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7 Best Graphic Novels for Tweens (2025 Reviews)

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Does your tween show little interest in reading? If so, it’s important to find a book that interests them, so they can build their reading and literary skills. One of the best ways to engage kids and tweens is to provide visual stimulation, which is why graphic novels have become increasingly popular in the last decade. These novels offer a different way of reading content, and they come in a variety of reading levels, making them great for kids – and adults! – of all ages.

With the rise in popularity, you’ll find graphic novels covering every genre and topic you could think of, making it difficult to figure out which one to buy for your child. I’ve gathered the 7 best graphic novels for tweens, with themes and topics that are appropriate and relevant for this age group.

Best Graphic Novels for Tweens

  • 1. Graveyard Book Graphic Novel

    (Best scary story — $$)

    Why it’s great: Neil Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book” is a popular young adult novel, and now your child can read the story in graphic novel form. This version contains both volumes, and the rich illustrations will engage and delight your child. It’s rated for kids ages 8-12 years old and covers the tale of a boy who’s raised by a vampire and ghosts. It’s a spooky story that’s both inventive and full of wonder, and it’s sure to keep your child’s attention to the end.

    Keep in mind: This story is a little creepy, but that’s what makes it so great!

    Good for: Tweens who love scary stories.

    Graveyard Book Graphic Novel

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 2. Apple Crush: (A Graphic Novel)

    (Best for girls — $)

    Why it’s great: Although this is a sequel to “Stepping Stones,” you don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one. It covers real topics and challenges that tween girls have to face, and it handles it with well-developed characters in a way that’s humorous, realistic, and comfortable. Rated for kids ages nine and up, your child will gain some understanding of the hormones that come with puberty while enjoying a story about family, friends, and dealing with change.

    Keep in mind: This one won’t likely be as entertaining or engaging for boys.

    Good for: Girls who want to see how others handle change.

    Apple Crush: (A Graphic Novel)

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 3. Wings of Fire #1-#4: A Graphic Novel Box Set

    (Best set — $$$)

    Why it’s great: If your child loves fantasy and is fascinated with dragons and magic, this series is a perfect choice. The Wings of Fire series is highly popular, and the graphic novel format is sure to spark the interest of any tween. This set comes with four books, and each one follows the main characters (five dragons) as they embark on an adventure. Rated for kids ages 8-12 years old, your child will learn about overcoming obstacles, building friendships, and more.

    Keep in mind: This set is pricey, but it comes with four graphic novels, so it’s worth the price.

    Good for: Tweens who love fantasy.

    Wings of Fire #1-#4: A Graphic Novel Box Set

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 4. Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel

    (Best for young tweens — $)

    Why it’s great: While tweens are typically considered ages 9-12 years old, all kids mature a little differently. If you feel your 7-8 year old has passed over into the tween mindset, this graphic novel is one of the best you’ll find for them. It’s a fresh update on the popular 1908 novel, and it’s full of beautiful illustrations that really help bring the story to life. This novel is a classic, and if it’s one of your favorites from childhood, getting the graphic novel is a great way to share the story with your child.

    Keep in mind: The illustrations of faces seem a little off, giving the characters a little bit of a weird look.

    Good for: Parents who want to share a favorite story with their child.

    Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 5. Real Friends

    (Best memoir — $)

    Why it’s great: This graphic novel is a humorous story that covers some very real issues that kids face. It’s actually a semi-autobiographical story, and it covers the topic of making friends and the politics of popularity that girls experience in school. Your child will learn about the effects of bullying and why some kids will go to any lengths to be part of the in-crowd. The takeaway is a good lesson for tween girls and shows them how to make and keep real friends that are there for them no matter what.

    Keep in mind: This book contains some intense topics, so you may want to read it first and plan some discussions with your child on these topics.

    Good for: Tweens who are navigating friendship issues themselves.

    Real Friends

    View on Amazon.com ➜

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  • 6. The Last Kids on Earth

    (Best for boys — $)

    Why it’s great: This post-apocalyptic story is about a group of friends surviving through a zombie apocalypse. If your child loved the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and is looking for a similar style at a higher reading level, this series is a perfect choice. It follows a videogame-like plotting that’ll have kids engaged and excited to see what happens next. Your child will learn about friendships, teamwork, and overcoming challenges, and once they’re done reading the series, they can see it all play out on the new Netflix show featuring these characters.

    Keep in mind: This graphic novel is a light horror, and there’s a lot of gross-out humor that’s usually more appealing to boys.

    Good for: Boys who are looking for an original and humorous horror story.

    The Last Kids on Earth

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 7. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

    (Most inspirational — $$)

    Why it’s great: Another great graphic adaptation from a book series is this powerful story about an African American boy. It’s an epic fantasy story set in a richly-imagined world populated with African American folk heroes and West African gods. With rich illustrations and beautiful storytelling, this graphic novel is sure to delight your child. Tristan is a relatable character, and your child will learn about dealing with grief and anger issues as the character has to navigate through his problems to help save the world.

    Keep in mind: It starts off a little slow, but it picks up and becomes impossible to put down.

    Good for: Kids who are dealing with grief and those interested in folklore.

    Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

    View on Amazon.com ➜

Best Overall

Graveyard Book Graphic Novel

The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..

Graveyard Book Graphic Novel

View on Amazon.com ➜

FAQs about Graphic Novels for Tweens

  • 1. Can graphic novels help kids with reading?

    Absolutely! A lot of kids and tweens feel overwhelmed by huge chapter books full of text. Graphic novels engage them with less text and more illustrations. This often makes kids more excited to read and builds their confidence, helping them experience positive associations with reading and books. They’ll still be learning new vocabulary and building their literary skills, but they’ll be doing it in a way that’s more fun and engaging.

  • 2. Why are graphic novels so popular?

    Graphic novels have all the same benefits as a regular novel, including exciting characters, plots, and conflicts, but in a more colorful and engaging form. The use of pictures and images to tell a story with fewer words makes these books a great compromise between regular books and watching TV. Your child will get a lot of visual stimulation but still be working on their reading skills.

  • 3. What kinds of genres do graphic novels cover?

    The cool thing about graphic novels is that you can pretty much find any genre that exists in this format. From fantasy and science fiction to fairy tales and general fiction, your child will have a variety to choose from. You can even find graphic novels about non-fiction topics, too!

  • 4. Is there a downside to reading graphic novels?

    Graphic novels aren’t as streamlined as regular books, so they can sometimes feel a little clunky to read. Just like the old comics you probably read as a youth, they take some getting used to, as you have to follow the boxes and speech bubbles correctly to figure out what’s going on.

  • 5. How do I choose a graphic novel for my tween?

    Because these novels come in a wide variety of genres and topics, it shouldn’t be too hard to pick one for your child. Think about what interests them the most. Is it scary stories? Magic? Non-fiction? Regular tween drama? You can find any of these in a graphic novel, so just choose one that closely aligns with your child’s favorite types of stories.

Conclusion

Graphic novels have evolved from the comic books designed decades ago. These books are beautifully done, and they offer a variety of new stories and adaptations of old classics, so there’s something for everyone. If your child is intimidated by chapter books, graphic novels are a great way to get them interested in reading.

The graphic novels on our list are all suitable for the tween age, with different types of fun stories, so you’re sure to find something that your child will love.