The end of the school year is almost here for some, and will be coming soon for other students. Whatever parts of the country or the world that students are in, most educators are big on emphasizing summer reading. Although some people do not consider graphic novels as “real” reading, there has been a steady uptick in the publication of them. According to Reading Rockets, “graphic novels weave rich, lively visuals with a limited amount of text to drive the narrative. They can be especially appealing to young readers who are reluctant to pick up a more traditional book…a great way to help struggling readers strengthen vocabulary, build reading confidence and stamina, and develop a deeper appreciation of storytelling.”
To get summer reading off to a fantastic start, this list is full of great and exciting ideas for students and parents. Parts 2 and 3 will list graphic book ideas for YA and nonfiction readers. For non-graphic selections for summer reading, see new releases.
BCBA is an Amazon and Bookshop Affiliate. Clicking on the book links will direct you away from this site, and BCBA may earn a small percentage on purchases.
1. Like Lava in My Veins
Derrick Barnes | Shawn Martinbrough | Adriano Lucas | Nancy Paulsen Books | July 4, 2023 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
2. Camp-Out (Ty’s Travels Comics)
Kelly Starling Lyons | Niña Mata | HarperAlley | May 9, 2023 | Early Reader | Amazon | Bookshop
3. Mimi and the Boo-Hoo Blahs (Mimi #2)
Shauna J. Grant | Graphix Scholastic | February 7, 2023 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
4. The Doggie Defendant (Judge Kim and the Kids’ Court, Bk. 2)
Milo Stone | Shawn Martinbrough | Joseph P. Illidge | Christopher Jordan | Simon Spotlight | January 24, 2023 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
5. The Case of the Missing Bicycles (Judge Kim and the Kids’ Court, Bk. 1)
Milo Stone | Shawn Martinbrough | Joseph P Illidge | Christopher Jordan | Simon Spotlight | August 30, 2022 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
6. Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe: A Graphix Chapters Book (Mimi #1)
Shauna J. Grant | Graphix | July 19, 2022 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
7. Buckle Up
Lawrence Lindell | Random House Graphic | August 27, 2024 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
8. The Equinox Test (School for Unusual Magic #1)
Liz Montague | Scholastic Press | April 2, 2024 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
9. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll!
Stephanie Williams | Asia Simone | Graphix | April 2, 2024 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
10. Timid
Jonathan Todd | Graphix | April 2, 2024 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
11. Mission One: The Principal Problem (The Blue Stars #1)
Kekla Magoon | Cynthia Leitich Smith | Molly Murakami | Candlewick Press | March 5, 2024 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
12. Art Club: Dare to Create!
Rashad Doucet | Little, Brown Ink | February 6, 2024 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
13. Ghost Roast*
Shawneé Gibbs | Shawnelle Gibbs | Emily Cannon | Versify | January 2, 2024 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
14. Curlfriends: New in Town
Sharee Miller | Little, Brown Ink | October 10, 2023 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
15. Stuntboy, In-Between Time
Jason Reynolds | Raúl the Third | Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books | August 29, 2023 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
16. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: One Girl Can Make a Difference
Michelle Meadows | Marvel Press | August 1, 2023 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
17. Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel
Nikki Grimes | Theodore Taylor III | Wordsong | June 6, 2023 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
18. School Trip: A Graphic Novel
Jerry Craft | Quill Tree Books | April 4, 2023 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
19. Link and Hud: Heroes by a Hair
Jarrett Pumphrey | Jerome Pumphrey | Norton Young Readers | March 7, 2023 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
20. Terry’s Crew
Terry Crews | Cory Thomas | Little, Brown BYR | November 8, 2022 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
21. Leon the Extraordinary (Bk. 1)
Jamar Nicholas | Graphix | October 4, 2022 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
22. Miles Morales: Stranger Tides
Justin A. Reynolds | Pablo Leon | Scholastic/Graphix | November 1, 2022 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
23. Booked
Kwame Alexander | Dawud Anyabwile | Etch/Clarion Books | July 12, 2022 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
24. Fibbed
Elizabeth Agyemang | Razorbill | June 7, 2022 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
25. Swim Team
Johnnie Christmas | HarperAlley | May 17, 2022 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
26. Shuri And T’Challa: Into the Heartlands
Roseanne A. Brown | Dika Araújo | Graphix | April 19, 2022 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
27. Stuntboy, in the Meantime
Jason Reynolds | Raúl the Third | Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy | November 30, 2021 | Amazon | Bookshop
28. Pax Samson: The Cookout (Vol. 1)
Rashad Doucet | Jason Reeves | Oni Press | August 3, 2021 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
29. Miles Morales: Shock Waves
Justin A. Reynolds | Pablo Leon | Scholastic Inc | June 1, 2021 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
30. Twins
Varian Johnson | Shannon Wright | Graphix | October 6, 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
31. Class Act (New Kid, 2)
Jerry Craft | Quill Tree Books | October 6, 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
32. When Stars Are Scattered
Victoria Jamieson | Omar Mohamed | Iman Geddy | Dial Book | MG | April 14, 2020 | Amazon | IndieBound
33. The Crossover
Kwame Alexander | Dawud Anyabwile | HMH BYR | September 24, 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
34. New Kid
Jerry Craft | Quill Tree Books | February 5, 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
35. Akissi: Tales of Mischief
Marguerite Abouet | Mathieu Sapin | Flying Eye Books | May 8, 2018 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
If you enjoy the new releases announcements, book lists, and other features on our blog, go here to support BCBA with a tax-deductible donation and here to subscribe to our newsletter. Thanks for your support!
* Ghost Roast Shawneé Gibbs and Shawnelle Gibbs is a YA book.
