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As it has been a quieter month in YA publishing when it comes to new fiction, so, too, has it been quieter for YA comics and nonfiction. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to talk about. Indeed, one of the advantages of a month where there are fewer new releases is that the releases that do come out can hit a few more radars.
In case you missed it, at the end of January, librarians named a huge slate of books deemed the best of the year from those published in 2024 at the annual ALA Youth Media Awards celebration. Among them were several comics, including the 2024 Printz Winner, Brownstone by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia, and one of the Printz Honorees, The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag—the Printz is the most “prestigious” of the awards, honoring the best of the best in YA literature of the year and that it included two graphic novels tells you about the caliber of this format. Takes some time to also check out the comics named among the 2025 Great Graphic Novels list. Librarians read through dozens of comics to curate a list that showcases the most interesting and worthy reading for YA readers each year.
Nonfiction was also honored at the ALA Youth Media Awards. Rex Ogle’s memoir Road Home, the third in a series, took home a Printz Honor. There were five YA nonfiction finalists named as finalists for the Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire by Paula Yoo took home the top honor from the slate, though all of these works of nonfiction were, well, excellent (I somehow managed to read through the four finalists I hadn’t yet read in no time one the shortlist was announced). If you haven’t, take some time to enjoy this interview with Paula Yoo on the Hey YA Podcast from last spring.
Now that you’ve bulked up your TBR on the best in 2024, let’s take a look at the handful of new YA comics and YA nonfiction hitting shelves this month. Because it’s a slower release month, this roundup is not reflective of the diverse voices in YA comics or YA nonfiction more broadly.
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New YA Nonfiction
Eve (Adapted for Young Adults): How the Female Body Shaped Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon (February 25)
Adapted from the bestselling book published for adult readers, Bohannon’s book is a look at the female human body within the context of everything social, political, and culture related to it over the 200 million year human story. The book explores topics including where and how the female brain develops, mental health and its associated biology, hormones, and more. This is for readers curious about where and how sexism has emerged, as well as why it still thrives today.
Knucklehead: Poems by Tony Keith Jr. (February 25)
Keith’s latest collection of poetry is an exploration of the attitudes culture and society have toward Black boys and gay Black boys. Pieces dive into how language can transcend racist tropes, what it looks like to fall in love, and what it is to discover who you really are.
Readers seeking more poetry written for teenagers, add this one to your TBR. In addition to engrossing writing, the collection also features an array of illustrations.
Old As Stone, Hard As Rock: Of Humans and War by Alessandro Sanna
Have you ever seen a wordless work of nonfiction for teens that explores the history of humans and war? The answer is likely no, but now, with Sanna’s book, you can say yes.
The book follows a stone that falls to the Earth and how before too long, it’s been touched by human hands. From there, reader are taken through a history of war, showcasing how people have always been in conflict—it relates to the rock, of course, because what is the human impulse? Is it to chisle the rock? To roll it? To decorate it? To explode it?
This looks like a fascinating and creative approach to a complicated and timeless topic.
New YA Comics
The History of Everything by Victoria Evans
Daisy and Agnes have been besties for life. They don’t see that changing. Everything’s been peachy and supportive and perfect. But then Agnes’s mom announces that they are moving, and now, the unbreakable pair are being pulled apart.
They have a summer to prepare for things, and that ends up working out pretty conveniently. The duo find an old scrapbook they created called “The History of Everything,” which includes a bucket list the girls are going to complete to make their last normal summer together as amazing as it can be.
But Daisy’s started to date someone and her time to spend with Agnes seems to continue shrinking. This causes deep insecurity in both girls, wondering if there’s something not strong enough about their friendship to make it even last this final summer.
Evans is a debut artist and writer, and her book explores the complicated dynamics of best friendship with heart, tenderness, and authenticity. Though I’ve not seen a copy of the book, the art that is available to look at is great—it’s got a very ND Stevenson meets Emily The Strange vibe to it. The girls on the cover are depicted as a little bit alt/emo/witchy and the color palette gives that impression as well.
The Kiss Bet: Volume 1 by Ingrid Ochoa (February 25)
It’s senior year and Sara is now 18. While everything is going well, there is one problem and it’s a pesky one: she’s never had her first kiss.
Her best friend Patrick has now challenged her to a bet, and it might lead to that first kiss. Sara’s got the opportunity to explore love—and yes, possibly that first kiss—with three different partners.
But Sara is torn. She wants her first kiss to be special and magical…but is that hope what is keeping her from a rite of passage? Is it setting her up for missing out on an experience because it isn’t matching up with what she thinks it should be (and what culture messaging has told her it should be)?
This one is pitched as a fun, cute, and romantic read.
Also out this month in paperback for the first time since it was published five years ago is the award-winning, critically acclaimed Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang (you may need to toggle your view at the link to see the paperback edition).
YA Book News
Let’s catch up on the latest in YA news this week as well.