2018 Middle Grades Graphics

I had a lot of fun reading these brand new graphic novels, all written for a middle grade audience. From awkward summer vacations and back-to-school blues to falling in love and learning how to best be yourself, there's a lot to learn from these stories and plenty to laugh at too.

Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What happens if you beg to go to summer camp, and then you hate it (and it hates you)? Brosgol creatively remembers a summer of her youth with all its ups and downs in this funny and bittersweet graphic novel for middle grades and up.

All Summer Long by Hope Larson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Bina’s best friend, Austin, goes to soccer camp for the summer, she’s left to befriend Austin’s older sister and fears growing apart from Austin. A love of listening to and creating music keeps Bina occupied, but when Austin returns, things don’t go back to normal. This middle grade story of the growing pains of friendship hits all the emotional notes without getting melodramatic, and a bright color palette and bold artwork keep it fresh and fun.

Making Friends by Kristen Gudsnuk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dany is a seventh grader now, and all of her friends ended up in a different cluster – together, without her. In need of a few friends, and armed with a magic sketchbook, she literally makes new friends without worrying about the consequences. With anime and other tongue-in-cheek pop culture references on every page, Making Friends charms and delights.

The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This graphic novel was a complete joy to read. Over the course of a summer, neighborhood kids explore and create their own superhero/supervillain personas using cardboard boxes, paint, and plenty of imagination. Each kid gets their own "origin story" chapters, but the entirety of the novel tells a cohesive story as well. Chad Sell's bold illustrations call to mind classic comic books with striking characterizations and vibrant colors, which allow the emotions and interactions on the page to shine.

Fake Blood by Whitney Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nia Winters likes vampires. AJ likes Nia, but since he isn’t a vampire, he can’t seem to catch her attention – until he decides to become a vampire himself. Then he realizes it’s not that Nia likes vampires – she slays them. Suddenly his great idea could be the death of him, if he can’t convince Nia it was all a ploy, and that a real vampire of Spoons Middle School is still out there. This graphic novel is more silly than scary, with all of its parodying of other well-known vampire tales. The illustrations add a level of fun, and the relationships between AJ and his sister and AJ and his friends are sweet with plenty of goodnatured needling. For readers who would rather laugh at monsters than be terrified by them, Fake Blood will satisfy.

Extras: more graphics, or view all my reviews.