But when Max discovers that the camp is just across the lake from where the gaming tournament will be held, he starts to plan how to get there anyway. Gamers and graphic novel fans alike will enjoy this engaging story and comic-book-style illustrations from the author of Swim Team. Good fun! (Middle Grade)

LU AND REN'S GUIDE TO GEOZOOLOGY by Angela Hsieh

Lu's grandmother, Shan, is a geozoologist and has spent her life traveling and documenting the geo-fauna (land masses that are also living creatures), occasionally returning home to Lu and her mother to regale them with tales of her adventures. Lu wants to follow in her grandmother's footsteps, so when her grandmother fails to return from a trip, and a local town is in need of a geozoologist, Lu sets off to find her. Her traveling companion is Ren, an old friend who moved away but has returned - with secrets. As they travel, they learn that Shan may not be the person they thought she was - and begin reckoning with their own futures and dreams. This is an engrossing story with themes of family relationships and environmental impacts that will delight fans of the Tea Dragon Society and Nell of Gumbling. (Middle Grade)

THE MANY MISFORTUNES OF EUGENIA WANG by Stan Yan

While this exciting horror/humor middle grade graphic novel also won't be released until September, I'm telling you about it now to give you a chance to preorder. Because you'll want this - you know horror is hot right now with the middle grade kids, right? Eugenia Wang has never celebrated her birthday ON her actual birthday of April 4 - because the number 4 is considered unlucky in Chinese culture. Her mother believes this, but Eugenia is skeptical and, in act of authentic tween rebellion, plans a party with her friends on her big day. Eugenia loves to draw, and also decides to apply for an art camp - despite the fact that her mother thinks art is a waste of time. But when she begins to have frightening visions of terrible events while drawing, she wonders if maybe, just maybe, her mom is right. Yikes! The cartoon-y illustrations are in a limited palette of black, grey, white and red, adding to a heightened sense of danger. Horror and graphic novel fans alike will enjoy meeting Eugenia! (Middle Grade)

REEL LIFE by Kane Lynch

Galen's life has been upended - his parents are getting a divorce, and one of his friends has completely changed - for the worse. An aspiring filmmaker, he and his best friend, Luna, begin documenting the shifting feelings with the intention of making a film. Galen navigates his dad moving out, meeting dad's girlfriend (and her moving in), and his mom beginning to date - all the while trying to sort out how he feels (and why Kyle has become so MEAN?). REEL LIFE will resonate with many children who are going through similar changes. Fans of both the Sunny and Click series will love this. (Middle Grade)