Gosh! Comics Best of 2025 - Kids & Young Adult

You've been asking, and we have answered! Once again, we merry Gosh! crew have trawled through the releases of 2025 to reel in our absolute faves from the past year. While we look into our crystal ball (and our advance reader copies) to include releases to the end of December, apologies if the best graphic novel you've ever read comes out sometime in the next 6 weeks. Things do slip through.

We'll start with the usual disclaimer: doing any kind of Best Of list is a subjective affair, and we should emphasize that these are simply the titles we collectively liked best this year. We also try to offer a reasonable spread of subject matter to find something for as many tastes as possible. So I can guarantee you won't like everything in this list, but I can also guarantee you that you'll like something.

We loosely adhere to a few rules as we put these lists together:

• We will only do the first book of a series unless a deliberate attempt is made to create a jumping-on point with it. You might have loved volume 4 of Where Has My Hamster Gone for its nuanced depiction of love, loss and indescribable cuteness, but we won't include it, sorry. We like to make these lists accessible.
• Books collecting stories for the first time that have been serialized prior to this year do qualify. We will also include reprints of translated editions that are being presented in English for the first time, whatever the age.
• We just stick to physical media, and only what we might describe as a book.
• We only include things that we anticipate will actually be available for a period of time. Inevitably, when we announce these lists some books will be temporarily unavailable or reprinting, but they should generally be available. This also excludes a lot of amazing small and micro press material we've seen throughout the year that we're unlikely to ever see again.
• Sometimes we bend the rules. They are, after all, our rules.

The list below is for our Best of 2025 Kids & Young Adult list. For our Best of 2025 Adult list, click here.

Should you wish to purchase any of these from our webstore (please be our guest!), just click on the title, or check out the Best of 2025 - Kids & Young Adult page for the whole range.

A quick note about the age recommendations we have included below. These are intended as a general guideline for age appropriateness. Of course every parent's idea of appropriate is different, as is every child's reading level, so while we hope these give a general idea of what we believe a book's suitability is, be sure to read the description and make your own judgement about suitability for your child (or the child you're buying for). Do bear in mind that the Young Adult titles we label as 13+ often contain language or subject matter that might not be appropriate for younger kids.

So here they are, presented alphabetically (no way are we going to try and rank these), our Best of 2025 - Kids & Young Adult list!

ANGELICA AND THE BEAR PRINCE SC
By Trung Le Nguyen
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Age: 13+

Themes of burnout and grief run through this sophomore effort from Trung Le Nguyen, author of The Magic Fish. While not quite reaching the giddy heights of that book, this tale of 17-year-old Angelica (“Jelly”) trying to find some kind of meaning through connection with her local theatre’s bear mascot is moving, funny and ultimately uplifting. Working with a diverse cast of well-realised teens, Nguyen tackles issues of mental health that are all too relatable, and even manages to sprinkle proceedings with a gently romantic garnish, incorporating elements of the Nordic fairy tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon".

BOSS OF THE UNDERWORLD SC
By Tor Freeman
Publisher: Hodder Childrens
Age: All Ages

Tor Freeman should be a superstar, that’s the opinion of Team Gosh. Sure, she’s a well-respected picturebook author, but if there were any justice in the world, her comics would be on the shelves of every self-respecting kid, because boy do we love Tor’s comics. Join Shirley, just an ordinary kid who’s fallen down a manhole into the Underworld, befriended a talking cockroach, and set out on a journey to defeat the Boss in order to gain passage home. The classic British childhood story. Buy it for your kids for the fun, cheekily read it yourself for the laughs, and inevitably convince your friends to buy copies for the insurance that we see more of these in future!

CHICKENPOX SC
By Remy Lai
Publisher: Henry Holt
Age: 8-12

Remy Lai had us wanting more at the end of Ghost Book in 2023, and she hasn't let us down with her latest graphic novel, Chickenpox! Being the eldest sister is hard, but being the eldest sister trapped at home with four younger siblings all suffering from chickenpox? A nightmare. Abby just wanted to spend time with her friends, but she is stuck in quarantine for two weeks of nonstop mayhem. She does feel slightly responsible for her siblings' condition as it was her best friend who brought chickenpox into their home. Full of mischief and guaranteed laughter, Chickenpox is the perfect read for any older siblings out there who know what it's like dealing with their younger siblings' theatrics—and know just how important family can be too.

CREATURE CLINIC SC
By Gavin Aung Than
Publisher: Roaring Brook
Age: All Ages

A brilliantly warm, funny little graphic novel that feels a bit like a lost Pixar movie. The Creature Clinic is the go-to healthcare facility for the mythic and magical. A place where all manner of beasties can get the medical assistance they need. Well, everyone except for those humans, beastly, violent creatures that they are. But when trainee medic (and daughter of the clinic boss) Kara Orc finds an injured human lodged in the shoe of a giant, she defies her mother’s instruction to expel the boy from Mythland. Problem is, now he’s feeling better, the dratted thing doesn’t want to leave! A lovely story about empathy, a duty of care, and seeing beyond society’s prejudices.

CRUMBLE SC
By Meredith McClaren & Andrea Bell
Publisher: Little Brown
Age: 8-12

A delicious, addictive read for anyone who loves baking (or eating baked goods!).
Imagine being able to change how you feel with a baked good? That's what Emily and her family can do with their special powers. Their one rule: never bake a bad feeling, only positive ones. Yet when Emily's aunt dies in an accident, she turns her grief and pain into a crumble she cannot stop eating, making it again, and again, and again. As Emily gains a little comfort from feeling numb, she starts to learn that eating your feelings never truly makes them go away… Crumble tells a great story and equally shares a great message for how children can process their negative feelings.

DC’S MISFITS OF MAGIC SC
By Matthew Dow Smith
Publisher: DC Comics
Age: All Ages

A kid-friendly dive into the mystical side of the DC Universe, as Zatanna Zatara’s summer school at the local library (well, local to the House of Secrets and the House of Mystery) welcomes a tiny crew of mystical detectives. Ricki and Ross are twins trained by mystics to prevent the end of the world; Danny Cassidy got merged with his Halloween costume and became a Blue Devil; June Moon, a sometime-Enchantress; and Boston Brand, the ghost of a kid killed in a microfiche accident. Dow-Smith, a longtime collaborator with Hellboy’s Mike Mignola, knows his way around the supernatural and has managed to craft a story that not only hits some nice adventure notes but also has a bundle of fun while doing so.

DETECTIVE STANLEY AND THE MYSTERY AT THE MUSEUM SC
By Hannah Tunnicliffe
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Age: All Ages
For fans of Investigators, Agent Moose and Detective Sweet Pea, Detective Stanley is yet another one of our favourite detectives in town. With his intelligence (and occasionally his goofiness), there is no case he can’t solve. Not only is Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum visually striking (bright colours, cute faces, you name it!), we also love the fact that there are so many Easter eggs in the background dropping clues for readers. A fun and captivating read for any kid!

FROGGY POND FULL OF PALS SC
By Paige Walshe
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Age: All Ages
You can have an adventurous soul, no matter how tiny you are! Froggy Pond Full of Pals follows the innocent Froggy, who left home to explore the world. While he makes mistakes on his journey, he also meets lots of new friends and might have saved one or two lives by being brave! A wholesome story paired with beautifully-drawn illustrations, it is one of the cutest kids graphic novels this year.

GO-MAN! HC VOL 01
By Hamish Steele
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Age: 8-12
Not your generic superhero kids comics, Go-Man! showcases the difficulties of being a tiny hero as well as navigating through life while being on the spectrum. With inspiration drawn from one of Hamish Steele’s favourite comics, Dragon Ball, Go-Man! is a page-turner in which you instantly find characters you root for (and ones to be suspicious of), and you just can’t help but wonder - will our protagonist be able to challenge the status quo of other mighty heroes that aren’t as genuine as they are being portrayed to be?

HELLO SUNSHINE SC
By Keezy Young
Publisher: LB Ink
Age: 13+

This beautifully harrowing, queer graphic novel will capture your heart through its vivid illustrations and captivating characters. Hello Sunshine focuses on 4 teenagers as they struggle through heartbreak and grief when they find out their friend Alex has disappeared. Noah is struggling to cope with his secret boyfriend going missing, Sky is determined to find her childhood friend, Izzy knew something weird was going on with Alex, yet didn't say anything, and Jamie is angry at himself for not noticing his twin brother was struggling. Yet there seems to be something more sinister lurking behind the events of Alex's disappearance… Hello Sunshine is the perfect blend of Scooby-Doo and Lovecraftian horror, which will keep you turning pages to find out the truth.

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR SUCCULENT SC
By Zoe Persico
Publisher: Tundra
Age: 8-12

If you're a fan of Raina Telgemeier or Molly Knox Ostertag, this heartfelt graphic novel is right up your street! How to Talk to Your Succulent follows Adara as she deals with the loss of her mother. Struggling to communicate with her family, she finds solace in her mother's houseplants… literally! She meets Perle, a succulent, who helps Adara unlock the same magical ability her mother had, talking to plants! As Adara navigates caring for Perle, will she be able to use her voice to communicate with her dad? Dealing with grief so early on is always difficult to portray, yet Zoe Persico explores loneliness, mental health and empathy in a striking, yet beautiful way.

LU AND RENS GUIDE TO GEOZOOLOGY SC
By Angela Hsieh
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Age: 8-12

Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology is an imaginative graphic novel for those who love all things magical, yearn to travel and adore animals. Our main character Lu aspires to be a world-renowned geozoologist like her Ah-ma. But when her correspondence with Ah-ma suddenly comes to a halt one day, she decides to go on her own adventure - and it seems that there is more to the story than she has been told all these years. From dreamy cloud-jellies to enormous sunfish, this graphic novel is going to take you on a wonderful journey like you've never seen before.

MY SISTER THE WEREBEAST SC
By Alina Tysoe
Publisher: First Second
Age: All Ages

An adventure in babysitting, as siblings Mira and Rosie look after their baby sister Peanut while their parents are away searching for magical artifacts. But it soon becomes apparent that something is awry with Peanut, who begins to display decidedly magical abilities and weird transformations. Problem is that magic is illegal, and a monster hunter is in town, sniffing around after rumours of a were-creature on the loose. Oh, and the girls have to practice for combat exams at their adventurer school! Anyone who read Tysoe’s Great Puptective will know how well she handles the cuteness, but she also shows off her worldbuilding chops in this funny, exciting GN..

PIZZA WITCH SC
By Sarah Graley & Stef Purenins
Publisher: Image Comics
Age: 8-12

Sarah Graley and Stef Purenins craft another great young LGBT+ hero in Roxy, a witch whose speciality is - you guessed it - pizza. Not only that, but Ropxy is determined to become the world’s best pizza witch, and with her cat George, sets out to do so. But can she overcome those who would hold her back, her own inferiority complex and - if we’re being honest - her temper? It's like a punk pizza version of Kiki’s Delivery Service, and that sounds pretty good to us. Graley and Purenins have created a character that we hope we get to see more of in future!

PUZZLING FATE OF MILLICENT GRAVES SC
By Dora M Mitchell
Publisher: Little Brown
Age: 8-12

We’ve all wished for the ability to put right all the imperfections in our lives, right? Life’s a puzzle with missing pieces, after all. Well, Millicent Graves discovers she can do just that when she finds a room filled with jigsaws owned by her new, creepy old landladies. Soon she’s rearranging reality using the puzzle pieces, making her life just as she wants it. But those pieces have to come from somewhere, and before long the cracks begin to appear. A fun, sometimes horror-tinged adventure about what we want from life and what it might cost others.

REBIS BORN & REBORN SC
By Irene Marchesini & Carlotta Dicataldo
Publisher: First Second
Age: 13+

A beautiful fantasy tale by Italian authors Marchesini and Dicataldo that works with themes of identity, prejudice and belonging. Martino is exiled from his village, outcast for his albinism. Lost in the woods, he meets a powerful witch named Viviana who has also been cast out, and now belongs to a community of shunned women. As friendship blossoms between the two, Martino begins to realise that they might have at last found a place where, and a people with whom, they can become who they were always meant to be.

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS SC
By Ariel Slamet Ries
Publisher: Harper Alley
Age: 13+

The queer, utopian sci-fi, romance, trauma-coping comic you didn’t know you needed! Ries has created a fascinating vision of a perfect world that it feels like we just skim the surface of in this story of Oberon, a college-aged trans guy who didn’t get powers at the age of 9 like most everyone else. But after an embarrassing public breakdown, he is suddenly visited by what appears to be some kind of spirit version of his high school crush. Turns out he can now manifest his dreams, but there’s something else going on, something Kon (the aforementioned crush) is not telling him.

SUPA NOVA SC
By Chanté Timothy
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Age: 8-12

Chanté Timothy made a blast with her graphic novel debut this year, Supa Nova! Filled with fizzling fun and inventions, Supa Nova follows Nova, a genius scientist, who invents a plastic-eating monster to help solve the world's pollution problem. But when the monster starts rampaging through the city, it's up to Nova to save the day! Will she be able to stop her own invention in time? Chanté's bright, bold, and colourful illustrations make this the perfect graphic for anyone who enjoys superhero comics and science as they are blended to make one epic story!

TALL WATER SC
By SJ Sindu & Dion MDB
Publisher: Harper Alley
Age: 13+

What lengths would you go to find your long-lost mother? Nimmi yearns to travel to Sri Lanka to confront the mother who abandoned her as a child, but her overprotective father wants to keep her safe from harm's way. But when Nimmi's mother appears to her in a dream, she knows what she must do, and her father reluctantly agrees to help. Set during the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, this powerful coming-of-age graphic novel shares the story of Nimmi wanting to reconnect with her long-lost mother, but ultimately, it's finding herself that helps set her free.

THIS PLACE KILLS ME SC
By Mariko Tamaki & Nicole Goux
Publisher: Abrams
Age: 13+

We loved Nicole Goux and David Baker's graphic novel Forest Hills Bootleg Society back in 2022, so it's no surprise we equally enjoyed Nicole teaming up with Mariko Tamaki! This Place Kills Me is set in the elite Wilberton Theatrical Society, where the it girl Elizabeth Woodward, beloved by all and a talented thespian, takes on the role of Juliet in the society's performance of Shakespeare's classic tragedy… until she is found dead the morning after opening night. Ruled as a suicide, transfer student Abby Kita isn't entirely convinced. Told through comics, letters, diary entries, and news articles, this whodunnit will have readers left wanting more. Goux's colourful illustrations and Tamaki's award-winning writing go perfectly together to deliver a suspenseful murder mystery!