Graphic novels are exciting for every age group, but kids ages 8-12 have such an impressive range of options. Hence why I’m sharing this list of graphic novels for 10 year olds. We also have a list for 9 year olds if you want to have a browse. I tried to have a good mix of books, and of course most kids between the ages of 9-12 can read and enjoy the stories on this list, but I think these are just perfect for the 10-year-old crowd.
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20 Impressive Graphic Novels for 10 Year Olds
Here are 20 great graphic novels for 10 year olds:
Duel
Published: November 7, 2023
Sisters Gigi and Lucy haven’t seen eye to eye since their father died. Their mother is worn out by her grief and her demanding job and doesn’t have the capacity to deal with their constant bickering. Now Lucy is a new 6th grader at the school where Gigi is the 8th grade Queen Bee and on Lucy’s first day, the girls get into an altercation that ends with Lucy challenging her sister (and school fencing champion) to a duel. What follows are chapters alternating between each girl’s first-person narration as they go between the past and present, exploring their relationship and where it went wrong and planning their fencing duel. There’s sports, friendship, sisterhood, family, grief, and even a grandparent relationship in this story, lending it some major kid and adult appeal!
Smile
Published: February 1, 2010
Raina is just trying to enjoy being a sixth grader when an accident severely injures her two front teeth. Thus begins an unending series of visits to dentists and different treatment options. Throughout this process, Raina still has middle school to tackle. Her friends are sometimes insensitive toward the things that matter to her, and she’s finding herself newly developing crushes on boys, even as she’s too embarrassed to smile, thanks to the braces, headgear, retainer, and other contraptions she has to wear throughout this book. Smile follows Telgemeier from sixth grade until high school as each attempt to rectify the situation with her teeth is stumped, and doctors are forced to try a different route. Telgemeier’s Smile isn’t my favorite graphic novel/memoir from her, but it’s still one I enjoyed reading.
Measuring Up
Published: October 27, 2020
12-year-old Cici moves from Taiwan to the US with her parents, leaving behind her beloved A-ma (her grandmother). Thankfully, the adjustment period isn’t too hard on her. Although Cici and her parents want to bring her grandmother over for a visit at least, they can’t afford to yet. Cici misses her A-ma with whom she used to go to the market and cook. So when she stumbles upon a kid cooking contest, it feels like the perfect opportunity to earn $1000. The only problem is that Cici can only cook Taiwanese dishes. Fortunately, she’s paired up with an Italian-American girl, Miranda, whose father runs a restaurant (and who practically grew up working in a restaurant). Halfway through the contest, though, each contestant has to compete alone. This is an excellent feel-good, coming-of-age story that pays homage to the love between a granddaughter and her grandmother.
Alterations
Published: January 30, 2024
Kevin Lee lives in a crowded Toronto apartment above his mother’s alterations and dry-cleaning store. His mom is super busy with work and his sister is busy practicing the violin and helping out. Kevin feels largely unnoticed and feels most at home drawing his comics and exploring his imagination. But when Kevin’s class plans a trip to Thrill Planet, a spectacular theme park, he has a chance to prove himself more than just a fragile egg to his classmates. This is an interesting graphic novel based on the author’s life. It’s set in 1990s and Kevin’s imaginative drawings and the scenes in his imagination lend a wacky, humorous vibe to the novel’s realistic setting that I think will appeal to boys who enjoy books like The Last Cat in Space Ate Pizza.
Miss Quinces
Published: May 3, 2022
What if all you wanted for the summer was to go to camp with your best friends and draw comics in peace — BUT your parents thought it was better to go to Honduras, where they’re from, instead? That’s Sue’s dilemma in Miss Quinces. And then, on top of that, she finds out that her family is throwing her a surprise Quinceanera against her wish. Will Sue survive the summer? Miss Quinces is an engaging, immersive graphic novel about identity, Latin-American culture, a love for art, and family.
Meet Me on Mercer Street
Published: April 2, 2024
Soon-to-be 6th grader Kacie Sithiwat finds that something in her neighborhood has changed when she returns from her summer holiday. Worst of all, her best friend Nisha is nowhere to be found. She discovers that a new store $Mart has replaced Nisha’s family’s grocery store. Kacie decides to investigate the mystery of Nisha’s absence on her own since the adults in her life won’t say much. This book explores Kacie’s how scary change is for kids, especially when they’re kept in the dark. There’s an unmistakable air of mystery and nostalgia in this one and it will inspire kids to make art and document their lives. I loved this way more than this author’s Frazzled series and I think it will appeal to kids too.
Frizzy
Published: October 18, 2022
Marlene hates the salon where her mom takes her to get her natural curls straightened weekly. Marlene’s mom and some in their circle/family believe that “good hair” is straight hair. Marlene’s mom wants her to focus on school and look “tidy” by having her hair straight and slick. But Marlene isn’t so sure. She sees an internet influencer and her favorite aunt, Tia Ruby, rocking their curls and is eager to try. But her first attempt fails woefully. With Tia Ruby’s hair, Marlene learns to care for her natural hair better and embrace her curls. Frizzy is a delightful, thought-provoking graphic novel about natural hair, self-acceptance, and body image.
Next Stop
Published: March 19, 2024
Pia heads out on a desert sightseeing road trip on which one of the stops is a famous lake which many believe has magical properties. Pia has a secret: she’s hoping that the lake will bring back her younger brother who died in a drowning accident several months ago. Along the way, she gets to know the odd group traveling together, including a candy-distributing grandma, a reluctant tween traveler, a couple with ever-bickering kids, and an elderly couple hoping for a health miracle. I liked the camaraderie of the travelers and the flashbacks in every chapter that show us Pia’s life before and just after the accident. I also really liked that the plot is sad but not too heavy. This is great for readers who enjoy sad books or stories featuring a road trip.
Twins
Published: October 6, 2020
Twins Maureen and Francine Carter have always done everything together, but things have changed as they start sixth grade. For one, they have nearly all their classes apart, and Francine is dressing differently, trying to stand out from her twin Maureen. Maureen has always been the quieter, introverted one — her parents call her the thinker, and Francine, the talker. So she feels a bit lost when Francine joins different clubs and extra-curricular activities, while she joins cadet training. The girls are still figuring out their new dynamic when Francine decides to run for student council, and by some stroke of fate, her shy, terrified-of-public-speaking sister is also running for president. Despite the ground rules laid by their parents, things get a bit messy as both girls try to establish their personal identities while fighting to reconcile their relationship as twins and sisters. Varian Johnson’s new graphic novel is simply a delight! I loved following Maureen and Francine — and am really hoping we get a few more books about them.
Match Point
Published: September 19, 2023
Rosie’s dad wants her to play racquetball even though she says she wants no part and has no interest. He used to love it when he was a kid and he pushes Rosie to improve by constantly critiquing her game. But Rosie has a bad attitude about the sport because of the pressure he puts on her. Blair is a new student with a warm family who are all into racquetball and Rosie wants her to compete in her behalf. But as Rosie hangs out with Blair’s family away from her father’s harsh supervision, she realizes what it means to play for fun. Match Point is a delightful graphic novel about racquetball, female friendship, and the value of true sportsmanship.
Sunny Side Up
Published: August 25, 2015
A trip to Florida to spend time with her grandfather at his senior’s community becomes life-changing for Sunny Lewin. This is another great graphic novel series that can be read out of order. Nearly all of the books are set in a different summer and follow Sunny’s adventures. I love how funny and thoughtful this series is and I think it’s a great pick for readers who enjoy historical fiction, graphic novels, and summery stories.
Freestyle
Published: October 18, 2022
Cory’s dance crew is getting ready for a major competition. It’s the last one before they graduate eighth grade and go their separate ways to high schools all over New York City, so they have to make it count! The group starts to have problems as their crew captain gets increasingly intense about nailing the routine, and things go from bad to worse when Cory’s parents ground him for not taking his grades seriously. He gets stuck with a new tutor, Sunna, who he dismisses as a boring nerd… until he catches her secretly practicing cool yo-yo tricks. Cory wants to learn the art of yo-yo, and as his friendship with Sunna grows, he misses practice and bails on his crew — and they are not happy about it. With mounting pressure from all sides, how is Cory supposed to balance the expectations of his parents, school, dance, and new friend? I love the art in this book and all the dance scenes are so much fun to read.
Play Like a Girl
Published: September 27, 2022
Misty Wilson chronicles her year on the boy’s football team in her town. When she gets mocked for wanting to play football with the boys, Misty determines she’ll sign up for the team with her best friend (who’s convinced because she wants time with boys). But the training process is rigorous, and playing football is physically challenging — especially with boys. It gets harder when her bestie gives up on Misty and their friendship. Can Misty make it work? And will she rebuild her social life? Play Like a Girl is a compelling, heartfelt middle grade graphic memoir about challenging the status quo, playing football, and finding your tribe.
Leon the Extraordinary
Published: October 4, 2022
In the city where Leon lives, superheroes — and supervillains — are commonplace. So how does an ordinary kid like Leon, who has no superpowers himself, become the superhero he wants to be? When all his classmates suddenly become obsessed with a new phone app that turns them into zombies, Leon gets his chance to prove that using his brain and following his heart can save the day.
Equal parts New Kid and The Incredibles, the first graphic novel in this action-packed, heartfelt, and joyously funny series by Jamar Nicholas reminds readers that when it comes to being a hero, you just need to believe in yourself.
Chunky
Published: June 22, 2021
Chunky is a new graphic memoir in which Yehudi (Hudi) conjures an imaginary friend/mascot, Chunky to support him through a challenging time in his life. Hudi is a funny kid with a serious interest in comedy Because of childhood illness, Hudi has had one lung removed. He is also chubby with zero athletic prowess, in a family of athletic people. His dad won so many sports trophies in school and encourages Hudi to pick a sport. His mother thinks sports will also help Hudi regulate his weight. And so Hudi begins to try sport after sport — with hilarious results, and Chunky cheering him all the way. This is an entertaining, funny, and poignant graphic memoir about body image, sports, family, comedy and being Jewish.
Besties: Work It Out
Published: October 19, 2021
Besties Beth and Chanda need to find a way to earn some money. Beth wants to give her mom a spa day while Chanda needs money to adopt a new pet (and prove herself responsible to her parents who constantly compare her to her big sister). But when the two land a house-sitting gig, they end up breaking their employer’s prized possession. Can they fix the problem without losing their friendship and reputation? Besties: Work It Out is a sweet, realistic graphic novel about friendship, starting a business, animals, and family relationships.
Guts
Published: September 17, 2019
Guts is based on Telegmeier’s experience with anxiety as a tween. After a case of the stomach flu in their family, Raina becomes terrified of vomit and vomiting. Her anxiety manifests physically as a stomachache which further exacerbates her fear of vomiting and intensifies her anxiety. Her parents take her to see a doctor who after multiple tests assures them that Raina is “healthy as a horse.” Unsure what to do next, they take her to see a therapist. At school, Raina also deals with friendship issues. Her best friend finds out that her family is moving away soon, which, of course, causes Raina a measure of anxiety. There’s also a “mean girl” in the class who seems to gain a thrill from teasing everyone in her vicinity. Imagine Raina’s shock when her best friend befriends the mean girl. This is an important addition to the (too short) lineup of middle-grade books about anxiety (and emetophobia, in this case).
New Kid
Published: February 5, 2019
Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?
Stepping Stones: (A Graphic Novel) (Peapod Farm)
Published: May 5, 2020
Stepping Stones is the first in the PeaPod Farm graphic novel series by Lucy Knisley. It features young Jen, whose mother moves her from the city to a farm to live with her mother’s new boyfriend, Walter and help him care for his farm. At the farm, Jen is saddled with chores like caring for chickens and selling at the farmer’s market. Her mother’s boyfriend, Walter, is infuriating and dismissive of Jen’s feelings. Things get worse when Walter’s daughters Andy and Reese come to the farm on weekends. The girls are alright, but Andy seems to be a know-it-all, while Reese won’t stop whining. Can Jen make a life at Peapod Farm? This is an engaging, wholesome, true-to-life middle grade graphic novel about dealing with life changes.
The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza
Published: May 10, 2022
Something terrible is happening in the skies! Rats are eating the MOON!There’s only ONE hero for the job, a bold and fearsome beast bioengineered in a secret lab to be the moon’s savior and Earth’s last hope! And that hero is . . . a cat. A cat who will be blasted into space!Accompanied by the imperious Moon Queen and LOZ 4000, a toenail clipping robot, the First Cat in Space journeys across a fantastic lunar landscape to save the world. Will these unlikely heroes save the moon in time? Can a toenail-clipping robot find its purpose in the vast universe? And will the First Cat in Space ever eat some pizza? This is a silly graphic novel with plenty of action and wacky humor.
There they are: 20 of the best graphic novels for 10 year olds! Which of these have you read and loved? What did I miss?
What do you think? Leave a comment