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Genre-blending books offer readers the opportunity to comfortably expand across boundaries and try something different while still in the safety of their preferred reading choice. Here are 14 middle grade graphic novels that blend genres to perfection.

Teamwork, competition, and the glory of team sports drive these graphic novel stories for elementary through high school readers.

Korean and Chinese comics reach English-language readers.

U.S. publishers step up to provide age-appropriate new releases for 8- to 12-year-olds. 

Nine popular series for elementary and middle grade readers.

Co-authors Kekla Magoon & Cynthia Leitich Smith in conversation about the inspiration behind The Blue Stars Series: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem: "When we set out to write a middle grade graphic novel series about cousins who became superheroes to save their school library, we couldn't have imagined how timely our story would become."

National Tell a Fairy Tale Day is February 26 this year. Young readers can revisit stories about Goldilocks and Jack and the Beanstalk—with new characters and formats giving the classic stories a fresh feel.

Graphic-format book publishers continue to enjoy sales success, even though the pandemic boom has subsided. Graphic-format book publishers now have the power to touch more lives and impact the culture. For their young readers, creators are exploring the emotional challenges of growing up amidst stressors like a pandemic, wars, and climate change.

Eight books for elementary through high school readers center issues of democracy with engaging examples and stories.

“Because Black history isn’t centered, you have to search harder for those stories,” says Gill, who has researched figures including Spottswood Rice, who escaped enslavement and joined the Union Army, and motorcyclist Bessie Stringfield. 

In this guest post, artist Sammy Savos details her creative process and discusses her collaboration with Holocaust survivor Estelle Nadel to create the graphic memoir The Girl Who Sang. "I’m very grateful that she was able to see the finished book, hold it in her hands, and tell me how happy she was with it."

The 2015 Caldecott winner explains why the award should go to the illustrator and the author, and reveals his memorable middle-of-the-night DM from that year's Newbery winner, Kwame Alexander.

These nine works for elementary students to teenagers use visual strategies to convey inner thoughts, feelings, and emotions. 

From a spirited shark to a cheerful squirrel, the characters in these four graphic novels will inspire holiday cheer in readers.

From stunning memoirs to sustainability guides, this year’s Best Graphic Novels list features 25 unforgettable works that take comics to new heights.

SLJ's Best Books lists are posting over the next few days. Download the full list!

Manga is more popular than ever before, and the explosion in popularity has brought a wave of new titles. Here are 10 of the best new manga published in 2023.

The weighty subject of antiracism—actively dismantling the systems of oppression that are based on race—is made more approachable through these titles.

Mostly free and readily available, webtoons are particularly appealing to teens and young adults. Publishers have seized the opportunity to bring many to print.

Witches, orphans, gods, and some ordinary folks populate these compelling stories for grades 5 and up.

These charming graphic novels for middle grade readers feature everything you’d expect from spooky season—haunted hayrides, magic, monster-hunting, and more—yet the stories are cozy, like a mug of hot cider. No matter the time of year, curl up with these titles and enjoy the gentle autumnal vibes.

In these seven manga works for grades five and up, affable characters cast gentle spells.

If graphic novels are flying off the shelves at your library, that reflects a remarkable trend: The format’s popularity has shot up at over 90 percent of school libraries in the last few years, according to a new SLJ survey.

In these works, silly creatures impart wise messages.

Illustrated works show the power of pictures to convey complex feelings—and why building a visual collection can be one of the best things you do for your teens.

An exclusive preview of Dark Horse’s upcoming graphic novel, The Unlikely Story of Felix and Macabber by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou & Juni Ba.

From reading people's thoughts to appearing as reincarnated humans, these cat characters have strong appeal. 

In an exclusive SLJ interview, New York Times bestselling author, Laini Taylor, and her partner, mixed media illustrator and cartoonist Jim Di Bartolo, discuss the inspiration for their vibrant, laugh-out-loud team-up, and their return to crafting graphic novels together—but this time, for a younger audience.

In this guest post, author Shannon Hale discusses adapting her graphic novel Best Friends as an audiobook, with a behind-the-scenes look at how she wrote the script and took part in the narration.

Check out reviews of recent Spider-Man books; hear what Jason Reynolds has to say about Miles Morales; and learn more about the complex world of superhero publishing.

For space enthusiasts eager to expand their knowledge, these YA nonfiction titles explore what we know about our solar system and the universe beyond.

For Lee, author and illustrator of In Limbo, the path to a starred graphic memoir debut began with a minicomic.

Should teachers and librarians back away from SEL to avoid the political heat? Parents broadly support schools teaching SEL-related skills, or “life skills,” to use the more politically neutral term. And publishers continue to see the ever-increasing value of SEL themes and to prioritize them in their publishing programs.

Amid a climate of legislation dictating how gender, sexuality, and LGBTQIA+ topics are discussed in classrooms and a record number of challenges to books with LGBTQIA+ authors or characters, publishers are doubling down on their commitment to put out titles that represent their readers.

An understanding of STEM ideas and principles can empower students to solve problems, take action in their own communities, and prepare them for the future. This is why STEM-related books continue to resonate with publishers and young readers alike.

The long history of superhero comics means there is a bewildering array of characters and storylines. Where should a new reader start? Here's what you need to know. 

These three graphic novels published for adults with teen appeal will keep young adults engaged during the break. Plus, an eye-opening Black queer feminist statement is also featured in this We Are Kid Lit Collective Summer Reading list. 

Which books work well as standalones, and which are best for series fans? Use our input to navigate whether to begin or expand these series selections at your library.

These recent manga titles for teens feature something for everyone, from slice-of-life family stories to action-packed fantasy adventures.

Summer reading is critical for so many reasons: It helps prevent learning loss while students are off for the summer. It supports children’s social-emotional development. It reinforces the idea that learning doesn’t end when school is out of session. Most important, it’s a time when kids can read just for fun.

For readers who enjoy or want to explore reading novels in different formats, here are 15 titles about AAPI characters or by AAPI creators to recommend for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Publishers are keenly aware that their books have to work harder than ever before—with more exciting storylines, more eye-catching and mature design, and popular topics that entice reluctant readers, like mysteries, horror, paranormal phenomena, dangerous jobs, cars and planes, and pre-historic creatures.

In these works, the characters are cute, the chapters short, and suspense is kept to a minimum. While the genre exists for all ages, many titles are ideal for younger readers.

Zines spotlight voices, opinions, and histories often missing from mainstream publishing. Here's what you need to know about curating, collecting, and creating these works at your library.

Seven recent works and an overview of recent Black comics publishing.

In 2023, graphic novels are no longer a new category but an established staple on library shelves. All signs point to the continued boom and increasing expansion of the format across all genres.

Navigating new friendships can be tough, as every middle schooler knows. Yet in these graphic novels, sharing a hobby or an extracurricular activity proves a surefire way to bring kindred spirits together.

Including fiction, nonfiction, and memoir, these titles cover topics from the making of the atomic bomb to the history of video games.

For our October cover on horror comics, Stephen Giplin depicted a child reading Mark Fearing's graphic novel Welcome to Feral, while the classic monsters in the bedroom look on in terror.

These middle grade tales of space travel will enchant kids who like the Disney+ film about a family trying to save a fantastical planet.

Music and performance take center stage in these 8 manga titles for teens.

The popularity of manga continued to increase in 2022, which enabled manga publishers to launch an array of new series, some in familiar genres and others that go in unexpected directions.

Striking images, stunning narratives, rich colors, and complex panel designs are prime examples of why these 22 works of sequential art belong in the classrooms and on library shelves.

While publishers turn out an ever-growing array of young adult graphic novels, plenty of adult titles have strong teen appeal, too. These works across a range of genres offer mature takes on topics with potential teen interest.

Judges chose Harmony Becker's graphic novel over five other finalists for the prestigious award.

The supernatural creatures of Japanese lore flourish in these manga titles.

Graphic novels deliver on the thrills and chills, and middle grade readers have plenty to choose from. Brigid Alverson examines the format and recommends 13 titles that deftly blend scary and fun.

As students seek out books that are currently being challenged and removed from shelves, librarians and their fellow educators can also point them to titles with censorship and book banning themes.

Share these 26 books celebrating Latinx heritage and ranging from fantasy to historical, with tween readers interested in everything from witches to soccer and ballet.

Manga creators have drawn on Japan's rich and varied history to create some of the greatest works in the medium. This short guide to the historical periods teens are most likely to encounter in manga is accompanied by a list of 9 titles that draw on ages past.

SLJ shares an exclusive sneak peek and cover reveal for Nathan Hale's The Mighty Bite, which publishes on April 4, 2023. A Q&A with Hale includes the inspiration for this wacky new graphic novel series, his approach to making nonfiction fun for kids, and his experience as a painter for natural history museums.

Hope Larson, Rebecca Mock, and Shing Yin Khor among the creators honored at the annual awards for the comics industry.

Valdez knew from the start that Harmony Becker’s Himawari House, which earned an SLJ starred review, was something special.

Recent and upcoming titles for elementary through YA readers encompassing a range of genres and styles.

A lot of returning faces are headed for the graphic novel shelves, but some of them may still be brand-new to your patrons. Our reviews evaluate each title on its own merits, including a verdict advising whether the title functions as a fresh start or is strictly a continuation.

Children's literature has lost another giant with the death of Jim Murphy; Colin Kaepernick to release a graphic memoir; SCBWI launches new fund and programs; and more in this edition of News Bites.

From “Pokémon” to “Snow White with the Red Hair,” there’s something here for every budding manga fan.

New types of manga have proliferated—and students can’t get enough. This overview of genres, publishers, formats, and more, will help get you up to date.

In the latest Censorship Roundup, administrators pull books from shelves and require parental consent based on individual complaints and an organization's list of "problematic" titles.

SLJ shares an exclusive excerpt of the first chapter of 'Jessi's Secret Language' (The Baby-sitters Club Graphic Novel, Bk. 12), adapted and illustrated by Chan Chau. 

Graphic novel authors Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada, who wrote about Kim's experience in a banned book club in South Korea in the 1980s, now find their book relevant to U.S. students.

With empathy and wit, the creator of the graphic novel Living with Viola portrays anxiety as a malicious person who won't leave the main character alone. 

Use these reviews of manga that are bound to be popular in the coming months for a ready-made display or to help you decide whether they should be purchased for your teen collections.

A lot of familiar faces are returning to graphic novel shelves. Should readers meet them in their latest adventures, or would it be best to start at the beginning? These 12 reviews suggest which approach matches each book.

12 stories for grades 3 and up spotlight Queen Hatshepsut, Josephine Baker, Mary Shelley, and more remarkable women. 

Cartoonist Lincoln Peirce’s beloved Big Nate comic strip makes the jump to television in the new Nickelodeon animated series now available on the Paramount+ streaming service. Here’s our review.

In these works, characters with disabilities are presented as well-rounded, complex personalities.

The most challenged graphic novel this fall: Gender Queer. And the award-winning Maia Kobabe memoir remains a frequent target nationwide. Graphic novels are more vulnerable, says Jonathan Friedman of PEN America, as older people simply are less comfortable with them. 

This year, we’ve seen updates to many graphic novel series aimed at middle grade and chapter book readers. Which installments will appeal only to die-hard series fans, and which can readers pick up with no knowledge of previous books? We offer some guidance.

Three entertaining books for elementary students and middle schoolers excited about Greg Heffley's animated screen debut.

While the popularity of manga ticked up sharply in 2020, it really took off in 2021. Publishers are getting the hint and bringing out new titles in familiar genres, as well as some that are new to American readers. Here’s a look at 10 of our favorite manga of 2021.

From graphical COVID diaries to investigative journalism, these comics are a time capsule of the pandemic experience.

With a range of grade levels (kindergarteners to high schoolers) and genres (fantasy and horror, among others), there’s something for everyone in these 17 comics picks.

A booklist, resources, and an interview with Sasha Bouché, editor at HighWater Press.

Becker’s YA graphic novel follows a year in the life of five young adults from four countries—the U.S., Singapore, Korea, and Japan—living together in a student group house in Japan.

This manga category focuses on relationships between two women or girls, usually romances. 

Creators hone in on previously untold stories and lesser-known figures. Plus: 12 recommended titles.

It’s not surprising that with rising U.S. sales of middle grade graphic novels, publishers looked across the Atlantic for material to translate. They found, in France and Belgium, brightly colored children’s bandes dessinées.

With wide-open access for readers and custom title control for institutions, Comics Plus is a versatile digital comics collection that will serve graphic novel lovers well.

Gene Luen Yang won two Eisner Awards for Superman Smashes the Klan (Best Publication for Kids, and Best Adaptation from Another Medium) and one for Dragon Hoops (Best Publication for Teens).

The graphic novelist strives to emulate kids’ storytelling styles in his books, about Cuban American siblings who use a little magic to fight monsters.

From intimate memoirs to gripping accounts of history to fantastical tales that take teens out of this world, these graphic novels will mesmerize readers.

Check out the SLJ reviews of the Eisner-nominated graphic novels aimed at young people, as well as our coverage of these innovative and inspired titles.

Geared for teen and tween girls, here are recommended new titles in shoujo manga, with interesting twists on the standard tropes.

Saturday morning cartoons may be a thing of the past, but the genre is living on in graphic novels. These 10 novels and series bring back that Saturday morning feeling with mad scientists, talking animals, and zany superheroes. 

Whether kids want to vicariously experience summer camp shenanigans, learn about the ultimate lemonade stand rivalry, or get a head start on Halloween with vampires and werewolves, there's something in these middle grade graphic novels for everyone.

From Charlie Parker and Nellie Bly to Mae Jemison and Ada Lovelace, remarkable individuals get the graphic treatment in these titles recommended for grades 3 and up.

Popular in the early 2000s, this manga category for teen and tween girls is seeing renewed interest and a bevy of new titles with twists on standard tropes.

From fantasy to more realistic stories, these diverse works update classic coming out narratives and focus on self-discovery.

School librarians have long known what others are now discovering—that graphic novels aren’t just a great entry point into reading for many students, but also a sophisticated and multidimensional art form.