The world has truly plunged into a weird state and everything feels topsy-turvy right now. In such tough times, we surely do need something light and fun to keep us light-headed, and what better than graphic novels! Graphic novels are a true gem as they are so often quick and fun to read. Here are some really fun graphic novel recommendations that are sure to bring a smile to your face, and make you giddy with happiness!

Sheets by Brenna Thummler | Goodreads

A lonely girl? The cutest ghost? Messy decisions and funny little misunderstandings? SHEETS has it all and in the cutest way possible. Marjorie is over-burdened and sad and lonely, trying so hard to save her family laundromat business while her father grieves the loss of his wife. There is also the wicked neighbour to look out for, who is constantly trying to acquire the laundromat land for his own business. And then one day, a ghost suddenly appears in the laundromat – cute little Wendell – and it is one fun adventure that unravels! I loved this story so much and it had its fun as well as serious moments in a perfect balance. And the art, the colour palette was simply stunning, clad in pretty pastels. SHEETS is a fun little unique graphic novel that will surely bring a smile to your face.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman | Goodreads

I fell in love with Nick and Charlie and I know you will too when you read Heartstopper. Charlie is openly gay, and he meets Nick, a soft-hearted rugby player on a fateful day. Friendship soon blooms between the two boys as they understand and support each other while Charlie finds himself falling for Nick. Heartstopper is so heartwarming and so adorable that you will want to read all the volumes in one sitting. Nick and Charlie’s story has made my heart melt and swoon. It is one of the cutest graphic novels I’ve come across and has all the right amount of fluff while also glancing at important topics.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang | Goodreads

This graphic novel is going to give you all the feels! Prince Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret from the world, and especially his parents who are hellbent on finding him a wife. Sebastian, though, clad in gorgeous dresses, takes Paris by storm at night as the coveted Lady Crystallia, with his best friend Frances. Soon turning into a fashion icon, Sebastian finds his place but not Frances, who has to remain a secret. Frances, however, dreams of making it big in the industry, creating a name for herself. And she cannot do it if she wants to protect her friend. A colourful little story about finding yourself and not being afraid of who you are, The Prince and The Dressmaker is a hopeful and promising story about love without conditions. With a spectacular colourful palette, the story explores identity, art, young love, and family. And those beautiful dresses? Damn, I would love to own all of them!

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson | Goodreads

Nimona is the most adorable. Period. Nimona is an energetic and young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister, the villain in this story, takes in Nimona as his sidekick, and with their superpower they create havoc. But when a vicious battle erupts, Lord Ballister can only grasp how powerful and unpredictable Nimona and her past is. This story is full of love and hope and friendship, added with a dollop of villainy and mastery. Nimona is a goddamn precious bean and I loved the ending so much. It was simply beautiful and fun with all the needed wickedness and morally grey and notorious characters.

Fence by C. S. Pacat | Goodreads

One of my recent favourite books with the best set of characters is Fence. Illustrated by Johanna the Mad, Fence traces the story of Nicholas, a sloppy fencer with immense skills, who is also the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion. Nicholas only dreams of getting a chance to prove himself as a worthy fencer, get the appropriate training to compete. As he is thrust into the world of fencing and Kings Row private school, he not only has to face his half-brother and #1 fencing champion, but also the mysterious Seiji. The Fencers are bound to give you all the #friendshipgoals, and I love Seiji and Nicholas so much. All the characters and players in the book play such important parts in the growth of each other, and I couldn’t help but be at amazed over each character arc. They made me laugh and giggle, Nicholas made me want to shake some sense into him, and Seiji simply made me swoon. When you read Fence, you will definitely fall in love with all these characters and go on a journey as they train and become better versions of themselves. Plus, the art is fun and the dialogues will simply crack you up!

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill | Goodreads

These little tea dragons are going to bring a wide smile to your faces. First in The Tea Dragon series, we meet Greta who discovers a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, and then ends up in a teashop where she discovers more of them. As she takes a liking to these little creatures and spends more time with the teashop owners, Greta leans more about the art of tea-dragon care and makes a few friends in the way. The second book, The Tea Dragon Festival, explores the story of Rinn and Aedhan, a real dragon, as she helps him come to terms with his feelings of being lost in time while saving the village from an enchanted sleep spell. The third book, The Tea Dragon Tapestry, is the concluding story of Greta. Steeped in diversity and inclusiveness, this series surely has a cute little story aimed at making everyone happy and find their calling, while enjoying the art of creating. Colourful and vibrant, the art is truly eye-catching!

Have you read any of these graphic novels? What are your recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 6 Feel Good Graphic Novels To Read appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Genre: Fantasy fiction

In the magical land of Ingary, people live their lives by fairy tale tropes. So unfortunate Sophie, the eldest of three sisters and destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate, has resigned herself to spending a dull lifetime running the family hat shop. But everything changes when she encounters the powerful Witch of the Waste and a spell turns her into an old crone. Her only chance at reversing the curse is the self-absorbed and freakish Wizard Howl. Sophie now must seek out Howl’s ever-moving castle in the hills, make a deal with the a demon and ultimately, face the Witch of the Waste.

Even though the 2004 Studio Ghibli adaptation of Howl’s Moving Castle (that everyone and their grandma has probably seen at least once) is more popular than the actual book, it’s definitely worth a shot because the story is whimsical and downright enchanting. It’s written in a simple yet elegant way, includes a wacky romance between a shallow, over-dramatic boy and a spirited girl who appears as a ninety year old lady, and yes it’s better than the movie.

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Fantasy fiction, mythological fiction

Aru Shah has a habit of stretching the truth a bit too far in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are flying off to family vacations in exotic locales, Aru will be spending a boring and lonely autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and culture. That changes when three of her classmates show up at her doorstep and dare her to light the cursed Lamp of Bharata. Aru accidentally frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon who freezes her mother and classmates in time. Now with the help of a long-lost half sister and a talking pigeon, Aru must find the Sleeper before he successfully wakes up the God of Destruction.

Hindu mythology and folklore blend seamlessly into the modern day world with Chokshi’s effortless, exquisite writing. The result is a bright, exhilarating and fast paced story crackling with humour that will leave you wanting more. Good thing the sequel is already out and book three comes out on April 7th!

Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Genre: Contemporary fiction

August Pullman was born with a facial difference. He has gone through quite a lot of surgeries since then. After years of being homeschooled, Auggie is now starting 5th grade at a mainstream school- and it just might be the greatest challenge he has ever had to face. He finds himself being bullied and unable to make friends, just as he had feared.

A soulful, compassionate and very special book, Wonder does a great job of letting the reader see August and the way he impacts the people around him from several perspectives. It’s one of those books that everyone should experience at least once in their lives. You might want to give the movie a try too, it’s one of the most honest book-to-screen adaptations out there.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Genre: Paranormal fiction

Cassidy Blake’s parents are professional ghost hunters, but Cass is the one who can really see them. Ever since she almost drowned and was saved by her now best friend Jacob- who also happens to be a ghost, she has been able to enter the world of spirits. When her parents go to Edinburgh for their TV show, she and Jacob unwillingly follow. There Cass encounters Lara, a girl with the same abilities as herself. On a new mission to send spirits permanently beyond the Veil, Cass encounters the sinister Red Raven haunting the city, and gets involved in a fight that stretches through both of her worlds.

Victoria Schwab’s delicious and intriguing writing is reason enough to read her works. Pick this one up for the vivid world building, the chills that will inevitably run down your spine, and Jacob. He’s adorable, you’ll see.

Stargazing by Jen Wang
Genre: Graphic novel

Christine’s new next door neighbour Moon has gradually become her best friend. Impulsive, fearless, creative Moon is everything Christine isn’t, her ways of thinking and looking at the world amaze and inspire Christine. Moon even trusts Christine with her deepest secret- that she sometimes has visions from otherworldly beings who reassure her that earth isn’t where she really belongs. Their friendship is unexpectedly tested when jealousy, social expectations and Moon’s worsening medical condition threatens to push them apart. Can they get over all that to be there for each other?

Stargazing is a deeply personal story from Jen Wang’s own childhood. The genius storytelling, stunning and expressive art style, and the lovely tale of friendship will win you over.

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Genre: Fantasy fiction

Isabella Riosse is forbidden to leave the island of Joya just like everyone else, but that never stopped her from dreaming of the lands beyond that her father once mapped. When her friend goes missing, she volunteers to lead the search. Armed with her father’s maps and her knowledge of the stars, Isabella sets out to bring back her friend. Soon she finds out that an ancient  fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Following her maps, her heart and an ancient myth, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.

With her enchanting writing, Hargrave crafts a beautiful Moana-esque story of a dauntless young girl on a quest to find the truth behind the legends of her island. Read it for the lovely prose, the strong female protagonist, and the gorgeous maps.

The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell
Genre: Adventure fiction, historical fiction

When Vita Marlowe’s grandfather gets cheated out of his mansion by a powerful realty tycoon with ties to the mob, Vita takes it upon herself to recover the house and make him happy again. She gathers a crew of her own- a pickpocket and two boys with extraordinary skills- and hatches a plan to outwit the enemy and steal back what’s rightfully her grandfather’s. 

This book is for you if you love a gripping, action packed adventure story with strong, quirky characters who embrace their individualities instead of trying to fit in.

The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Genre: Fantasy fiction

Arrietty Clock lives with her parents Pod and Homily Clock beneath the kitchen floor. They ‘borrow’ whatever they need from the humans who live above. Only Pod is allowed to do the ‘borrowing’ though, since the risk of being seen by the humans is too great. Arrietty is used to boredom, until the day Pod comes home from his latest expedition to tell them about the new boy. Her parents say Borrowers who are found by humans get lost forever, but desperate for a friend, Arrietty is determined to meet him.

Yet another book that has been adapted by Studio Ghibli (a lesser known movie, Arrietty is delightful nonetheless), once again with an altered story. If you love fairy tales, you’ll love this book as the writing is appropriately atmospheric and surreal.

Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn
Genre: Contemporary fiction

Cat has been taking care of her brother Chicken for as long as she can remember. Chicken is autistic, and Cat is the only one who gets him. When their summer plans change unexpectedly, they end up having to spend their break at their grandparents- whom they have never met before. For the first time, Cat gets to be a kid too! Her journey takes her on the path to figure out why exactly their mother drifted apart from her parents.

Caterpillar Summer shows how strained, damaged relationships can be healed too- sometimes all we have to do is take the time to see things from others’ perspectives. If you are looking for a short, feel good read, this just might be the perfect book for you.

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Genre: Science fiction

Sal Vidón prides himself on being an excellent magician. So when a raw chicken appears out of nowhere in school bully Yasmany’s locker three days after Sal started at Culeco Academy of the Arts, student council president Gabi Reál is determined to prove that Sal is the one to blame. How did Sal do it though? Was it sleight of hand? Was it… actual magic? What happens when Gabi finds out Sal can conjure bigger, scarier things that might tear the universe apart?

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe tells a bizarrely original story that is hard to describe without explaining things like why Sal’s Mami Viva is now suddenly Mami Muerta. With Hernandez’s flowing, witty, and utterly unique writing, well developed characters, and the excellent handling of the sci-fi aspects of the book, this is bound to become a story you’d want to revisit.

The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf
Genre: Contemporary fiction

The story begins with an empty chair, and the kid who comes to occupy it. Ahmet, the newest student in the class, is very quiet, he doesn’t talk to anyone and has an older lady help him with his lessons. Four of his classmates desperately want to befriend him. They find out Ahmet is a refugee, who had to leave his home and run away because of a war. A real one- where there are bombs and fire and people who hurt other people. Now, the kids start looking for a way to help their new friend.

Onjali Q. Rauf’s debut novel brings into light a glaring issue rarely acknowledged, in a way that will help children understand it well. The kids are determined to help Ahmet in any way they can once they realise what the term ‘refugee’ means, showing the non-judgemental, innocent mindset children possess. Written in an honest and heartwarming way, this one is a quick yet impactful read.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Genre: Fantasy fiction

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III does not fit his name, or the rest of his Viking clan, the Hairy Hooligans. He is too weak to even capture a dragon, let alone train it- at least that’s what everyone thinks. This is the first installment in the story of the mighty Viking hero known throughout the Vikingdom as The Dragon Whisperer, of how he befriended the dragon Toothless and became a hero.

I know, I know, you have probably seen the movies, they are some of Dreamworks’ best to date! Don’t go into the book expecting it to be anything like them though, the stories are very different. However, in case the promise of Toothless and Hiccup’s incredible dynamic and the presence of dragons of every shape and size aren’t enough to convince you to read the book, the audiobook is narrated by David Tennant, in his Scottish accent! Just saying…

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 12 Middle Grade Novels You Should Check Out appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you’re after a contemporary, try either A Girl Like That or American Panda! And if you’re after a little fantasy or science fiction, pick up The Traitor’s Game or Ink, Iron and Glass!

Read on to discover our YA picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be reading any!

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce | Goodreads

Arram Draper is a boy on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness–and for attracting danger. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram begins to realise that one day soon he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena | Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things, including a troublemaker whose many romances are the subject of endless gossip at school. So how is it that eighteen-year-old Porus Dumasia has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive on the scene, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is questioned. And as her story is pieced together, told through multiple perspectives, it becomes clear that she was far more than just a girl like that.

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston | Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Ana was found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09 and saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him. She embarks on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship, but a spoiled Ironblood boy beats her and he doesn’t care what he’ll sacrifice to keep them. The pair end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them—and the coordinates—and not everyone wants them captured alive.

Assassin of Truth by Brenda Drake | Goodreads

The gateways linking the great libraries of the world don’t require a library card, but they do harbor incredible dangers. And it’s not your normal bump-in-the-night kind. The threats Gia Kearns faces are the kind with sharp teeth and knifelike claws. The kind that include an evil wizard hell-bent on taking her down. Gia can end his devious plan, but only if she recovers seven keys hidden throughout the world’s most beautiful libraries. And then figures out exactly what to do with them.

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine | Goodreads

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shaun David Hutchinson | Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Elena Mendoza is the product of a virgin birth. This can be scientifically explained (it’s called parthenogenesis), but what can’t be explained is how Elena is able to heal Freddie, the girl she’s had a crush on for years, from a gunshot wound in a Starbucks parking lot. Or why the boy who shot Freddie, David Combs, disappeared from the same parking lot minutes later after getting sucked up into the clouds.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton | Goodreads

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle and they control Beauty, a commodity coveted above all else. Camellia wants to be the favourite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orléans to tend to the royal family. But once she arrives, it becomes clear that being the favourite is not everything she always dreamed it would be.

Ink, Iron, and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare | Goodreads

A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation by her mother. But when her home is attacked and her mother abducted, Elsa must cross into the real world and use her own scriptology gifts to find her. In an alternative 19th-century Italy, Elsa finds a secret society of pazzerellones—young people with a gift for mechanics, alchemy or scriptology—and meets Leo, a gorgeous mechanist with a smart mouth and a tragic past. She recruits the help of these fellow geniuses just as an assassin arrives on their doorstep.

The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen | Goodreads

Kestra Dallisor has spent three years in exile in the Lava Fields, but that won’t stop her from being drawn back into her father’s palace politics. He’s the right hand man of the cruel king, Lord Endrick, which makes Kestra a valuable bargaining chip. A group of rebels knows this and they kidnap her. The kidnappers want her to retrieve the lost Olden Blade, the only object that can destroy the immortal king, but Kestra is not the obedient captive they expected.

American Panda by Gloria Chao | Goodreads

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies. With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth–that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

The Prince and The Dressmaker by Jen Wang | Goodreads

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion! Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend?

The Last To Let Go by Amber Smith | Goodreads

Junior year for Brooke Winters is supposed to be about change. But all of her dreams are shattered one hot summer afternoon when her mother is arrested for killing Brooke’s abusive father. No one really knows what happened that day, if it was premeditated or self-defense, whether it was right or wrong. And now Brooke and her siblings are on their own. In a year of firsts—the first year without parents, first love, first heartbreak, and her first taste of freedom—Brooke must confront the shadow of her family’s violence and dysfunction, as she struggles to embrace her identity, finds her true place in the world, and learns how to let go.

What February YA release are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

The post February Book Releases: Young Adult appeared first on The Nerd Daily.