Graphic novels are a great way to get even the most reluctant of children reading. Here is a collection of standout graphic novels released in 2023 that include fantasy stories about witches, mythical beings, contemporary stories of navigating friendships and new schools, and at least one very cute monster! There's something for every reader aged 8-12.

Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata

Nothing is going right for Nayra Mansour. There’s the constant pressure from her strict family, ruthless bullying from her classmates, and exhausting friendship demands from Rami – the only other Muslim girl at school. Nayra has had enough. But then a mysterious djinn named Marjan appears. As a djinn, a mythical being in Islamic folklore, Marjan uses their powers and wisdom to help Nayra navigate her overwhelming life. But Marjan’s past is fraught with secrets, guilt, and trouble, and if they don’t face what they’ve done, Nayra could pay the price.

A realistic coming-of-age story with an enchanting dose of the fantastical about strength, identity, and, most of all, friendship. For ages 10+.

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Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment

Fitting in can be hard, especially when you're as small as Ember. He's hoping his luck changes when Lua, a kindly sea turtle, escorts him across the ocean to a school for little creatures on a wondrous island. There, Ember learns that first days can also be hard – especially when they involve fantastical cave-dwellers, ferocious storms and classmates that aren't interested in making friends. As he struggles to adapt to his school, Ember finds himself at the heart of an otherworldly mystery, facing a strange monster from the deep. And though Ember's classmates may seem of little help, any good student knows appearances can be deceiving – and friendship can come from the most unexpected of places. For ages 8+.

Curlfriends: New in Town by Sharee Miller

Charlie has a foolproof plan for the first day at her new middle school. Even though she's used to starting over as the new kid, making friends has never been easy for her. So she's hiding any interests that may seem "babyish," updating her look, and doing her best to leave her shyness behind her...but is erasing the real Charlie the best way to make friends?

When not everything goes exactly to plan, Charlie is ready to give up on making new friendships. Then she meets the Curlfriends, a group of Black girls who couldn't be more different from each other, and learns that maybe there is a place for Charlie to be her true self after all. For ages 8+.

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The Magic Gems by Xavier Bonet & Marie Trinchant (trans.)

Lily Halfmoon has just moved to the town of Piedraville. New house, new school and … new powers?

Surprise – Lily is a witch! She must learn magic, and find her animal guardian and gemstone, while keeping her new identity a secret.

Protecting the people of Piedraville from evil is no easy task. Especially when a dangerous creature is on the loose. Will Lily finally discover her gem's unique power with the help of her new friends, Gigi and Mai, all without attracting attention? Book one in a new fantasy series for ages 7+.

PAWS: Mindy Makes Some Space by Nathan Fairbairn & Michele Assarasakorn (illus.)

Best friends Mindy Park, Gabby Jordan, and Priya Gupta are back in business! Their dog-walking business is booming and the girls are closer than ever.

But for Mindy, things at home are a nightmare. Her mom just started dating someone and Mindy is starting to feel like the odd one out. And new girl Hazel arrives in class and seems totally into joining PAWS. Sharing her mom feels bad enough, so there’s no way Mindy is going to share her best friends and her business, too! But when Mindy’s stubbornness starts to hurt everyone around her, will she be able to overcome her fears and learn that change doesn’t have to be a cat-tastrophe? For ages 8+.

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Ghost Book by Remy Lai

Twelve years ago, the boy and the girl lived. But one was supposed to die.

July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren't real. So she pretends they don't exist. Which is incredibly difficult now as it's Hungry Ghost month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and dangerous ghosts run amok in the living world. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a Hungry Ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He's a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends embark on an adventure to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth – for William to live, July must die. For ages 9+.

Four Eyes by Rex Ogle & Dave Valeza (illus.)

Sixth grade isn’t as great as Rex thought it would be. He’s the only kid who hasn’t had a growth spurt, and the bullies won’t let him forget it. His closest friend is unreliable, at best. And there’s a cute girl in his class who he can’t stop thinking about. With so much going on, everything is a blur – including Rex’s vision! So when he discovers that he needs glasses, and his family can only afford the ugliest pair in the store, any hope Rex had of fitting in goes completely out of focus.

In this true coming-of-age story, Rex has his sights set on surviving sixth grade, but now he’s got to find a way to do it with glasses, no friends, and a family that just doesn’t get it! For ages 8+.

Pebble and Wren by Chris Hallbeck

A little girl and her live-in monster learn about what makes them different – and what unites them. This graphic novel is a silly, sweet, and sometimes gross tribute to friendship, and to the wacky world we live in.

Based on his webcomic of the same name, Pebble and Wren follows human girl Wren and her live-in monster, Pebble, as she teaches them all about how the human world works – from why the moon changes shape to why we don’t eat candy wrappers – while trying to unlock special abilities without which Pebble will have to return to the monster forest. For ages 8+.