Favourite Graphic Novels for Secondary School Children

In this unusual book, we follow a young man as he packs his bags and leaves his family to go and start a new life in another country

Tuva is torn between two friendship groups – those who fall in love and those who don’t. But where does she fit? Charming and reflective of many a ​‘tween’s’ experience.  

Jakob Wegelius’ graphic novel prequel to the novel The Murderer’s Ape tells the gorilla Sally Jones’ sad origin story with great compassion. It reminds us of the terrible ways humans have treated gorillas and orangutans.

This stunning pencil-drawn graphic novel of talent, music and friendship will readers young and old. You’ll be rooting for KidGlovz, the nine-year-old musical prodigy: a poignant story to be remembered for a long time.

The graphic novel adaptation of this well-written and action-packed story of a teenage spy works really well

The graphic novel adaptation of the first volume in the best-selling Bartimaeus sequence makes the series more accessible to readers without taking away any of the wit and magic

Illustrated throughout, this heartfelt story contains so much: a family coping with bereavement, the alienation of moving somewhere new, and what it’s like when you can’t speak the language of the people around you. Lovely and heartfelt.

A beautiful graphic novel exploring the restorative power of nature. 

Illegal tells the story of Ebo, a 12-year-old boy who flees grinding poverty, zero opportunities and a drunken uncle in his small village in Africa. An absolute must-read, this graphic novel is thought-provoking, profound, sensitive and totally gripping.

At just 13, Marjorie has to run the family launderette. When a plan emerges to turn it into a posh yoga retreat, unexpected help comes from some sheet-wearing ghosts. A beautiful, modern, clever and funny graphic novel about bereavement and family.

More than just a mystery, The Marvels is a heart-warming story about growing up, identity and family, full of cinematic and captivating illustrations.

Anne Ravenhall is just trying to get through her exams at boarding school – until a mysterious aunt leaves her a mysterious locket. Soon, she’s caught up in a roaring supernatural adventure…

Thirteen-year-old Emmie is the quiet girl at school, the one nobody notices. She loves to draw – and is good at it too – and has a best friend, Brianna, but her crippling shyness makes school and interacting with, well, anyone, really scary.

These often thought-provoking stories look at the reactions ordinary people have to the unusual situations they find themselves in and feature a host of different illustrative styles ranging from collage to painterly Edward Hopper-esque scenes.

Diane starts to explore her five senses with the help of a virtual reality headset. It’s extremely unusual to see scientific knowledge presented in this kind of fiction/​nonfiction mash-up, and this top-quality graphic novel works incredibly well to draw in readers.

Fifty warriors partake in a competition to decide which of them will rule the kingdom. An enthralling graphic novel packed with magic, adventure, and action.

Lola and Grace try to unravel the mystery of romance by learning from couples at school – and by Lola getting her first boyfriend! A sweet graphic novel that gently points out the pitfalls of forgetting your friends to focus on love, and of focusing on appearances. 

A hilarious cast of crazy characters including mummies, medusas and vampires form The Monster Support Group in this hilarious high school themed graphic novel. A howl out loud coming of age story like no other.

In the epic conclusion to this graphic novel series, the warriors undertake the final task of the competition, deciding who will win and go on to become chief.

This is the complete story of Vladek Spiegelman and his wife, living and surviving in Hitler’s Europe.

A sad ghost wants to go to a party, but his social anxiety keeps holding him back. When he meets another anxious ghost, he realises he’s not alone. A charming graphic novel for older readers about depression, friendship, and finding a kindred spirit.

Awkward perfectly captures the secondary school experience – friendships, rivalries, secrets, eccentric teachers, and also what can be accomplished when everyone works together.

An utterly charming, slow-burn love story between two boys. This heart-warming graphic novel captures every moment of the joy and terror of having a crush on someone.

This collection of Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars, issues 1–3, is a fascinating graphic novel, melding a dystopian Mars society with the popular American sport of women’s Roller Derby. 

A story of friendship and romance told in a funny and inclusive graphic novel that celebrates the joy and diversity of Halloween traditions in the USA. 

Set in modern Tokyo, with the Capulets and Montagues recast as organised-crime rivals, this racy retelling gets to the heart of the love story and the foolish rivalry that dooms it.

In a Britain laid to waste by catastrophic global warming, a motorcycle courier, Christy, and an atheist campaigner are on the run.

Ethel & Ernest tells the story of Raymond Briggs’ parents, from 1928 to their deaths in the 70s – spanning a period of great social change for the country. Although your eyes will mist up by the end, you’ll also wear a big, tender smile.

A powerful, terrible and essential story, Alpha should be required reading for everyone. The graphic novel highlights the terror and hopelessness experienced by someone forced to leave their own country in search of a future.