Graphic Memoirs for Kids Ages 8 and Up

A First Time for Everything is Dan Santat’s graphic memoir about his school trip to Europe at the end of middle school. Middle school Dan is shy and socially awkward. He spends most of his time helping his mom, who has Lupus, and gets made fun of a bit by some girls in his grade. Thankfully, his parents are determined that he sees the world, and they support his Europe trip. As they visit Germany, France, Switzerland, and England, Dan is swept up in many, many firsts, making for a life-changing trip. A First Time for Everything is a stellar, relatable graphic novel about growing up, wading through the awkward tween years, and finding one’s voice. Grades 5+

In her graphic memoir Smile, 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, head gear, retainer, and other contraptions she has to wear throughout the course of 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. Grades 4+

Big Apple Diaries is Alyssa Bermudez’s graphic memoir detailing her life experiences in New York City between the 7th and 8th grades. Her middle school years also coincide with the attack on 9/11 and the book documents the impact on her and her circle. Prior to that, though, Alyssa is an average tween who attends a Catholic co-ed school, likes doodling, and has a crush on a schoolmate named Alejandro. Her parents are also divorced, so she spends time between each of their apartments in New York. Big Apple Diaries is a relatable and enjoyable coming-of-age graphic memoir. Grades 4+

In Play Like a Girl, author 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. Grades 5+

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. Telgemeier’s Guts is an important addition to the (too short) lineup of middle-grade books about anxiety (and emetophobia, in this case). Grades 5+

Raina and her little sister Amara’s relationship is under the microscope. Despite having always prayed for a little sister, Raina realizes as soon as her sister comes home with her parents that things may not exactly have worked out as she planned. Her sister is a fussy baby and often moody toddler who likes to play by herself. Plus, Raina herself has to learn to share space and time — and of course, she struggles in the beginning. The sisters squabble over the years until a three-week family road trip from California to Colorado changes everything. Interestingly, this graphic novel alternates between past and present, following the girls’ relationship from childhood and also the road trip in the present. Raina Telgemeier’s Sisters is a sweet ode to sisterhood and how tumultuous sibling relationships can be, particularly when we’re young and still figuring each other out. Grades 4+

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. Chunky is an entertaining, funny, and poignant graphic memoir about body image, sports, family, comedy and being Jewish. Grades 5+

Cece Bell chronicles her childhood with impaired hearing in this Newbery Honor winning graphic memoir. I think the audiobook narration and sound effects elevate the reading experience for this graphic novel. Readers hear as Cece does with some words being muffled sometimes. It really cultivates empathy in the listener. Grades 5+

Real Friends is Shannon Hale’s graphic memoir of her middle school experience with real friends — and girls who weren’t quite friends. Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends since Shannon came out of her shell in early elementary school. She had earlier been the shy middle child who never felt like she quite fit in anywhere. But with Adrienne, it was like she could finally exhale. But when Adrienne starts hanging out with the popular girl, Jen, Shannon suddenly doesn’t know where she fits in anymore. As we go through the stressful roller coaster years with Shannon, each chapter highlights her relationship with one of the girls in the new friend group. This is a realistic, moving depiction of the roller coaster that middle school friendships can be, and how affirming it can be to find true friends. Grades 5+

The Tryout follows young Christina as she tries out for her middle school’s cheerleading team. As one of the few Asians in her small Texas town, Christina and her Iranian-American best friend are nervous about trying out, but determined to give their best. Unfortunately, tryouts quickly lead to heartbreak when Megan decides to partner up with another girl, leaving Christina to fend for herself. Can the girls make it work? The Tryout is a fantastic graphic memoir that will appeal to fans of sports stories and books about life as a minority and child of immigrants. Grades 4+

Sixth grade is off to a rocky start for Rex. His district moved most of his elementary school to another middle school, his best friend ditches him for the popular crew, and his blurry vision means he has to get clunky new glasses–the only kind his family can afford. This sweet graphic novel for fans of Telgemeier is an ode to middle school, family, and finding your people. Grades 5+

What does it mean to be a bad sister? Charise struggles with jealousy, impulsiveness, and mean-spiritedness in this moving graphic memoir as she tries her best to be a good sister. This one really explores challenging sibling relationships and the difficult emotions that could arise, but the ending is heartwarming and satisfying. Grades 5+

Almost American Girl is Robin Ha’s graphic memoir detailing her move from South Korea to Huntsville, Alabama. Robin is 14 when she and her mother leave for one of their regular visits to the US. Except, this time it’s not Hawaii or any other vacation hotspot — it’s Alabama. When they arrive in Huntsville, Robin realizes that her mother is there to visit a man she has been corresponding with. Robin is in for a shocker as her mom announces that she’s marrying this man, and she and Robin are staying put in America. Her whole life changes forever, as she struggles to assimilate, while handling the ups and downs in her mother’s relationship. This is a moving exploration of the joys and misfortunes of immigrant life — especially for a teen. Grades 5+

When Jarrett J. Krosoczka was in high school, he was part of a program that sent students to be counselors at a camp for seriously ill kids and their families. In this memoir, he shares his account of his first summer at camp and how these kids and their families changed his life forever. Grades 6+

Omar and Hassan (who is non-verbal) live in a refugee camp in Kenya after fleeing war in Somalia. Despite unimaginable living conditions and constant disappointments, they find a loving community of people. However, when Omar is offered the opportunity to attend school, he’s torn. If he goes to school, who will protect Hassan? The interdependent text and illustrations in the graphic novel form allow the reader to experience Omar’s reality- a reality unfathomable to most people, regardless of age. An afterword and authors’ notes (with photographs!) offer further closure to Omar’s story and connect readers to the real people behind the characters. Grades 4+

Sweet graphic memoir about Ruth Chan’s move as a teen from Canada to Hong Kong and the link between the grit needed to move and her paternal grandparents perseverance during the Sino-Japanese war when her father was born. I enjoyed the storytelling, even if it was very slice of life, there’s a strong theme to adapting and finding home that will resonate with third culture kids and immigrants. Ruth learns that she can do hard things especially socially and she also comes to see her parents as real people which can be lifechanging as a teen. That’s probably the most touching aspect for me. Fans of Calin’s NEW GIRL and Santat’s A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING will enjoy this one even though Chan is more subdued and never actually begins a romance. Grades 4+

Weirdo is all about Tony Weaver’s experience as a nerdy 7th grader and the harsh response he receives in middle school from the kids who bully him for his eclectic interests. Thanks to his parents’ initial unsupportive response, things get dark for Tony, and he attempts to take his own life (not depicted, just mentioned in conversation). After that wake-up call, he receives more support and eventually finds his tribe after changing schools. The illustrations in this book are stunning, and Weaver’s story is utterly moving, which will be priceless for other kids who feel like they just don’t fit in. Grades 6+

A free, full life becomes full of fear and challenges when the Nazis invade Enia’s (Estelle’s) home in Borek, Poland. Enia’s sister Sonjia and her dad are separated from the family soon after, and their mother, Shia, and Mel, along with Enia, have to hide under a Gentile’s roof for over a year until her mother dies. Eventually, Enia and one of her brothers flee Poland to Hungary and, from there, get the chance to move to New York, where Estelle is adopted by an American family, relocating to California. I really liked the cute graphics in this one and the candid, warm storytelling that I think will appeal to kids. This moving, fast-paced graphic memoir also sheds some light on the history of some Jews and their choice to relocate to then-British Occupied Palestine, which makes for interesting, relevant history. Grades 5+

Pan is a middle schooler at a Catholic school when he starts struggling with intrusive thoughts and overwhelming urges to perform compulsions in order to quell these feelings. Unsure of the source of these feelings, Pan worries that he’s possessed or crazy. As time passes, his obsessions and compulsions change but the puzzle remains: why does he have these thoughts? This graphic memoir follows Pan as he figures out this mental health puzzle while navigating life as a tween and then teen, bullies, the impact of his OCD on his friendships, and how easily kids can hide their mental health struggles. This is a great pick for fans of Page’s Button Pusher, although Pan doesn’t dive too deeply into the science behind OCD but focus more on the emotional turmoil and will resonate with kids dealing with anxiety or OCD specifically. Grades 5+

This is a FANTASTIC graphic memoir about Tyler Page’s life with ADHD. Early on, his parents realized that Tyler couldn’t seem to stay focused. He acts out in class, is impulsive, and often distracts his classmates. He can’t finish his work in time, even though he’s smart and creative. Most intriguing, he doesn’t actually want to cause trouble but can’t stop himself. Tyler is eventually diagnosed with ADHD and gets on medication for it. I loved seeing his depiction of the way ADHD affects his life and how the medication changes it. We also learn a lot about his family and how life as a teenager changes his relationship with his ADHD meds. The book also includes back matter at the end of every chapter, providing more information (in graphics still) about ADHD. Grades 7+

This is a poignant graphic memoir about Kathy McCleod, who is half-Thai and half-American. Caught between cultures, Kathy constantly feels out of place as she lives in Thailand but loves American food and spends summers in Maine. During one summer trip, her parents send her to summer camp, where she faces ignorant questions about life in Thailand and struggles to make friends. Slowly, Kathy begins to realize that families look different, and she can find belonging even if hers doesn’t look like other peoples’. I loved this slice-of-life graphic memoir, and I think it will be especially meaningful for third-culture kids, biracial kids, or readers who struggle with belonging because of a mixed heritage and upbringing. Grades 4+

Doodles from the Boogie Down is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel about young Steph and her life in New York City in the early 2000s. Steph is finishing eighth grade in a Catholic middle school, and she and her friends are applying to high school. Steph is not great at Math or Science and prefers art instead, so she’s thrilled when her art teacher encourages her to apply to LaGuardia, an arts high school. Unfortunately, her strict Dominican mom doesn’t think art is a profitable career pursuit, so Steph’s plan is to only tell her mom about plans when she’s gotten in. This is a sweet, fun semi-autobiographical graphic novel about choosing your path and life in NYC.

LOVED this autobiographical story about Cindy, a 12-year-old Taiwanese-American girl trying hard to hide her family’s secret that her dad no longer lives with them and has moved back to Taiwan. Cindy has two older sisters and they live with their mom in San Francisco. She has two besties and is crushing on a boy named Miles. She also likes to draw and is pretty good at it. So when her teacher announces an art contest with the theme of What Does Family Mean to You, Cindy is torn. Then her Nai Nai dies, and she and her mom and sisters travel to Taiwan for the funeral, where they meet her dad and discover an even deeper secret: he has a second family. Her notion of family entirely shattered, Cindy must now find a way to share her emotions and come to terms with what’s happened and the current face of her family. I adored the art and storytelling in this book, and the PLOT is strong with mystery, suspense, emotions, and even travel! Truly a perfect book for kids who like Raina Telgemeier and Lily LaMotte. Grades 5+

Christine was born in Japan but moved to the US with her Japanese mom and white father when she was five. She has never felt at home in the US. Persistent feelings of being “other” eventually lead her to return to Japan at 19 to study Japanese and “find herself.” Still, she quickly learns that self-discovery is neither easy nor linear when you’re half-something. From being exoticized to having her identity reduced to terms like “hafu” or “hapa,” living in Tokyo takes a toll on Christine’s mental health. This graphic memoir is moving, visceral, and emotionally resonant. Hand, especially to biracial kids struggling to find their identity or anyone who feels like their home is in two different countries. Grades 7+