45 Graphic Novels for Teens and Tweens from Librarian Amanda Hunt

If you’re looking for a way to spark engagement, boost reading comprehension, and foster meaningful conversations in your classroom, graphic novels for teens and tweens are the perfect choice. These dynamic, visually rich texts combine art and narrative to captivate even the most reluctant readers while offering the same literary depth as traditional novels.

To help you find the best graphic novels for your middle or high school classroom, I’ve teamed up with Amanda Hunt, also known as @TheNextGenLibrarian, to share her expertly curated list of must-have titles. Amanda is a champion of innovative reading approaches, and her passion for graphic novels shines in this incredible selection of more than 45 titles. You can find more information about Amanda and the books she loves on her website http://www.thenextgenlibrarian.com.

Whether you’re new to graphic novels or looking to expand your classroom library, you’ll find something for every reader—stories that tackle history, social justice, identity, and coming-of-age experiences, alongside imaginative fantasy adventures and modern retellings.

To listen to Amanda discuss all of these graphic novels for teens and tweens in depth, listen to podcast episode #29 of Creating Joyful Readers.

Amanda also recommends checking out Mavericks Graphic Novel Reading List to get more ideas. Get ready to discover graphic novels that will transform your classroom and inspire your students to see the power of stories in a whole new way.

Here are Amanda’s top picks:

Best Overall Graphic Novels for Teens and Tweens

• Monster by Walter Dean Myers  
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 
• Anne of West Philly by Ivy Noelle Weir
• Teen Titans by Kami Garcia
• Meg/Jo/Amy/Beth by Rey Terciero 
• The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen  
• Northranger by Nancy Butler 
• Dona Quixote by Rey Terciero 
• Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms by Rey Terciero 
• Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Miss Marvel by G. Willow Wilson

Best Graphic Novels for Middle School

• Drama by Raina Telgemeier
• Wings of Fire Tui T. Sutherland
• Babysitter’s Club by Raina Telgemeier (Adapter, Illustrator), Gale Galligan (Adapter, Illustrator), Ann M. Martin (Author)
• Berrybrook Middle School by Svetlana Chmakova 
• The Olympians by George O’Conner
• Lumberjanes by ND Stevenson (Author), Shannon Watters (Author), Grace Ellis (Author), Gus A Allen (Illustrator)
• Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale
• Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
• Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
• Heartstopper (books 1-4 only) by Alice Oseman

Best Graphic Novels for High School 

• Maus by Art Spiegelman 
• Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds 
• Flamer by Mike Curato
• Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang 
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 
• Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Best Graphic Novel Classic Adaptations for Middle School

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle 
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• The Secret Garden by Mariah Marsden (Adapter), Hanna Luechtefeld (Illustrator)
• The Witches by Roald Dahl
• Meg/Jo/Amy/Beth by Rey Terciero 

Best Graphic Novel Classic Adaptations for High School

• Graphic Shakespeare by by Penny Clarke (Adapter), Michael Ford (Adapter), Stephen Haynes (Adapter), Kathy McEvoy (Adapter), Jim Pipe (Adapter), Penko Gelev (Illustrator), Li Si Dong (Illustrator), Nick Spender (Illustrator)
• Sense and Sensibility by Nancy Butler (Author), Sonny Liew (Author)
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
• The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds 
• Fahrenheit 451 by Tim Hamilton
• The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank (Contributor), David Polonsky (Illustrator), Ari Folman (Adapter)
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Fred Fordham
• Kindred by Damian Duffy (Adapter), Octavia E. Butler (Author), John Jennings (Illustrator), Nnedi Okorafor (Introduction)
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Author), Fred Fordham (Author), Aya Morton (Illustrator)

Best Young Adult Retellings

• Dan in Green Gables by Rey Terceiro (Anne of Green Gables Retelling)
• Mismatched by Anne Camlin (Emma Retelling)

Graphic novels have the unique power to engage students, spark critical thinking, and create an inclusive reading culture that meets students where they are. Thanks to Amanda Hunt’s (@TheNextGenLibrarian) expertly curated list of over 45 must-read graphic novels, you now have a diverse selection of stories that can transform your classroom library.

Whether you’re introducing graphic novels for the first time or adding new titles to your collection, remember that these texts are not just supplemental—they’re essential tools for building literacy, empathy, and a lifelong love of reading.

If you’ve found a favorite from the list or have a success story to share, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram to keep the conversation going. And don’t forget to follow Amanda for more amazing book recommendations and insights on fostering joyful readers.

Happy reading—and happy teaching!