35+ Best Graphic Novels of all Time
Graphic novels are a genre that Kirsten and I do not usually read. But, with the amazing illustrations and complex storylines, we wanted to have a chance to explore something new. We made sure to get his input to help us with this list of the best graphic novels of all time.
My son read graphic novels all the time and it was mostly his hype that convinced me to read a few to see what I think. What I discovered is an entirely new world of books. There is the hard-core, comic book type of graphic novel, animé, classic adaptations, original stories, and a gazillion middle grade. And yes, a gazillion is a real number, I checked.
I discovered that many of the most popular graphic novels are not my style. The anime and superhero/dark-world graphic novels didn’t appeal to me. Instead, we chose books that we have read or would like to read.
These graphic novels tell a story that we would read in novel form. The graphics in these books enhance the story. You know the old adage: a picture paints a thousand words? It is true for all of these amazing stories. These work for our reading 2019 challenge too! You can check out our newest reading challenge here.
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Best Graphic Novels of all time: Middle Grade
White Bird: A Wonder Story by R.J Palacio
This graphic novel came my way through my local bookstore and it was a beautiful surprise for me. I loved Wonder. The story was told beautifully and with compassion.
I wondered if I would be disappointed with how a story about the holocaust would translate into a graphic novel and whether the story could be told with an equal amount of compassion. Happily, I was not disappointed at all.
I absolutely loved this book. It is so poignant and powerful with a message of kindness that is so relevant today. This is the only graphic novel on this list of full-cast audiobooks
This is one of the best graphic novels of all time and can find this book in our best books for a 13-year-olds
The Tryout
Author: Christina Soontornvat
Illustrator: Joanna Cacao
Year: 2022
Genre: Graphic Novel
Age: 8 – 12
More info: The Tryout #1
Plot
Christina is struggling with the transition to middle school. Her teachers and classmates can’t pronounce her name, she feels like she’s never wearing the right clothes, her best friend is always busy, and she envies the popular crowd. In the process of trying to fit in, she hurts other people’s feelings, starts acting differently, and then decides to try out for the cheerleading squad, hoping it will make her fit in with everyone else.
Cheerleading is harder than it looks and Christina works hard as she prepares for tryouts. Along the way, she figures out how to stand up to bullies and even makes some new friends.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
I liked that this graphic novel showed middle schoolers making mistakes. It was hard to see Christina fumble, but the pictures did a great job of illustrating her guilt and sadness when she did. This is a tough age for any kid, but it’s particularly difficult for kids who feel different from their peers. This is a wonderful look at the fumbles of growing up.
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds / Graphic Novels
Booked
Author: Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Dawud Anyabwile
Year: 2022
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Age: 10 – 12
More info: Crossover #2, Graphic Novel Adaptation of New York Times Bestseller
Plot
Kwame Alexander’s signature novel-in-verse has been adapted into a graphic novel. It tells the story of Nick, a soccer player struggling with life at home, a bully, and his first crush. As he tries to juggle everything at once, he leans on his best friend and also a librarian who keeps giving him books to inspire him.
Why Kirsten loves it
My sports loving 10 year-old DEVOURS anything by Kwame Alexander but he particularly loves this graphic novel series for his engaging illustrations that bring Alexander’s words to life.
Find this book in: Best Graphic Novels / Best Books for 11-year-olds
Plot
Raina Telgemeier has a unique way of incorporating sensitive subjects into her books without making them overwhelming or scary. In Ghosts, Cat’s younger sister, Maya, has Cystic Fibrosis. They have just moved to a new city where the air is easier for Maya to breathe.
Cat has given herself the role of protector of her younger sister and as the festival of Dia De Lost Meurtos draws closer, the two sisters each confront the idea of death in very different ways.
Trigger Warnings
Terminal Illness
Why Jackie loves it
At its heart, Ghosts is a story about family connection. Any of Raina Telegemeier’s books can be considered incredible graphic novels for tweens. She’s won numerous awards and after reading this one, it’s clear why!
Find this book in: Best Books for 13-year-olds / Middle Grade Books for Tweens / Ghost Books / Graphic Novels
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
I don’t think there is a boy (or girl) out there who has read this middle-grade fantasy series and not loved it. It is the only series that can compare to Harry Potter in terms of how much my son LOVES it.
This first Percy Jackson book is about our beloved Percy, who discovers he is a demi-god and must recover Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt. He travels into the underworld to locate the lightning bolt and, at the same time, try to save his mother.
His amazing adventures with Annabeth and Grover along the way create the foundation for all the books that follow in this amazing and epic series. If you love Percy Jackson, you should check out our 18 Exciting Books like Percy Jackson for Fans to Enjoy or our Epic Guide to Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson Books in Order. We had to include this book in a list of the best graphic novels of all time.
The Witch Boy
Author: Molly Knox Ostertag
Illustrator: Molly Knox Ostertag
Year: 2017
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Age: 10 – 13
More info: Witch Boy Trilogy #1
Plot
Boys grow up to be shapeshifters and girls become witches. But, what if you are a boy who loves witchery? Would you show your talents if it meant you would be exiled? Aster, with the help of his non-magical friend Charlie, practices his witch skills. Can he be accepted for who he really is?
Why Jackie loves it
This story challenges gender stereotypes in a meaningful way. Not only is the story great, but the illustrations are gorgeous and the message of this book makes it a must for every kid.
Find this book in: Witch Books for Kids / Best Books for 12-year-olds / Best Graphic Novels
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
This graphic novel is a Newbery Medal Winner and was an easy pick for a list of the best graphic novels of all time. Astrid and Nicole have done everything together until now. Astrid wants to go to roller derby camp.
And thus begins a summer of friendship, finding yourself, perseverance, and girl power. Astrid may be strong enough to endure middle school. Snag this if you are looking for a book for 11-year-olds.
Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Dave McKean
Year: 2012
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 9+
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Plot
In this book, Coraline steps through a door and finds a house just like hers, maybe even better! She meets another set of parents who want her to be their little girl. Can Coraline escape these parents and get back to her ordinary life?
Why Jackie loves it
Neil Gaiman’s imagination never ceases to amaze me. The movie adaptation and graphic novel remake are both fantastic as well.
Find this book in: Graphic Novels / Halloween Movies Based on Books / Halloween Chapter Books / Books for a 10-year-old
The Stonekeeper: A Graphic Novel
Author: Kazu Kiuishi
Illustrator: Kazu Kiuishi
Year: 2008
Genre: Graphic Novel
Age: 8 – 11
More info: Amulet #1
Plot
After Emily and Navin’s father dies, they move into the home of their great-grandfather with their mother. strange things start happening and a strange creature lures their mother into another world. With the help of a mechanical rabbit, they must venture to the underground world to save her.
Why Jackie loves it
To me, the images in this graphic novel, along with the story, make this one of the scarier picks on the list. Make sure your child is ok with that before giving it to them! If they can handle a little scare factor, they will love this fun story!
Find this book in: Graphic Novels / Best Books for 11-year-olds
Last Kids on Earth
Author: Max Brallier
Illustrator: Douglas Holgate
Year: 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 11
More info: Last Kids on Earth #1, New York Times Bestseller
Plot
After a monster apocalypse hit his town, Jack has been living in his treehouse with everything a 13-year-old needs: Oreos, Mountain Dew, and many video games. He realizes that he cannot fight the monsters on his own so he builds a team of middle schoolers to launch a fight back.
Why Jackie loves it
This is the first book in the fantasy books for tweens series with over 7 million copies in print. My son, a reluctant reader, devoured this series in one summer!
Find this book in: Best Graphic Novels / Best Books for 11-year-olds
More of the Best Graphic Novels of All Time: Middle Grade
Best Graphic Novels of all Time: YA and Adult
Plot
Gene does not like sports. He doesn’t like to play or watch but, the high school where he teaches is obsessed with their basketball team, the Dragons.
Why Jackie loves it
This graphic novel is part memoir as the author tells about the current students and their quest for the state championship and part biography of the history of the team. It does a great job at looking at the racism and sexism in the sport.
Find this book in: Graphic Novels / Best Books for 13-year-olds
Maus: A Survival’s Tale by Art Spiegelman
A very interesting take on the Holocaust, this graphic novel set depicts the Nazis and the Jews as Cats and Mice respectively. It’s slightly easier to see the horrific acts of the holocaust visually when you aren’t looking at people, but I promise you, you will still be disturbed.
It’s one thing to read and imagine something and another to see it depicted. Art Spiegelman handles the subject matter with care, but it is still incredibly sad. Not only is this a banned book but there is no way that we could not include this in our list of best graphic novels of all time. This book belongs at the top of the list.
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
This is a graphic novel that I read in a few hours. My son read it twice because “I loved the message that it’s okay to be yourself”. I have since lent it out. I don’t normally read graphic novels, but, I loved it!!! What a wonderfully inclusive story.
Prince Sebastian is pressured to take a bride because he is a prince. But, he is hiding a secret life in which he loves to wear dresses. This is a beautiful book and a must for a list of the best graphic novels of all time.
The Exile by Diana Gabaldon
How do we love Outlander? We cannot count the ways. The ninth book in the series, Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone, was released in 2021 and we are ready for the next book.
This epic story begins in 1945 when Claire Randall and her husband take a second honeymoon to the Scottish Highlands to celebrate being reunited after the war. When Claire touches one of the standing stones, she is transported to 1743.
This is when the real story begins. In order to stay safe as an English woman in Scotland, she must depend on Jamie Frasier for protection. This book is definitely at the top of our list of best romance novels of all time but you will love it equally if you love historical fiction, magical realism, romance, or witches. This iconic epic saga has it all and now its in graphic novel format. How could we not include it in a list of the best graphic novels of all time?
Best Graphic Novels of all Time: Classics
The Hobbit (or There and Back Again)
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Year: 1937
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Classic Literary Fiction
Age Range:12+
Plot
An introduction to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit was the first high fantasy book that I ever read. Smaug, a dragon, is the main antagonist in this story. This book opened up a whole new world and genre of book.
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys his comfortable life close to home. When a wizard named Gandalf shows up with dwarves on Bibloa’s doorstep, they invite him on a quest. There, he encounters Smaug, a creature named Gollum, and finds a ring that will change his life.
Why Jackie loves it
This YA fantasy is the prelude to the amazing Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is an iconic book which has withstood the test of time.
Find this book in: Dragon Books for Adults/ Books Like Game of Thrones / Book Adaptations on Amazon Prime / Graphic Novels / Books for 12-year-olds
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
My mother was the first person to read this book to me and I was immediately drawn to Anne. She was smart, precocious, and has a way of making everyone love her while simultaneously finding new ways to get into trouble.
I read the book again when I was a teenager and then again as an adult. I will be reading this to my daughter next. Every time I read it, I am able to capture more of the nuances that are hidden within the pages. I am not sure if this book is more popular in Canada but, one day I hope to visit Prince Edward Island. This is one of my (Jackie) favorite books of all time and was an easy pick for the best graphic novels of all time.
Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant because, in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable.
Offred remembers when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge, her husband Luke, and her daughter But all of that is gone now….
The book is scary because of how convincing it is. There is a reason this book by Canadian Author, Margaret Atwood, has won awards in addition to being made into a Netflix Series. Clearly, it needed to be included on a list of the best graphic novels of all time.
I’m hoping to start reading more graphic novels next year as one of my bookish goals. I just finished Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell so I’m excited to see she wrote a graphic novel. Also, I didn’t realize so many classic books were turned into this format.