10 Incredible Graphic Novels to Read This Year

10 Incredible Graphic Novels Coming Out in 2023

10 Incredible Graphic Novels Coming Out in 2023

Graphic novels are a book form that sneaked up on me. I think the first one I read for review here (which blew me away) was ESTRANGED: THE CHANGELING KING by Ethan Aldridge. Once I feasted my eyes on that incredible story, I knew there was no going back. Since then, I’ve built a list of graphic novel writers and artists whose work is too good to be missed. Here are the ones with books coming out this year.

Notably absent is Tim Probert, whose third book in the Lightfall series I’m eagerly anticipating. I haven’t seen any release news on it yet, but I’m hoping it’ll be out in 2024.

10 Amazing Graphic Novels to Read This Year

Moth Keeper by K. O'Neil cover shows a girl looking at a glowing moth as if they're having a conversation. She holds up her hands near the moth, but the moth is flying, as if it just lifted off.

Moth Keeper by K. O’Neill

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What You Need to Know: Beautiful, fantasy-filled illustrations. A story of friendship, magic, hope, and community. By the author of the Tea Dragon series.

Published: March 7, 2023 | Ages: 10 to 14.


Serafina and the Black Cloak The Graphic Novel by Robert Beatty, Michael Moreci, and Braeden Sherrell cover shows the dark silhouette of a cloaked figure with glowing eyes and at its center, in a lighted space, a girl.

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty, Michael Moreci, and Braeden Sherrell

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What You Need to Know: Missing children, a girl secretly living in a mansion basement, a mysterious man in a black cloak only she can stop. The graphic novel version of the bestselling middle-grade adventure.

Published: April 4, 2023 | Ages: 8 to 12.


Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner cover shows a boy walking to the right with a large black scribble cloud behind him.

Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What You Need to Know: A novel-in-verse/graphic novel about body image, shame, and the power of art and friendship. This one made me cry.

Published: May 2, 2023 | Ages: 8 to 12.


Squire & Knight by Scott Chantler cover shows a black dragon's head bent low to the ground in the left foreground, its tail holding up a knight in the background. In the right foreground, a boy holds up a lantern, his back to the dragon. A skeleton dog sits at his feet looking curiously at the dragon.

Squire & Knight by Scott Chantler

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What You Need to Know: I think the author said he pitched this as “T.H. White plays Dungeons and Dragons with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.” Which is brilliant and pretty accurate! I loved the characters and attention to detail in the panels.

Published: May 9, 2023 | Ages: 8 to 12.


Constellations by Kate Glasheen cover shows a person in a blue jacket looking up. A bike lies on the ground behind them.

Constellations by Kate Glasheen

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What You Need to Know: When a drunken accident lands Claire in rehab, they reluctantly begin to learn about addiction and recovery. A tender, vulnerable journey of identity and acceptance. This is another one that made me cry!

Published: May 23, 2023 | Ages: 14 up.


Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story by Sarah Myer cover shows a girl from the shoulders up. The left side of her face looks human. The right side stretches into a monster face with a leering, sharp-toothed grin and glowing eye.

Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story by Sarah Myer

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What You Need to Know: A Korean-American transracial adoptee uses art and fandom to overcome racist bullying. A memoir graphic novel. A powerful, unforgettable story.

Published: June 27, 2023 | Ages: 14 up.


The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu cover shows a girl in coveralls holding hands with a tall humanoid AI. Cactus and succulents are immediately behind them. Behind them in the distance is a village.

Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What You Need to Know: A moving speculative novel exploring the line between AI and human by the author of TIDESONG and co-creator of MOONCAKES.

Published: August 29, 2023 | Ages: 14 up.


Deephaven by Ethan Aldridge cover shows a boy holding up a torch and standing in front of an opened gate. Behind and above him lurks a shadowy monster with glowing eyes and tentacle-like hair.

Deephaven by Ethan Aldridge

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What You Need to Know: Words I like about this graphic novel description: gothic middle grade, nonbinary main character, boarding school with secrets. By the author of the ESTRANGED duology and LEGEND OF BRIGHTBLADE, and also my favorite graphic novel author.

Published: September 5, 2023 | Ages: 10 to 14.


Cover to Come

Wingborn (Wingbearer #2) by Marjorie Liu and Grace Kum

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What You Need to Know: The Wingbearer series continues, delivering new adventures of this gorgeous, emotive fantasy. The first book in the series is a favorite in my house.

Published: November 21, 2023 | Ages: 8 to 12.


Cover to Come

Heartstopper: Volume Five by Alice Oseman

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What You Need to Know: The fifth installment of Nick and Charlie’s love story. With Nick heading to university next year, are things about to change? A sweet story of love and friendship.

Published: December 12, 2023 | Ages: 14 up.


What are your favorite graphic novels?

If you are a graphic novel reader, leave a comment telling me about your favorite author. Have you read any of the books on this list? What graphic novels are you most looking forward to this year? Leave a comment and let me know!

Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays with Greg Pattridge at Always in the Middle

Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays

Check out other blogs posting about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle with Greg Pattridge.

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About Kasey

Reads things. Writes things. Fluent in sarcasm. Willful optimist. Cat companion, chocolate connoisseur, coffee drinker. There are some who call me Mom.

12 Responses to 10 Incredible Graphic Novels to Read This Year

  1. I don’t read a lot of graphic novels but I’m adding some of these to my list! Thank you for sharing!

  2. My students love graphic novels. I have read some- but for me they are not a go to genre. I do love that people love them and eat them up- because that is awesome. I am most curious about The Moth Keeper and Work in Progress- both books I have been hearing great things about. Thanks for sharing this list with us!

    • Kasey says:

      You’re welcome! My nephews love them, too. ???? I’m glad there are some on the list that interest you– I hope you get a chance to read them or share them with your students. I really enjoyed both of them.

  3. I’ve seen reviews for a few of these titles so I appreciate the comprehensive selection you presented here. Yes, I have The Moth Keeper on my future read list thanks to seeing it here and reading Max’s review. Thanks for including your post on today’s MMGM.

  4. I don’t read a lot of graphic novels, but I am putting Work in Progress and Squire and Knight on my list. They both look really good. Thanks for the recommendations.

  5. What a great list of graphic novels to seek out! (And I’m going to look for the Estranged novels, too.) I love graphic novels but tend to forget about them when I’m looking for new reads (possibly because I read almost exclusively on my phone nowadays: too convenient plus I can make the font really large for my old eyes). So it’s great to be reminded and have an excuse to visit the very good graphic novel section of my local library.

    I really like Zita the Space Girl, and everything else by Ben Hatke; the Amulet series; The Nameless City series by Faith Erin Hicks; and the Hilda series by Luke Pearson. Also Shannon Hale has some great graphic novels. Oh, and Dav Pilkey’s graphic novels are hilarious: love them!

    • Kasey says:

      Thank you so much! I like reading graphic novels on my phone or tablet, too. I like the feature where you can zoom into each panel one at a time. Helps me absorb the story better, I think. I’m on book 3 of the Amulet series, I think, but I’ll definitely check out the others you mentioned. I think I’ve read something by Dav Pilkey, but I can’t remember off the top of my head. 🙂 Anyway– thank you again for your recs.

  6. Max @ Completely Full Bookshelf says:

    This post was WAY too exciting for me, as a pretty massive graphic novel fan!

    I actually just wholeheartedly recommended The Moth Keeper today for MMGM, and I saw another blogger today (Linda Baie at teacherdance.org) who praised A Work in Progress, so that’s on my TBR list.

    Deephaven, The Infinity Particle, and Constellations also made it onto my TBR—so this was a very fruitful post!

    Thanks so much for the thoughtful picks, Kasey—it was delightful to read them!

    • Kasey says:

      Yay! I’m so glad you got a lot out of the post. Yes– I saw The Moth Keeper on your post, too. I added the other book you recommended to my reading list. I’d say it’s been a great MMGM day for both of us! Haha. 🙂