Graphic Novels and Web Comics for Tweens & Teens

As the author of the web comic Box O' Robotics, I am always on the look out for the next best selling graphic novel, classic comics, web comics and top market Japanese manga. Sometimes I'll spend a few hours in the bookstore browsing the shelves and studying what makes this type of literature so great on the market. Today I'm going to be recommending graphic novels and web comics that your tweens and teens will love, and talk about how I'm going to be assisting the upcoming Middle Grade Mastery Course for the Children's Book Academy. 

TWEEN & TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL RECOMMENDATIONS:

NIMONA (Noelle Stevenson)-

ABOUT NIMONA:

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.


WHY DO I RECOMMEND IT (Tweens & Teens):

The reason Nimona is a must have for tweens and teens is because it is jam-packed with amazing symbolism and butt kicking adventure. I recently heard about Nimona at the National Book Awards and was so in awe with it that I had to learn more. When KidLit TV's founder Julie Gribble and I went to Books of Wonder in NYC I also discovered that Nimona was first a web-series before it went off to be an amazing classic. 

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LUMBERJANES (Noelle Stevenson, Brooke A. Allen, Shannon Watters) -

ABOUT LUMBERJANES: 
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Friendship to the max! Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together...and they’re not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! Not only is it the second title launching in our new BOOM! Box imprint but LUMBERJANES is one of those punk rock, love-everything-about-it stories that appeals to fans of basically all excellent things. It’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Gravity Falls and features five butt-kicking, rad teenage girls wailing on monsters and solving a mystery with the whole world at stake. And with the talent of acclaimed cartoonist Noelle Stevenson, talented newcomer Grace Ellis writing, and Brooke Allen on art, this is going to be a spectacular series that you won’t want to miss. 

WHY I RECOMMEND IT (Tweens & Teens):

Camp, adventure, a cast of diverse, amazing, risk-taking strong female character leads! Lumberjanes has got it all. This graphic novel is perfect for girls and boys, especially those that like to get their hands dirty and start their own summer adventures. 

THIS ONE SUMMER (Mariko Tamaki)-

ABOUT THIS ONE SUMMER: 
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Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. One of the local teens - just a couple of years older than Rose and Windy - is caught up in something bad... Something life threatening.
It's a summer of secrets, and sorrow, and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

This One Summer is a tremendously exciting new teen graphic novel from two creators with true literary clout. Cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, the team behind Skim, have collaborated on this gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about a girl on the cusp of childhood - a story of renewal and revelation.

WHY I RECOMMEND IT (Teens):
It's heart wrenching, beautifully illustrated with both story and pictures and really teaches the reader something truly important about growing up.

TWEEN & TEEN WEB COMICS: 

BOX O' ROBOTICS (Katya Szewczuk)
The official B.O.R. website will be up and running soon! But until thenread B.O.R.on my website!

ABOUT BOX O' ROBOTICS:

Box O’ Robotics follows a teenage boy named Samuel McAlister who always dreamt about being an inventor. But living in a futuristic world where robots and artificial intelligence have more of the advantage is troublesome. But that’s the least of his worries. When he is sent to the famous Sterling Academy to work on his inventions he learns that human beings are used as a life/energy source so the robots and artificial intelligence can create more inventions. He then meets the notorious bad boy Porter whose harum-scarum personality always gets him into trouble. Samuel finds out that Porter was on a mission to destroy the futuristic world because of its true evil. And he can only do so with Samuel by his side. Jam-packed with adventure and fun, Samuel goes on a risk-taking adventure that forces him out of his comfort zone. And suddenly everyone is against him. ​It’s a tale of man versus robo-power!

WHY I RECOMMEND IT (Teens): 

You might be thinking, "What the robo-brains? Why are you recommending your own series?" The reasons for this are because:

1. The first page of the Box O' Robotics comic was created when I took the Children's Book Academy's Craft and Business of Illustrating Children's Picture Books.
2. It is a Young Adult Web Comic, but its activities can relate to many kids. (See how to make your own comic activity on KidLit TV!) 
3. There are many authors and illustrators in the industry who have responded positively to it.

​Box O' Robotics isn't just a web comic, it's an interactive comic that I hope will teach many tweens, teens and adults about the wonders of technology and how not to abuse technology. It was also strongly inspired by Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics and is great for girls and boys who love engineering and inventing. 

Fantomstein (Beka Duke)

ABOUT FANTOMSTEIN
What if Frankenstein's Creature lived on to become the infamous Phantom of the Opera? "What a silly thing to say" says you. "What a fun idea for a comic!" says I.

WHY I RECOMMEND IT (Teens)
If you love the story of Frankenstein's Creature and Phantom of the Opera you will fall in love with this web comic. Fantomstein is the story in which frankenstein’s monster actually becomes the phantom of the opera. And if you appreciate original, hauntingly bewitching illustrations you will adore this series. 

Zoophobia (Vivienne Medrano)

Zoophobia is a fantasy/humour webcomic by Vivienne Medrano about a neurotic young woman named Cameron who, when desperate for a job, winds up being unexpectedly thrust into Safe Haven, a fantastic world full of incredible beasts, unimaginable beings and zany characters. She receives a job as a guidance counselor at the Zoo-Phoenix Academy, where she faces head-on with a colorful cast of talking animals and strange creatures. Unfortunately, Cameron has quite the terrible case of zoophobia and is ultimately terrified by the very students and staff she must work with.

WHY I RECOMMEND IT (Teens)
Nothing is like Zoophobia. Between art and story, this is one original comic that has made web comic history. If your teens love animals and a world of color and imagination than this this the perfect comic for them. Vivienne is also a superstar animator who animates her comic characters. 

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MEET WITH ME AT THE MIDDLE GRADE MASTERY COURSE:
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This year I will be assisting the CBA with its upcoming Middle Grade Mastery Course. This course has so much to offer you. You'll not only learn the basics of how to write the perfect middle grade novel, but you'll also learn about the inside scoop of what makes middle grade novels, and graphic novels stand out in the market. There are also many offers and golden ticket opportunities that only the CBA can offer you, such as being taught by agents and editors and submitting your work to them at the end of the course. 

What are some of your favorite tween and teen graphic novels? I'd love to hear your recommendations! ​