At the midpoint of the year, we here at Book Riot like to review the many (many, many) great new titles we’ve read so far and determine which ones are the absolute best. It’s not easy narrowing that list down to a few choice representatives, but as you’ll see below, we’ve managed to select five really great ones that made a big impression on us voracious readers — and that we think you’ll love just as much!
As I Dream of You by Jennifer Lee and LeUyen Pham
I’m a big fan of illustrator LeUyen Pham, so when I heard that she was teaming up with Frozen director Jennifer Lee for a YA graphic novel, I was intrigued. What I didn’t expect was a heart-wrenchingly beautiful love story that would leave me sobbing. Drawing on the mythology of Orpheus and Eurydice as well as Lee’s own teenage experiences with love and grief, As I Dream of You is a stunningly illustrated story with real emotional depth. Lee brings a cinematic approach to her storytelling that Pham brings to life with gorgeous art that brilliantly balances light and dark elements. It’s a tale that will linger in your heart far beyond the last page. —Susie Dumond
Galaxy: As the World Falls Down by Jadzia Axelrod and Rye Hickman
I already did a whole article about how much I loved this sequel to Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, but it bears repeating. This one’s truly got it all: cool fight scenes, deep and emotional moments, relatable characters, and even an appearance from the greatest superhero ever — that’s right, Ma Hunkel! What more could you ask for?
Mama Came Callin’ by Ezra Claytan Daniels and Camilla Sucre
This horror mystery kept me guessing throughout. I especially love how the limited color palette adds to the mood and how the people around Kirah, a young woman searching for answers about her mother’s murder, are so much more complicated than expected. An all-around complex and thought-provoking story!
Opting Out by Maia Kobabe and Swati “Lucky” Srikumar
Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer) makes eir’s middle grade debut with this wonderful graphic novel, cowritten/illustrated with Lucky Srikumar. It grapples with gender identity, first periods, crushes, and that in-between feeling so common for middle graders. Indian American tween Saachi’s fellow seventh-graders are obsessed with dating, but the changes that come with puberty and middle school make Saachi anxious. She’d like to opt out of the mess, please! Few middle grade novels address puberty through a nonbinary lens. In a time when LGBTQ+ books are disappearing from kidlit, it’s a much-needed perspective into a difficult time for many kids. —Margaret Kingsbury
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Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier and AJ Dungo
Attacks on books have accelerated in the last five years, but they didn’t originate with the Trump administration and the rise of the MAGA movement’s censorship in the name of faux morality. This YA graphic novel centers the 2013 banning of Persepolis in Chicago public schools and the student outrage and protests in the weeks that followed. Dapier deftly moves between teen perspectives, showing these super smart and complex kids dealing with personal anxieties while contending with censorship, and finding ways to protest that speak to them as individuals, from writing essays to leading sit-ins. It’s such an empowering, compassionate read. —Margaret Kingsbury
For more of the best books of the year (so far), make sure to check out our entire list.
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