Take Five: January Middle Grade Graphic Novels

It’s hard to remember back to a not-so-long-ago time when we didn’t have TONS of graphic novels to read. They are far and away the preferred format for readers at my school (along with highly illustrated novels). I love graphic novels. I read as many as I can get my hands on (and have to be careful, because many come from the public library, and if the kids see me with them at school, they demand to be next to have it). I have NO TIME for people stuck in their ways who won’t allow students or children to read graphic novels, who write them off as somehow lesser or “junk.” I especially have no time for this nonsense because this attitude is always backed up by a whole lot of nothing–detractors of graphic novels don’t read them nor do they understand the many truly valuable aspects of them. And, of course, reading is reading! And kids like what they like! If a kid is saying they want to read a graphic novel and you are telling them that’s unacceptable, you are working to ruin their love of reading.
Whew. I am not calm about this issue.
Anyway.
Please enjoy some new middle grade graphic novels out this month. And remember, reading comics is real reading!
All descriptions from the publishers.

Fresh Start by Gale Galligan (ISBN-13: 9781338045864 Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Publication date: 01/07/2025, Ages 8-12)
From New York Times bestselling author Gale Galligan comes a funny and vibrant semi-autobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about friendship and belonging.
Ollie Herisson’s dad is a diplomat, which means her family moves around a lot. She has already lived in Singapore, Korea, France, and the United States. When Ollie starts at a new school, she doesn’t worry about making a good impression because she knows that when her family inevitably moves again, she’ll get a fresh start somewhere else. A complete reset. It doesn’t matter if her classmates think she’s weird for pretending that she lives in the world of an imagined anime, or if she makes an enemy out of the most popular girl in her class, or if she does something hugely embarrassing! And it definitely doesn’t matter that all her mom wants is for Ollie to be more of a proper Thai daughter.
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But after moving from Germany to Virginia and having a mortifying first day at her new school, Ollie is shocked to learn that her parents are going to buy a house so that Ollie and her sister, Cat, can finish grade school in one place. Can Ollie figure out how to both be herself and make real friends when she can’t run away from her life?

Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez (ISBN-13: 9781250901378 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press Publication date: 01/14/2025 Series: Gabby Torres, Ages 7-9)
Nine-year-old Gabby Torres is the star of this new graphic novel series! Join Gabby as she navigates the inevitable disasters of fourth grade and social media, perfect for fans of Katie the Catsitter and Allergic.
Gabby Torres is nine years old and ready to conquer the world.
She’s already joined the Sea Musketeers, the environmental protection club founded by her idol, Stella Díaz, and plans to be their best (and youngest) member ever.
Gabby’s latest and greatest idea: start a social media page for her club. But her parents think she’s too young! Nothing stops Gabby though… until some online meanies get her in some serious trouble!
But she’s totally got everything under control all on her own.
Right?
This heartwarming series is written and illustrated by Angela Dominguez, the New York Times bestselling illustrator who created the beloved Stella Díaz series. Gabby Torres is tenacious, bold, relatable, and hilarious, reminiscent of favorite characters like Junie B. Jones, Clementine, and Ramona Quimby.

Chickenpox by Remy Lai (ISBN-13: 9781250863300 Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Publication date: 01/14/2025, Ages 8-12)
This hilarious and heartwarming contemporary middle-grade graphic novel is about eldest sister Abby, who is sick of being trapped at home with her FOUR younger siblings as they all suffer from the chickenpox—for fans of Guts and Allergic.
All big sister Abby wants is to spend more time with her friends, far away from the sticky fingers and snooping eyes of her annoying brothers and sisters. But when a case of the chickenpox leaves the Lai kids covered in scratchy red spots and stuck at home together for two weeks of nonstop mayhem, Abby thinks this might be the end . . . of her sanity. Yet she feels responsible for the situation since her best friend was Patient Zero and brought chickenpox into their home.
Will the itch to escape her siblings overwhelm Abby or will she realize being a big sister isn’t all bad? Full of heart and hijinks, Chickenpox showcases what gets us through good times and bad: family.

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia, Brittney Williams (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781250142337 Publisher: First Second Publication date: 01/21/2025, Ages 8-12)
New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia has returned with a middle grade graphic novel about the struggles of a game-loving girl who gets diagnosed with dyslexia and her loving support network that help her along in the journey.
Stella knows fifth grade will be the best year ever. Her closest friends, Emiko and Latasha, are in her class and they all got the teacher they wanted. Then their favorite television show, Witchlins, announces a new guidebook and an online game!
But when the classwork starts piling up, Stella struggles to stay on top. Why does it take her so long to read? And how can she keep up with friends in the Witchlins game if she can’t get through the text-heavy guidebook? And when she can’t deal with the text-heavy Witchlins guidebook, she can’t keep up with her friends in the game. It takes loving teachers and her family to recognize that Stella has a learning difference, and after a dyslexia diagnosis she gets the support and tools she needs to succeed.
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Bestselling author Kami Garcia was inspired to write this special book by her daughter’s dyslexia journey; her own neurodivergent experience; and the many students she taught over the years. With subtle design and formatting choices making this story accessible to all readers, Mixed-Up shows that our differences don’t need to separate us.
To make reading as comfortable as possible for dyslexic readers, the book has been lettered in Dyslexie.

Very Bad at Math by Hope Larson (ISBN-13: 9780063311282 Publisher: HarperCollins Publication date: 01/21/2025 Series: A Very Graphic Novel, Ages 8-12)
Hijinks, unexpected friendships, and math take center stage in this contemporary middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller from New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award–winning author Hope Larson.
Verity “Very” Nelson can do it all.
She’s student body president, debate club whiz, and first chair clarinetist. You could say she’s pretty much the best at everything…Well, almost everything. Everything except math.
And it’s not like she doesn’t try. Math just doesn’t make sense in her brain. But it better start soon, or else she can kiss her presidency—and her campaign promises—goodbye. Soon Verity finds herself enrolled in a remedial math class where, despite her best efforts, failure persists. All seems lost until a teacher helps her discover the truth: Verity has dyscalculia, a learning disability that causes her to mix up numbers.
Armed with a new perspective, can Verity pass math, keep her presidency, and make good on her word to the student body she loves so much? Or will her presidency—and perfect reputation—all come crashing down?
Filed under: Take 5

About Amanda MacGregor
Amanda MacGregor works in an elementary library, loves dogs, and can be found on BlueSky at @amandamacgregor.bsky.social.
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