Tween Comic Club is a place for comic lovers ages 9-14 to discuss what they are reading each month. Here is the latest list of the books we’ve been talking about and that our tween readers recommend! Follow the links to check out a copy for yourself. And don’t forget to join a Tween Comic Club meeting if you would like to learn how you can submit your own recommendations to our feature! We typically meet on the third Tuesday of each month. Find our next meeting on the events calendar.
Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge
The Childe was switched with a fairy at birth and now Edmund lives his human life in his stead. But when an evil sorceress takes the throne of the World Below, Edmund and the Childe will have to work together to defeat her.
Ms. Krysta says: “Estranged invites readers into a magical world where fairies live under the earth and still occasionally swap out human babies for one of their own. In their realm, humans are a novelty, and the Childe is taken out for special events as a bragging piece. But when the king and queen are overthrown, the Childe must seek out his changeling counterpart in the World Above, hoping that together they can save the kingdom. A riveting story that will have readers feverishly flipping pages and reaching for the sequel.”
Ghost Book by Remy Lai
July Chen’s dad says ghosts are not real, but that does not prevent July from seeing them. And good thing! It’s Hungry Ghost Month, and ghosts are everywhere! When she rescues a boy named William from a Hungry Ghost, she finds herself embarking on an adventure to help him reattach his spirit to his body. But, to do so, they will need to travel to the underworld.
Ms. Krysta says: “Ghost Book is a hilariously imaginative story, where ghosts rise from the dead to take offerings, get embroiled in bureaucratic red tape, and sometimes get sidetracked from their nefarious schemes by delicious dumplings. I was absolutely delighted by July and her adventures; I wish we could get a sequel!”
Pea, Bee, & Jay: Wannabees by Brian Smith
Bee just wants to hang out with her friends, but when Lenny usurps her throne, the trio must prove that Lenny is not who he claims.
Ms. Faith says: “I like this series! It’s simple, easy to read, and loads of fun. In this adventure, it’s Bee who is in trouble, and her friends, Pea and Jay, are there to help. Can the beehive be saved? Can Bee get her job as Queen Bee back? Will the other bees trust her again? Will the corn and the potatoes ever get along? Read this second installment of Pea, Bee, & Jay to find out. You won’t BEE sorry!”
Four Eyes by Rex Ogle & Dave Valeza
Rex is not excited about middle school. He can’t see the board at all, and his teachers keep yelling at him for it. When he learns he needs glasses, his family can only afford the ugliest pair in the store–and now he’s being bullied for it. His mom just doesn’t seem to understand. Can a new friend help him feel confident again?
Ms. Krysta says: “Four Eyes, based on the author’s own life, is a touching look at the middle school experience. Rex just wants to keep his old friends and enjoy doing all the hobbies he has always loved. Instead, he finds his friends drifting away–and even joining the bullies who mock him for his glasses and his love of comics. Four Eyes will resonate with any reader who has ever felt misunderstood or desperate to find a place where they belong. Recommended for fans of Frizzy and School Trip.”
It’s Jeff by Kelly Thompson & Gurihiru
Jeff the land shark brings his adorable antics to the Marvel Universe in this new collection.
Mr. Jude says: “It’s a simple pantomime-style comic strip on Marvel’s Jeff the Land Shark. It’s a very cute and simple comic with artist and team Gurihiru nailing every single panel.”
