Teen
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Heartstopper: Volume 1
Alice Oseman
A sweet school romance about two boys, in a quiet, soft-lined style.
Kids, by age
Graphic novels for teens
Teen graphic novels cover memoir, romance, sport, fantasy and superheroes. These picks are good starting points, with content flagged honestly.
Graphic novels for teens are a wide field. There are true stories, such as March and Dragon Hoops, school and romance stories such as Heartstopper and Spinning, fantasy such as Nimona, and superhero books such as Ms. Marvel. The one thing they share is that the stories are written for readers who are old enough to handle real feelings and harder themes.
That is also why a single age number is not enough. Two books in the teen band can differ a lot in how mature they are, so read the publisher’s description and look at a few pages when you are buying for someone else. Manga and manhwa are in the Manga hub and the Finder, where every title shows its age band.
Tip
If you are unsure, pick a book with a clear story and a theme the teen already likes: sport, friendship, history or fantasy.
Where to start
More in the FinderA mix of memoir, history, romance, fantasy and superhero stories.
Teen
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Nimona
Noelle Stevenson
A shapeshifting teenager signs on as a supervillain's sidekick in a funny-turns-serious fantasy.
Teen
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American Born Chinese
Gene Luen Yang
Three stories, including a Monkey King tale, slowly connect.
Teen
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March: Book One
John Lewis, Andrew Aydin
The first of three volumes about the civil rights movement.
Teen
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Spinning
Tillie Walden
A memoir about competitive ice skating and coming out.
Teen
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Dragon Hoops
Gene Luen Yang
The author follows a high school basketball team through a season.
Teen
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Anya's Ghost
Vera Brosgol
A teen befriends a ghost she finds in a well, and the friendship goes wrong.
Teen
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Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal
G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona
A teenager in Jersey City gets shape-shifting powers and has to work out who she wants to be.
Teen
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Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 1: Precious Little Life
Bryan Lee O'Malley
A young man has to fight his new girlfriend's seven evil exes, in a video-game flavoured comedy.
Teen
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Paper Girls, Vol. 1
Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang
Four paper-delivery girls get pulled into a strange conflict.
Teen
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This One Summer
Mariko Tamaki, Jillian Tamaki
Two friends spend another summer at a lake house.
Teen
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The Arrival
Shaun Tan
A wordless story about an immigrant arriving in an invented city.
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Filter the whole catalog
Open the full FinderChoose a style and a genre to narrow the teen list, or type a title they liked.
Questions people ask
What are good graphic novels for teens?
Popular starting points include Heartstopper, Nimona, American Born Chinese, March, Spinning, Dragon Hoops and Ms. Marvel. They cover romance, fantasy, history and sport, so you can match the story to the teen’s interests. Our Comic Finder lists more by genre, and every title shows its age band and a one-line description.
How do I know if a graphic novel is appropriate for a teen?
Read the publisher’s description and age range, then flip through a few pages. Look for the themes that matter to you, such as violence, language and romance. Memoir and history titles can deal with serious subjects, and some books are better suited to older teens, so a quick look is worth the time.
Are graphic novels good for teens who do not like reading?
They can be. The pictures carry part of the story, and a gripping plot makes the next page easy to turn. Let the teen choose from a few books you have checked, and start with a subject they already care about, such as sport, music or a favorite character, rather than a book you think they should read.
Should teens read manga or American graphic novels?
Either, and many readers enjoy both. Manga is usually in long numbered series and is read right to left, while American graphic novels are often self-contained. A teen who likes a certain genre can find it in both. Our Manga hub and Comic Finder show titles from each, with age bands.
Can teens read adult graphic novels?
Some adult titles suit mature teens, but many include violence, strong language or adult themes. We label adult books separately, and publishers state a rating on many covers. Treat the adult band as a signal to check the book first, and let a parent or guardian decide what is right for an individual teen.