The history of graphic novels traces back to the early 20th century, with the roots often credited to works such as Lynd Ward’s “Gods’ Man” (1929) and Frans Masereel’s “Passionate Journey” (1919), which utilized woodcut illustrations to tell wordless narratives. However, the term “graphic novel” wasn’t popularized until the 1960s and 1970s, when works like Will Eisner’s “A Contract with God” (1978) and Art Spiegelman’s “Maus” (1986) emerged, pioneering the format and elevating the medium to new literary heights. These seminal works demonstrated that comics could tackle complex themes and narratives traditionally associated with literature, earning critical acclaim and broadening the audience for graphic storytelling. Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, graphic novels continued to evolve and diversify, with creators exploring a wide range of genres, styles, and subjects. Today, graphic novels are celebrated as a legitimate form of literature, embraced by readers of all ages and recognized for their ability to blend visual and textual elements to convey powerful stories and ideas. For these reasons and more, we highly recommend graphic novels for middle schoolers, whether you are a student, parent, teacher or middle school librarian. This paragraph and the following book suggestions contain affiliate links.