21 Fabulous Graphic Novels for Tweens: Ages 9-12 Year Olds
Inside: Our pick of 21 of the best graphic novels for tweens, ages 9-12 year olds.
In the world of kids books, graphic novels are so hot right now. For the unfamiliar, graphic novels are book length stories told with the visual support of a comic strip format. The inclusion of visual elements provides more opportunity for kids to interact with the text and the graphic features.
Thanks to the recent publication of many new titles by a fabulous collection of tween/middle school focused graphic novel authors, they are also great for inviting discussion around important themes and topics relevant to the 9-12 year old age group.
Both my eight and twelve year olds are big fans of graphic novels. They are confident readers and voracious consumers of all different genres of books, so while graphic novels are great for supporting struggling readers – the visuals providing important contextual support to help the reader decipher text and meaning – they are also attractive to children and tweens across a vast range of reading levels.
21 Fabulous Graphic Novels for Tweens: Ages 9-12 Year Olds
Each book included on our list is linked to both an Amazon and/or Book Depository online store page – these are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Diana: Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale  11 year old princess, Diana (aka Wonder Woman), is the only child on an island of immortal Amazons. And she’s bored. When she hears the story of how she was made out of clay, Diana decides to make her own clay best friend. Enter Mona….who may not be the best influence of Diana. Diana makes some bad decisions that could put the whole idyllic Amazonian world in danger! Age 8+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Phoebe and Her Unicorn (book 1 of the series) by Dana Simpson  Phoebe and Her Unicorn is the first in this series of witty, sarcastic stories about 9 year old Phoebe, a confident, happy misfit, and her absolutely self-absorbed unicorn friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. The series explores themes related to fitting in, popularity, loneliness, honesty and being oneself. Age 8+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
| Find the rest of the series: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Real Friends by Shannon Hale  Real Friends is a semi-autobiographical story exploring the complex nature of playground politics among primary/elementary aged girls. It’s about making friends and losing them, about popularity and what lengths the girls will go to to be included in with the in crowd. Age 8+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
| Grab the sequel, Best Friends: Amazon | The Book Depository |
El Deafo by Cece Bell  El Deafo is the fabulous, semi-autobiographical story of Cece as she adjusts to life as a deaf person. Cece is trying to find ways to cope as the only deaf student in her school – a job made especially difficult thanks to the giant hearing aid strapped to Cece’s chest! The story is funny, deeply honest and a fabulous lesson in learning to accept individual differences. Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Smile, Sisters and Guts by Raina Telgemeier  We are big fans of Telgemeier’s award winning series of memoirs, and in the latest installment, Guts, she shares the story of her lifelong battle with anxiety, phobias and panic attacks and their effect on her digestive system. A great read for kids who struggle with worry and stress, and associated tummy pains. Age 8+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
The Last Kids On Earth (book 1 of the series) by Max Brallier  The Last Kids on Earth tells the hilarious story of Jack and his friends, Quint and June, as they attempt to stay alive in the aftermath of a zombie monster apocalypse – by hiding out in a super cool treehouse! One of our favourite graphic novel series. Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
| See the whole series: Amazon | The Book Depository |
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Compass South (book 1 of the Four Points series) by Hope Larson  Set in the 1860s, this fun, swashbuckling adventure tale shares the story of orphaned twins, Cleo and Alex, who become separated while on the run from gangsters, pirates, and the law! Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
| See the sequel, Knife’s Edge: Amazon | The Book Depository |
New Kid by Jerry Craft  Middle school is hard. Switching schools is hard. Imagine switching to a private middle school where you’re one of the very few black kids there. Jordan Banks is a seventh grader who dreams of going to art school, instead, he finds himself at the exclusive, private Riverdale Academy Day School. Jordan experiences prejudice and stereotyping from both kids and faculty in a funny, heartfelt exploration of racial issues suitable to children 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
| Find out more about the sequel, Class Act, in our collection of the best New Graphic Novels for Tweens. |
Secret Coders (book 1 of the series) by Gene Luen Yang  Two unlikely friends, Hopper and Eni, band together to solve the mysteries at their crazy school while teaching themselves (and the reader) beginner computer coding skills. Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
| Find the rest of the series: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson  Roller Girl has so much good stuff in it – it explores growing apart from childhood friends, finding new friends, standing up for yourself and others, the importance of positive role models, defining who you are as a person as you grow up, facing fear and surviving. Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Invisible Emmie (book 1 in the Emmie & Friends series) by Terri Libenson  Told from the perspective of two totally different girls – Emmie who is quiet, shy and artistic and Katie who is popular, outgoing and athletic. This is the story of a not-so-ordinary school day when Emmie is pushed into the spotlight thanks to an embarrassing situation, and what happens when the lives of these two girls unexpectedly intersect. Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
| Find the rest of the series: Amazon | The Book Depository |
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander  Josh and Jordan are twins. They love basketball, following in the steps of the father. As they grow up, Jordan begins to stray from basketball and Josh feels left behind. Add in health issues for their dad and you have a powerful story about family, with great energy and emotions shared through the verse text and illustrations. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
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The Dragonet Prophecy (book 1 of the Wings of Fire series) by Tui T. Sutherland  Told from the perspective of one of five young dragons destined in a prophecy to end the war for a new leader between the seven dragon tribes, the first story arc of the Wings of Fire book series is now available as a graphic novel series for dragon fans. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
| See the entire series: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Drama by Raina Telgemeier  Drama is about embracing what you love, courage and dedication. It shares the story of Callie – a seventh grader who loves the theatre, and the work, friendships, crushes and drama that develop backstage during the school musical production. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Trespassers by Breena Bard  When Gabby’s family go to stay at their lake house for the summer she never imagines she’ll find a mystery to solve, and an unlikely new friend. Gabby loves to read and write, mysteries in particular, and when she begins to write a story about the abandoned house by the lake, her hunt for a theory as to what happened to its inhabitants leads her and her new friend, Paige, into places Gabby never would have ever previously considered. 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Stargazing by Jen Wang  Christine tries hard to be everything her parents want her to be – academic, musical, and serious. Moon is a bundle of contradictions – vegetarian, Buddhist, funny, loud, good at drawing, uncool but supremely confident. The two are unlikely friends and then become best friends. When Christine becomes jealous of Moon’s burgeoning popularity she makes a choice that just might sabotage their friendship forever. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
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American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang  The stories of Jin Wang and his experiences as the only Chinese American student at a new school, the Monkey King who doesn’t actually want to be a monkey, and Danny and his embarrassing stereotypical Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee – who is literally ruining Danny’s life – are interwoven in this clever graphic novel exploring isolation, stereotypes and self acceptance. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
White Bird by R J Palacio  As part of Julian’s school assignment he asks his grandmother to share her story as a teenage Jewish girl in southern France during WWII. Her story of survival is a remarkable tale of human kindness and unspeakable bravery. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Target Practice (book 1 in the Cleopatra in Space series) by Mike Maihack  Cleopatra, Cleo to her friends, is transported from Egypt into the future to the planet Mayet. There she is seen as the saviour to this world, and she has been chosen to defeat the evil dictator ruining civilisations on the planet. But first Cleo must attend an intergalactic school to learn the skills she will need to fulfil her destiny of saving the universe. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
| Find the rest of the series: Amazon | The Book Depository |
The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell  Sixteen children spend the last days of summer creating fabulous costumes and staging epic battles, building everything from cardboard. The wonderful cast of characters represent a diverse range of ethnicities, genders and physical abilities, and themes of co-operation, kindness and the power of imagination are explored, as well as discussions about divorce, bullying, family, dressing up and more. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy: A Modern Retelling of Little Women by Bre Indigo and Rey Terciero  What can you count on in this world if not your sister? The classic story of sisters has been recreated with more than a little modern day twist -including a parent’s military deployment, a multiracial blended family, chemotherapy, coming out as gay, cell phones, email and more, alongside themes of poverty, bullying, disability and family. Age 12+ years Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
For more great graphic novels for kids, check out the great big list in our blog post, Best Graphic Novels for Kids (6-12 years). Or browse our collection of the latest graphic novels for pre-teens in our feature, 20 Best New Graphic Novels for Tweens, all published in 2020. Or click through to find our pick of the best Funny Graphic Novels for Kids.
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