Looking for fresh reading material for your graphic novel loving tween? We’ve collected together 20 of the best new graphic novels for 8 to 12 year olds (with many that young teens will enjoy as well), all published in 2020.
If your child is just getting started with adding graphic novels to their bookshelf, be sure to check out our previous lists of Best Graphic Novels for Kids (which includes suggestions for children ages 6 to 12 years) and 15 Fabulous Graphic Novels for Tweens.
20 Best New Graphic Novels for Tweens 2020
Each book included on our list of new graphic novels for tweens 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 |
Nat Enough (book 1 of the series) by Maria Scriven Natalie and Lily have always been best friends, until middle school. Now Lily has moved on to be friends with ‘the cool girls.’ Nat decides she will win back her old friend and along the way makes new friends who help her to see that she has many great gifts, and the power to decide who she spends time with. Age 8+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Anti/Hero by Kate Karyus Quinn Sloane and Piper could not be more different. They both attend the same middle school but they have very different lives and personalities. And superpowers. One is a hero and one is a villain. One night they two collide and end up switching bodies but now they must work together to get their lives back. Anti/Hero teaches that not everyone is who they make themselves out to be and that we really have no ideas the battles others are fighting Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic 1912 by Lauren Tashis A great introduction to an intriguing moment tin history, the graphic novel format makes this history lesson accessible to a wide range of readers. The book begins with a tense and suspenseful fictional story about George and his sister Phoebe who are travelling with their Aunt on the Titanic, and then goes on to include pages of interesting facts about the ship and its real life passengers. Age 8+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Act (book 3 of the Click! series) by Kayla Miller This new instalment of the popular series sees Liv in sixth grade and running for office in an attempt to make changes in her school so that all of her class can attend a field trip. A great story about speaking up and getting involved to make change to improve the situation you’re in, even at a young age. Age 8+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
List continues below.
xxx
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed  Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in a refugee camp in Kenya. When Omar is given the opportunity to go to school, he hopes it could be the change for their future that the brothers need. Heartbreak and hope exist together in this wonderful biographical graphic novel about family and hope. Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley City kid Jen is struggling to adjust to her new step-family and her new family home… on a farm! It’s hard to get used to so many changes but Jen slowly finds her place in her new family in this relatable story about real childhood issues. Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
The Witches by Roald Dahl. Illustrated by Penelope Bagieu Witches are real and very, very dangerous! They wear ordinary clothes and live in ordinary towns and there’s nothing they despise more than children! When an 8 year old boy and his grandmother come upon the Grand High Witch herself, they may be the only ones who can stop the witches’ plot to get rid of every last child in the country! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Zatanna and the House of Secrets by Matthew Cody 13 year old Zatanna is dealing with the usual adolescent issues when she discovers her stage-magician Dad’s magical tricks aren’t just illusions but real magic, and that their home (dubbed by the neighbours The House of Secrets) holds more secrets that she ever knew. Now Zatanna must solve the puzzle her home has become to overcome an evil intruder, and save the house and her father! Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Becoming Brianna (book 4 in the series) by Terri Libenson Parent pressure, fake friends, performance anxiety – Brianna is dealing with all of this and more as she prepares for her bat mitzvah…the one she doesn’t really want to have! And in the process Brianna learns lessons in honesty, overcoming stage fright, and that it is okay to question what you believe spiritually. Age 9+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
List continues below.
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 |
Go With the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann A wonderful story of friendship, bullying, activism and periods. Three teens take the new girl under their wing after she gets her period at school. The four become close and realise how unfair it is that the sanitary supplies machine is never stocked, and it costs money, and they decide they want to try and change it. Age 10 + years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Cub by Cynthia L Copeland  Discovering she has a knack for writing, Cindy’s English teacher finds a local female reporter willing to show her what it is like to work as a journalist. Cindy learns a lot on her internship, discovering much about herself as well – like who she really wants to be friends with at school and the developing relationship with her first boyfriend, and set in the 70s, it includes lots of great references to female empowerment, environmentalism and other social reforms. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Class Act (book 2 in the series) by Jerry Craft A companion to Craft’s New Kid, this time the focus is on Drew and his struggle to find his with both the kids at his private school and his friends at home (who think his school is sooo fancy!). As he learns that things aren’t always as they seem, Drew negotiates issues of race, friendship, bullying, empathy and difference. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks  Clever and independent Juniper is excited to win a full scholarship to a prestigious boarding school but soon falls out with the most popular student – wealthy and upper-class Emily. She makes friends with her shy roommate, Cassie, although their friendship is not all smooth sailing. Add in a touch of mystical magic associated with the school’s history and this graphic novel is sure to be a hit with middle grade readers. Age 10+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
The Big Break by Mark Tatulli When Russ begins to show less interest in continuing a movie project with Andrew, Andrew blames Russ’s new love interest. However, Tara isn’t the only thing driving these two boys apart! Will the boys ever resolve these issues to finish filming their movie? Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
List continues below.
xxx
The Inkberg Enigma by Jonathan King  The fishing village of Aurora has a secret and Miro and Sia are determined to uncover it. The mystery is tied to an ill-fated Antarctic expedition that took place decades ago. Now something has a powerful hold over the town and the long hidden diary of that fateful journey might just hold the answer to what is happening in their town. A thrilling graphic novel adventure for middle grade readers. Age 11+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh A magically unique story about friendship and family, and the importance of being kind, tolerant, loving and respectful. With a cast of wonderfully diverse characters, including Snapdragon who just doesn’t feel like she fits in, Jacks – who is called a witch by the townspeople but really just has a truly odd job, Lu – a transgender girl learning how to be herself, and a three legged puppy named Good Boy! Age 11+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang Kids who like sports will enjoy this cool insight into basketball. When all the kids at the high school where he teaches are talking about their basketball team, Yang investigates and finds the talk is all about a super basketball team that had never won a state championship, despite playing in the championship game many years. Could this be their year? Part memoir, part action packed sport story with a little sport history too. Age 12+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Displacement by Kiku Hughes Cleverly blending fact with fiction, Displacement tells the story of a modern day, biracial teenager transported back to the time of her grandmother’s detention in a Japanese internment camp in the US during World War II. A great title for engaging students with an important historical period – that wasn’t actually that long ago, that also highlights valuable parallels to recent political events. Age 12+ years. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.
