Graphic novels are my secret weapon to get any kid reading. My recent discovery is that there are also multicultural, diverse, and inclusive graphic novels that bring kids into different perspectives like what it’s like to have hearing loss or go through a civil war. Graphic novels also let us experience new worlds, both present, past, and future. And it’s the illustrations that tell part of the story with a low word count. It’s actually this inferencing … getting the story from both the words and the pictures that make graphic novels a valuable reading comprehension tool for learning.
So there you have it. Kids love to read graphic novels. It’s fun for them. They don’t realize how much they are learning by reading the story from both the images and words, especially reluctant readers. And they can get a wealth of experiences by reading multicultural/diversity/inclusive stories.
I’m not telling kids about the educational benefits. You shouldn’t either. Shh!!! Let’s just keep them in front of our kids!
40+ Great Diversity Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens
The Adventures of Team Pom: Squid Happens by Isabel Roxas
This is a farcical adventure that somehow manages to connect all the dots in a delightful and satisfying way. Agnes, Roberta, and Ruby are a synchronized swimming team made up of the kids who are picked on by their peers, especially the Brighton Beach Mermaids who always win the Junior Synchronized Swimming Interborough Conference. But there is something fishy about the Brighton Beach Mermaids … or should we say “squidy”? Agnes, Robert, and Ruby discover a mistreated giant squid whose ink is the basis for a youthful skin cream that works a little too well. Can they save their giant squid, evade the rats on the squid’s tail, win the competition, and reveal the Brighton Beach Mermaids’ dastardly secrets? [graphic novel, ages 6 and up]
Azzi In Between by Sarah Garland
Azzi In Between can be paired with the wordless picture book Here I Am by Patty Kim. Both tell the story of a family’s immigration to a new country. Azzi In Between is a particularly gentle version of a family escaping as war refugees. Azzi’s new home takes some getting used to. She needs to learn a new language; her father must wait for work papers, and her beloved grandmother stays behind which worries Azzi greatly. In the end, bean seeds — not of a magic kind but they do have a magic of their own — help Azzi and her family make the tradition to this new life where a wonderful surprise also awaits her at home. I especially like how the kids in her new class are kind to her and she, in turn, is welcoming to a new boy from a new country who joins their class. This is a must-read for anyone who has kids in their class who are learning English as a second language. [graphic novel, ages 6 and up]
Dragons Beware by Rafael Rosado and Jorge Aguirre
The protagonist is not a person of color, in fact, it took me a while to figure out that Claudette is a girl because she is quite a tomboy. My 10-year-old son and I
Luz Makes a Splash by Claudia Davila
The Luz graphic novel series has an environmental message and a diverse cast of characters with a can-do attitude. Together, they tackle the water crisis stemming from drought and from a nearby factory that threatens Luz’s two favorite places: the local swimming pool and Friendship Park. [graphic novel, ages 6 and up]
My Beijing: Four Wonders of Everyday Wonder by Nie Jun
Yu’er and her grandfather live together in a traditional hutong neighborhood in Beijing. Together they have everyday adventures that seem like a day in the life of an ordinary family in modern China. But, if you look closer, you will see magic in the love of a grandfather for this granddaughter. The stories include teaching Yu’er, who has a physical disability and uses one crutch, to swim by hoisting her up in a tree when she dreams of competing in the Special Olympics. Yu’er also discovers an insect symphony with her grandfather who is a young boy in this story. Her grandfather worked as a post office delivery man, and she learns about how he met her grandmother through their love of stamp collecting. In the final story, Yu’er pursues art with a cranky artist that has a history with her grandfather. These stories depict a neighborhood in China with neighbors that might feel familiar the world over. It’s a book to showshow much we are all the same. [graphic novel, ages 7 and up]
Putuguq & Kublu and the Attack of the Amautalik! by Roselynn Akulukjuk and Danny Christopher, illustrated by Astrid Arijanto
Putuguq and Kublu visit their grandparent’s house where caribou stew is waiting for them, their favorite! Their grandparents tell them a story about how a little orphan girl outwitted the amautalik, an ogress who steals children. Kublu and Putuguq act out their own version of the amautalik for their grandparents. In this play, Putuguq has his own secret weapon … stinky socks! Their grandparents are delighted with this new version of an old folktale. [graphic novel, ages 7 and up]
Flash Facts: Ten Terrific Tales About Science and Technology edited by Mayim Bialilk
Flash as a forensic scientist? Why not? He explains how he uses DNA in his day job as a crime scientist investigator. This book uses superheroes to cover STEM subjects in a way that kids can relate to. Each story is written and illustrated by different groups, giving this book the feeling of a graphic novel short story anthology. [graphic novel with short STEM stories, ages 7 and up]
Bright Family by Matthew Cody and Derick Brooks
The Bright parents are super genius scientists with two adopted children. Nia Bright, the older sister, is a robotics expert but doesn’t think she is as smart as the rest of her family. Her younger brother, Jayden, is also a STEM genius. When Nia accidentally teleports their parents to another world, She, Jayden, and their new robotic nanny must work together to bring them home. Nia discovers that she is equally as talented as the rest of the family. [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Pawcasso Remy Lai
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“Jo’s world is an idyllic one few of us get to experience– shops within walking distance that include a grocery, ice cream store, and book store; children allowed to roam freely and run their father’s dog grooming business in an emergency; public transportation; and lots of children hanging about having adventures. Seeing the community tussle over leashes vs. no leashes was compelling, and it was easy to believe that people thought Pawcasso belonged to Jo. The family problems add an additional layer of interest. Brightly colored illustrations in an appealing style will appeal to fans of Telgemeier, Jamieson, and Scrivan.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte, illustrated by Ann Xu
It’s a tough adjustment for Cici to move from Taiwan to Seattle with her family. She misses her grandmother, A-ma, terribly. A-ma has a big birthday coming up and Cici wants her to come. to Seattle but there’s no money for the plane ticket. When Cici sees the prize money for a kids’ cooking competition, she decides to enter. She makes a new friend, Miranda, when they are paired up in the competition but the food decisions always veer towards European influences. Can Cici prove to the judges that her Taiwanese dish is worthy of the big prize?
Cooking competitors and graphic novels are a perfect combination in my book! Lily LaMotte’s characters really resonate with me. I like how Miranda seems to have it all but really doesn’t want to follow in her father’s footsteps so it’s easy to understand the tension in their relationship over trying to win the competition. Cici also grabs your heart. She’s both appealing and complex … like a spice mix. This is a satisfying read that needs to be followed with Taiwanese food! [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Frizzy by Claribel Ortega
Review from Ms. Yingling Reads:
“In this graphic novel, we meet Marlene, whose least favorite thing is to go to the salon once a week with her mother in order to “tame” her curly hair. This involves setting it on rollers and sitting under a dryer until it is straight. Of course, if Marlene goes out in the weather or sweats, her hair reverts to its naturally curly and “frizzy” nature. Her mother, who has “good” hair doesn’t like to spend the extra money going back to the salon, so she is often angry with Marlene for ruining her hair. This is especially evident when the two attend a cousin’s Quinceanera. Marlene dances and enjoys herself, but gets sweaty in the process, and her mother is not happy with how she looks in the family pictures. After some trouble at school, Marlene complains to her mother that straight hair or braids are not making her happy, and some information about her mother’s own relationship with her hair, as well as the family history, comes out. Marlene spends a weekend with her Tía Ruby learning how to care.” [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
That Can Be Arranged: A Muslim Love Story by Huda Fahmy
I’m obsessed with the Netflix show, Indian Matchmaking, so this was a natural fit for me and Huday Fahmy does not disappoint! I didn’t realize that women are expected to get married by the age of 21 in Islam culture or they are considered past their prime. In Japan, girls past the age of 25 are considered “Christmas Cake” (and I thought that was young to be considered past their prime for marriage). This is a charming graphic novel of Huda’s love-at-first-sight story. Arranged marriages, like in Asian cultures, are not forced marriages. They are more like a personal dating app. I hope Huda continues her graphic novel about being a newlywed because now I am fully invested in her relationship.
I think this is a perfect read to learn more about the Muslim religion. It has the perfect balance of humor and tension. The large font and limited text on the page also make this appealing to reluctant readers. [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Princeless, Volume 1: Save Yourself by Jeremy Whitley
The Princeless series is my kind of princess … the kind that doesn’t need rescuing, in fact, she does the rescuing herself! A royal family with a plethora of princesses is locked up in a nod to fractured fairy tales in need of rescue by a prince. This is all a setup for the father, the king, to find a suitable heir. But he misjudged his daughters severely and will learn that they are not the helpless types.
This series weaves several stories into cliffhangers as well as gives you several “comic book” style stories in one book. This is a series for all mighty girls, not just those of color! [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz
Shirley and Jamila Save Their SummerReview by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“In this full-color graphic novel, Jamila Waheed has moved to a new neighborhood with her family, including two older, and very busy brothers. Her mother is working from home and is not content to have Jamila lounge around the house all summer, but she also doesn’t want her to walk alone to the basketball court five blocks away, so she wants to sign her up for a science camp. When Jamila is at a garage sale, she meets the quirky Shirley Bones, who has an uncanny, Sherlock Holmes-style knack for knowing things about those around her. Shirley is trying to avoid going to ballet camp and manages to get the mothers together to agree that the girls can stay home, and go to each other’s houses and the basketball court if they follow the rules and check in. This freedom encourages the girls to get along even though they don’t have a lot in common. When Shirley is approached by Oliver and Vee, who have relied on Shirley’s detecting skills before. They want her to help find a backpack that they took to the pool with their gecko in it that has been stolen. Even though the pool is out of the boundary the girls are allowed, they try to solve the mystery. At first, they think a girl named Kumi might have taken it, but she leads them to someone else. There is a shadowy figure in the neighborhood who is stealing things, but how can Shirley use her knowledge to help this person, retrieve the stolen goods, and perhaps make some more friends?” [middle grade graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Freddy vs. School by Neill Cameron
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“This had a very British feel, rather reminiscent of Berger’s Lyttle Lies, Pichon’s Tom Gates or Mian and Mafaridik’s Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet. It lacks quirky grandparents, and Freddy’s a robot, but otherwise includes a lot of standard school concerns such as bullies, strict teachers, field trips, and school lunches.” [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
The Awakening Storm by Jamal Yogis, illustrated by Vivan Truoung
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“This was a fun fantasy romp with dragons, which my students adore. I enjoyed the fact that Grace, while she missed her father, was okay with her stepfather and with the move to Hong Kong, and she managed to make friends right away. There was a lot of adventure (flying on the back of a dragon!), and some decently evil villains for the kids to fight. There was a bit of science with the father’s position, and the integration of the folklore into Grace’s life made sense. The pictures were in full color and were very appealing.” [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Nori by Rumi Hara
Nori is a spirited preschooler who lives in suburban Osaka in a multigenerational family. Her grandmother takes care of her when her parents are at work. Her grandmother also shares folklore that figures into their adventures. This graphic novel is a series of short stories. [middle grade graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Little White Duck: A Childhood in China by Na Liu and Andrés Vera Martínez
Set right after the end of the Cultural Revolution, Little White Duck is author Na Liu’s personal story of what life was like during the years China pushed forward with initiatives to modernize. Other significant events in China include the death of Mao Zedong but this graphic novel is really about small moments seen through the eyes of a young girl. And life in China during this period was neither really horrific for her (though many countrymen suffered from the famine the Four Moderations caused), it was filled with love, and family celebrations while living on the cusp of great change. This is a great way for kids to learn about what it was like to live in Wuhan, China in 1976. [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Who Was the Voice of the People: Cesar Chavez by Terry Blas
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“The boycott of grapes in 1966, and the social activism at the time, is very interesting to see covered, and the Who Was books are something that my students ask for a lot because they’ve read them in elementary school. This graphic novel not only tells about Chavez’s life but about this time period. It concentrates especially on the march from Delano, California to the capitol. Chavez was injured the first day, and the group struggled along the route, sleeping outside at farms on their way. There are some explanations in straight text, which was helpful, and a good conclusion as well as a timeline at the end. A short bibliography is included.
I liked the illustration style, and the feel of the 1960s was captured well. The palette was tans and browns, with some dusky greens, which gave an agricultural feel to the book.” [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Who Is the Man in the Air?: Michael Jordan by Gabe Soria, illustrated by Brittany Williams
Review from Ms. Yingling Reads:
“This graphic novel captures a small snapshot in time; the 1997 NBA Finals basketball game between the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls, often known as “The Flu Game”. Jordan was a very important member of the team, and when he became ill in the middle of the night, the team management and other players panicked. How could they win with their key player not up to snuff? Despite feeling nauseated, Jordan went on to play a very competitive game, leading to his team’s narrow win.”
Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“The illustrations reminded me strongly of Katy Farina’s entries in the Babysitters’ Club graphic novel series, so this would be immediately popular. The color palette, despite Sue’s love of black, is bright and cheery. I liked the Latine (the author’s term) representation and the discussion of the quinces celebration. Books, where teens go to another country to visit family, are always interesting to me, and since I have a friend from Honduras, I found this doubly interesting. The family interactions are realistic, and the grandmother’s death is treated in a life-affirming way.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Raul the Third
I grew up in Southern California where lowriders originated. I love how the mechanic, Lupe Impala, is female and can make or repair the parts that she needs. El Chavo Flapjack is an octopus that can make any car shine and Elirio Malaria is a (non-biting) mosquito that is the best detailer artist in town. Together, they turn a run-down car — with help from a cosmic ride into outer space — into a low and slow lowrider that might just have a chance at winning the big competition! With Spanish slang interspersed throughout, this graphic novel celebrates Chicano culture (and outer space). It’s a unique concept but a fun one! [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
El Deafo by Cece Bell
What is it like to lose your hearing? Cece Bell shares her own story of hearing loss and struggles with her very large but powerful hearing aid, which allows her to hear but also makes her look different. In learning to accept her hearing aid, Cece Bell also discovers that it’s our differences that are also our superpowers. [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
Black Heroes of the Wild West: Featuring Stagecoach Mary, Bass Reeves, and Bob Lemmons by James Otis Smith
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“In this graphic novel, we get stories of three Black Americans who were involved in the history of the West in the late 1800s. While Bass Reeves, a Deputy U.S. marshall, has had several books written about him (including Paulsen’s 2006 The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True and Fictional Account of the Most Valiant Marshal in the West, readers might not have met horse trainer Bob Lemmons or stagecoach driver Mary Fields. This graphic novel offers brief overviews of their lives and careers, with the longest and most interesting being about Fields and her many careers and unique lifestyle for a woman at the time. Reeves is fascinating, but just the highlights of his career are addressed, and Lemmons has a very short entry. The graphics are nicely done, and the text-to-picture ratio is a comfortable one that will please my students. The book is not large (7.8″ x 10″), but a little larger than Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales (5.5 x 7.5″); Black Heroes definitely will appeal to the demographics of Hale’s books. I very much appreciated the photographs, notes, and timelines at the end of the book.” [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
John Henry: The Steam Age Original Graphic Novel by Dwayne Harris
The Legend of John Henry is one of the African-American folk heroes and a tall tale in which John Henry races as a hammer-wielding steel driver against a steam-powered hammer. He wins a Pyrrhic victory as he dies with his hammer in his hand as his heart gave out from stress.
This graphic novel takes liberty with the John Henry folktale and reimagines it in a steampunk fantasy; that is to say, John Henry wakes from a coma after winning his competition only to find the world run by robots. Try this one with young fans of the Amulet series, or Terminator movies! [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
John Lewis was a Civil Rights hero who worked side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior. This graphic novel trilogy brings to life his story of what it was like to march on Washington for Civil Rights. [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
Isla to Island by Alex Castellanos
Review from Ms. Yingling Reads:
“In this mostly wordless graphic novel, we meet Isla’s parents, who marry in 1945 and are living in Cuba. When Isla comes along, the family is closely knit. They go to parks together and press flowers when they return home and seem to have a good life. In 1960, after Batista and Castro, their neighborhood becomes dangerous. A window in Isla’s room is shattered, and the family is scared. The parents decide to send Isla to New York City with Operation Pedro Pan. Isla arrives in the US alone but is fostered by a very caring and concerned older couple who do what they can to make her comfortable, but who find it hard to discern exactly what she needs. Isla goes to a Catholic school where many of the children are mean to her, and she struggles with learning since her command of English isn’t good. Her world is portrayed as predominately gray. She eventually discovers books, and through these shares with her foster parents her love of plants and flowers, and color slowly returns to her world. Her foster parents take her to parks and greenhouses, school becomes a bit easier, and she gains enough confidence to make friends. A series of snapshots show her life after her school years when she is able to reunite with her parents and has a family of her own.” [middle grade graphic novel, ages 10 and up]
Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova
Middle school is complicated for Felicity. Her younger sister seems to win at everything she does, while Felicity can’t seem to finish anything she starts. Friendships are also complicated. Things are really awkward with her best friend in elementary school, Joseph Ko, and she doesn’t why. Still, she floats between groups and that helps to keep the drama to a minimum. That is until she decided to enter a business plan competition to show everyone including herself that she can be a winner too. Only, now her friendships are intermingled and the stress to come up with a good idea increases. This might be a good time to reassess who is an enemy and what makes for a good friend. Failure isn’t an option, or is it? [middle grade graphic novel, ages 10 and up]
The Love Report by Beka and Maya
Best friends Lola and Grace decide to study middle school romance in a love report that they create. There’s plenty of drama at school and at home, and they learn to look below the surface and actually interview each person. Felicity, the girl that all the boys have a crush on, spends her time studying astrophysics, letting everyone think she’s an airhead. Adele is the sexy goth, but her bad reputation is undeserved yet hard to shake. Noah is Lola’s crush, but he betrays her to hang out with the popular boys. I really liked the pacing and illustration style of this graphic novel, but it’s feels a little like what adults think happens in middle school versus what actually happens. I’m not so sure middle school boys act like this. Still, middle school relationships are a popular topic in graphic novels and this one feels crafted to appeal to that readership. [middle grade graphic novel, ages 10 and up]
The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“This was a great historical story with a unique spin on the Paul Bunyan tales. Reimagining them with a Chinese Auntie makes perfect sense since folklore is always adapted to fit different cultures. The information about logging camps is well-researched and informative. Mei does not have a lot of hope for her future at the beginning of the story, but it is good to see that by the end, there are other options for her. The LGBTQIA+ representation is not a large part of the story, but it’s nice to see it represented in a historical context. Certainly, there were “Boston marriages” (a term in use around this time) even on the west coast! Mr. Andersen’s portrayal as someone who thought he was progressive for the time but who still didn’t treat his employees equally is interestingly done. The story moves along quickly.” [graphic novel, ages 10 and up]
The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith
After a terrible political coup usurps their noble house, Hawke and Grayson flee to stay alive and assume new identities, Hanna and Grayce. Desperation and chance lead them to the Communion of Blue, an order of magical women who spin the threads of reality to their will.
As the twins learn more about Communion and themselves, they begin to hatch a plan to avenge their family and retake their royal home. While Hawke wants to return to his old life, Grayce struggles to keep the threads of her new life from unraveling and realizes she wants to stay in the one place that will allow her to finally live as a girl. [middle grade graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Kyle’s Little Sister by BonHyung Jeong
Review from Randomly Reading:
“Sixth-grader Grace Bailey is very excited to finally be a middle grader. Well, except for one thing – older brother Kyle is an eighth grader in the same school. Grace and Kyle may be siblings, but they couldn’t be more different. Kyle is outgoing, good-looking, and popular, especially among the girls, and likes to game with his two best friends, Liam and Andrew. Grace is a quiet, shy girl who prefers staying home and gaming with her two best friends, Jay, who is Black and has a big crush on Kyle, and Amy, Andrew’s younger sister.
Kyle’s Little Sister is a debut graphic novel for BonHyung Jeong and she has really hit it out of the park, capturing all the big and small happenings and nuances that can only happen in middle school. Her characters are so spot on and so very today even if the story is as old as…middle school. Jeong’s has managed to take a handful of characters and give them all distinct personalities. There is nothing ambiguous in the storyline, and motives are clear and uncomplicated, and there is even a nod to the very popular K-Pop phenomena.” [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Thunderous by M. L. Smoker and Natalie Peeterse
The story is a little heavy-handed about respecting the stories and ways of the Lakota but still, this is an exciting adventure where Aiyana ends up in the spirit world and can only get home by finding four offerings because of a trickster raven. She has to dig deep into her Lakota heritage to find these offerings and three animals help her. Fans of Percy Jackson will enjoy this graphic novel adventure. [middle grade graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Cardboardia: The Other Side of the Box by Richard Fairgray and Lucy Campagnolo
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“Pokey is a very enthusiastic six-year-old living with her grandparents, older brother Mac, and imaginary friend, Colombo. On her birthday, she finds an odd amulet in her cereal. Mac’s friend Maisie does as well. When Maisie is escorting Pokey back to her classroom after she delivers Mac’s lunch to him (which she has grabbed by mistake), the two get sucked into a cardboard box that is a portal to a magical world where everything is made of cardboard. Mac’s friend Bird also finds an amulet, right before Maisie reports that she has lost Pokey. Mac has an encounter with a creepy cardboard woman in his attic but doesn’t get many answers. The boxes only serve as portals if they are kept in good shape, but it’s not long before Birdie is sucked into another one (that is cleverly being used as a paper recycling bin!). Finally, Mac, Maisie, and Birdie all travel together, only to find themselves on a “Wanted” poster. Things are not okay in the kingdom, but will the three be able to both find Pokey and help the magical world right itself?” [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
The Curie Society by Janet Harvey and Heather Einhorn, illustrated by Sonia Liao
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“This is a graphic novel with twins that has bright, exuberant illustrations and has Black main characters. This will be automatically popular in my library. It also has great parents and a fun older half-brother (who is a first-grade teacher!), lots of friend drama, and a little bit of possible romance. I’m not normally a fan of election stories (my school has never had elections in my 20+ years there), but twins running against each other is certainly a great twist. This is also definitely #ownvoice– not only is Mr. Johnson a twin, but he has twin daughters!” [middle grade graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura, illustrated by Ross Ishikawa and Matt Sasaki
Review from Discover Nikkei:
“What I really hope we can remember is that the choices were deliberately created, enforced, and made out to be binary: “good/bad,” “either/or.” In my research, I found that more often, there were shared values that expressed themselves differently. Intense devotion to acting for the good of the family. An intense and youthful idealism. Faith in democracy. Loyalty to the United States Constitution.
Though it will take some work, I believe that we who inherit this history can treat the decisions and stories of our elders with a broad sense of compassion and understanding. More recent graphic novels have acknowledged resisters and veterans, including George Takei’s graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy, and Kiku Hughes’s excellent graphic novel Displacement. It’s important to remember that the government (and yes, circles within our own community) originated and then deepened the chasms which persist to this day.” [graphic novel, ages 13 and up]
A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return by Zeina Abirached
The Civil War in Lebanon lasted fifteen long years, from 1975 until 1990 and A Game of Swallows tells of life from the point of view of two children waiting for their parents to return from a visit to their grandmother a few blocks away. But during the war, travel is a complicated and dangerous endeavor. Despite the ever-present danger, life goes on in their apartment building where unlikely neighbors have ended up living and they become a kind of family, working together and sharing what they have to get through this difficult period. It’s hard to imagine living amidst a Civil War that claims the lives of their loved ones on a regular basis, where snipers shoot civilians and daily requirements are hard to come by. Despite this, the best comes out of people as well and that’s the story Zeina Abirached wants the reader to learn about as well. This graphic novel works well with Persepolis and Azzi In Between. [graphic novel, ages 10 and up]
Huda F Are You? by Huda Famy
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“Aside from the very emotionally fraught Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin’s Hijab, I don’t know that there is another middle grade novel with a hijabi main character. Personal identity is such a huge concern to middle school students, so I am always interested in stories where characters are trying to figure out who they are and where their interests lie. As someone who spent an inordinate amount of time in church and church groups in middle school, I think there should be a few more representations of children in religious settings, even though (or perhaps especially because) my middle school church experience fueled the fires of my disbelief. The illustration style is fresh and colorful. This book will never make it back to the shelves.” [graphic novel, ages 12 and up]
The Zabime Sisters by Aristophane
On the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, three sisters begin their summer vacation free of school and wander down to the riverbank! There’s a rumor of a fight between the school bully and a smaller kid named Manuel. The sisters run into two brothers hunting beetles. The girls’ shenanigans will get them in trouble with their mother if they get caught: stealing mangos from an orchard, smoking a pipe, and trying rum. Life in the French Caribbean is never dull and full of slow adventures. [young adult graphic novel, ages 12 and up]
Flamer by Mike Curato
This is an intense coming-of-age story of Aiden Navarro who is about to enter high school. He’s been the victim of bullies most of his life and his home life is also troubled. There are hints of domestic violence against his mother by his father, but it’s part of the story that never goes into more detail. Boy Scout camp is Aiden’s safe place, though there are still bullies there who pick on him. Still, Aiden has friends here and his best friend Violet writes him every week. It’s a confusing time for Aiden. He admires Elias, a camp friend, who seems to be successfully navigating being himself and being accepted by others. Will he be able to come to terms with his sexual identity and still find a place for himself amongst his peers? [young adult graphic novel, ages 12 and up]
The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity and Christopher Baldwin
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“This is a quirky, Young Adult graphic novel that will find fans among the readers of other odd harmonic convergences such as Lumberjanes, although the people who might like it best might be middle-aged high school language arts teachers and librarians who were thwarted in their quests to write a Ph.D. thesis on the application of Austen’s archetypes to modern psychology, they will certainly promote this novel to their students! Perhaps for the next book, Haley will get sucked into the world of her next assignment for class, “Hemingway whether you like it or not”! [young adult, ages 12 and up]
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Winner of the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album and a finalist for National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature in 2006, Gene Luen Yang takes the Chinese mythology story of The Monkey King and turns it on its head, setting it in modern-day and also in the past. What’s it like to be an American Born Chinese boy? Is he destined for becoming a social pariah? Or can The Monkey King help a FOB (Fresh Off the Boat) Chinese kid become socially acceptable … even popular? For those watching the new TV show Fresh Off the Boat, this is an easy sell to those tweens and teens watching it! [young adult graphic novel, ages 12 and up]
His other graphic novels:
Why Is Everybody Yelling? Growing Up in My Immigrant Family by Mirasabina Russo
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“There was something very evocative about the art style, and the changes in colors between the brightly colored 1950s and 60s and the beige and gray of the war years was very effective. This was a fascinating look at what life could be like for children of Holocaust survivors, and there aren’t a lot of books that cover this topic. Russo has a good eye for what interests young readers, and the story gives enough historical background to get readers who aren’t as familiar with mid-century history up to speed.” [young adult, ages 12 and up]
War Brothers: The Graphic Novel by Sharon McKay and Daniel Lafrance
This was a difficult graphic novel for me to read but I had to read it because it was the year I was judging this category for the Cybils. Set in Uganda, it tells the true story of a young boy forced into violence as a child soldier, and it’s an important story to tell. [young adult graphic novel, ages 14 and up]
War Brothers is a novel that very accurately portrays the criminality of adults who abduct kids to carry out crimes against humanity… This engrossing book is a vivid look at the hideous crimes committed by such groups and should be read by anyone wanting to know about Kony’s LRA.
— Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire (Retired), international child soldier advocateThe life of a child soldier is full of unthinkable violence … But the human capacity to connect with others and for survival is remarkable.
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
As Americans, it’s easy to think of the Middle East as a region peopled by religious fundamental extremists but Marjane Satrapi challenges readers to a more complicated and nuanced history; one that is also deeply personal. This is her story of growing up in Iran from ages six through fourteen, as the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors and during a period of tumult that includes the overthrow of the Shah’s empire, the Islamic Revolution, and the war with Iraq. Warning: there are graphic descriptions of violence and torture in this book. [young graphic novel, ages 14 and up]
We Survived the Holocaust: The Bluma and Felix Goldberg Story by Frank W. Baker with Tim E. Ogline and Esther Goldberg Greenberg, Karl Goldberg and Henry Goldberg
This is the story of two Polish Jews — Bluma and Felix Goldberg — who survived the Holocaust, enduring slave labor camps, concentration camps, and death marches. Ultimately, they meet in a displaced persons camp and rebuild their lives in the United States. Pair this with Maus to portray a full picture of the horrors of the Holocaust in a graphic novel format. More resources about their story are on the Stories of Survival website. [young adult graphic novel, ages 14 and up]
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri
G. Neri’s cautionary tale of a young boy who grew up in a tough inner-city environment and ended up paying for poor decisions with his life. How did Yummy, a kid really, end up in so much trouble? This graphic novel helps readers understand what life in a tough area is like and will perhaps build empathy for those less fortunate. [young adult graphic novel, ages 14 and up]
Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang
I never knew much about the Boxer Rebellion in China but Gene Luen Yang filled that gap in a genius way by telling both sides of the story from the perspective of two people whose worlds collide during the war. And, in seeing both sides, it’s easy to see how a bloody war would result from Imperialist expansion and religious zealots determined to convert the “heathens” versus the Chinese people trying to preserve their way of life and overthrow their foreign oppressors. Chinese history has never been more riveting. [young adult graphic novel, ages 14 and up]
Dreams: Visions of the Crow (Volume 1) by Wanda John-Kehewin, illustrated by nicole marie burton
Damon Quinn struggles in school and at home. His mother abuses alcohol and there are bullies at school who bother him. Now, a crow is following him, and the new girl, Journey won’t leave him alone. When he gets a waking dream that ties him to his Cree past, he has a choice to make. To heal himself, he needs to understand the trauma that his family suffered from Residential Schools. As the waking dreams increase, Damon discovers that he has more support than he realized and that the path forward is also the path linking him to his Native American roots. [young adult graphic novel, ages 12 and up]
As I Enfold You in Petals (The Spirit of Denedeh, Vol. 2) by Richard Van Camp and Scott B. Henderson, illustrated by Donoval Vaciuk
Curtis has returned to Fort Smith, newly sober and motivated to save his town. His grandfather had the help of the Little People who healed the sick but they vanished when he died. Curtis offers, Benny the Bootlegger, a gift in return for his grandfather’s house and hopes to get the Little People to return so he can rebuild hope in his community. This graphic novel references Inuit culture through the traditional tattoos featured on the characters. [young adult graphic novel, ages 12 and up]
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p.s. Related posts:
Book Lists of Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens
Great New Graphic Novels for Kids (2019)
Graphic Novels for Ages 7 and Up
My Favorite Graphic Novels for Girls Ages 6 and Up
10 Amazing Graphic Novels for Kids
19 Graphic Novels for Mighty Girls
More Great Graphic Novels for Kids
Great New Graphic Novels & Notebook Novels
10 Great Graphic Novels for 3rd Grade
ABCs of Graphic Novels (A-E)/Preschool
ABCs of Graphic Novels (F-J)
ABCs of Graphic Novels (K-O)
ABCs of Graphic Novels (P-T)
ABCs of Graphic Novels (U-Z), Young Adult
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16 Great Diversity Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens
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Thanks for all of the great recommendations, Mia! I’ve only read El Deafo, and loved it.
Hi Maria,
I’m glad you like the list Maria!! It was a fun list to put together. My son got me turned on to graphic novels 3 years ago and we really love reading them!
I know kids love graphic novels, but I sure struggle with them. Great list. There are some important reads on your list. I will agree that anything book that engages a child and gets them reading is a good thing. Guess it’s my age.
Hi Patricia,
I think the new graphic novels are less like comics and more like stories. I think you’d like them!!
Really nice list. I enjoyed Low Riders in Space. I’ll have to check out the others!
Hi Erik,
Low Riders in Space was interesting in that the readers seems to absolutely love it or not take to it. I really liked it too. I was amazed in finding graphic novels for this list by the range of topics! There were more graphic novels on war than I would have expected! And very powerful stories too.
My daughter reads a lot of graphic novels, so I have been helping myself to some of the books she reads. 🙂 We read something I really liked: Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong by Faith Erin Hicks and Prudence Shen. I don’t know if it’s a diverse book per se, but it has a diverse cast. The plot is interesting – you think it’s going to be the stereotypical high school teenager book, but it surprises you with the turns it takes. It’s YA, but I think a middle-grader could read it. Worth reading!
Hi Sheela,
Thanks so much! I don’t know that one and I’ll try to buy a copy! My public library has a graphic novel section but it’s the first section to get picked over and it’s not as large and I’d like. Thanks for your great book recommendation!
Hi Mia,
This is an awesome list! I love reading graphic novels and found they are great for reluctant readers as well as kids learning English. Also, many are great to help kids understand complex topics – like Persepolis and Little White duck.
Thanks so much Claire! I really loved Little White Duck, particularly in that it manages to take a topic that can be pretty heavy (my father is from China) but convey her life in a way that is authentic but not politicalized. Persepolis was hard to read for me; I have trouble reading about torture.
Wow! What an amazingly diverse list of graphic novels. I like the sound of Luz makes a Splash and Little White Duck.
Hopping over from the Kid Lit Blog Hop.
Hi Catherine,
I love the Luz series which also has an great environmental message set in a barrio. I think Little White Duck is such a unique book; her life in China was at a really interesting cross section of Chinese history and luckily her family was spared any of the horrible stuff from the Cultural Revolution. Lucky timing I guess!
Fantastic list. It’s been awhile since I’ve read Persepolis, but you’ve got so many great suggestions here. I teach a YA Lit course, and I’ll be thinking about these titles!
Stopping by via Kid Lit Blog Hop,
Brittan
@bookwormtales
Hi Brittany,
Thanks so much!! I have to say that I had trouble reading Persepolis though it’s a great and powerful true story. I just have trouble stomaching torture. Even reading about it can give me nightmares. I was suprised in a good way how many historical events are personalized via graphic novels. I’m on a crusade to get the word out about how great a learning tool graphic novels are!
What a fantastic resource. You did a wonderful job again this year with Multicultural Children’s Book Day. I was so glad to be a part of it.
We are so grateful to have you as a co-host for all three years! Thank you so much Jodie!