PREVIEWER’S PERSPECTIVE Previewer’s perspective
Graphic novels, débuts and middle-grade titles make the cut
Graphic novels, débuts and middle-grade titles are to the fore in this spring’s offering from publishers, alongside a strong showing in YA fantasy which remains ever popular on social media platform TikTok
Charlotte Eyre Children’s & YA Previews editor
M
agical middle-grade and graphic novels continue to dominate in children’s books, as shown by the slew of titles coming out in spring next year. There are some fantastic débuts in the former, with Jordan Lees’ The Whisperwicks being one of the most exciting releases of 2024, as well as novels from Siobhan McDermot and Sarah Driver. Many of the books in this genre feature magical creatures (a trend kicked off, perhaps, by Katherine Rundell’s hugely successful Impossible Creatures, released earlier this year), as seen with new books from Jennifer Bell and Ash Bond.
There are new graphic novels for all ages, and my top 10 has two books from both side of the spectrum—Sophy Henn’s Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens for the youngest of independent readers, and, for teenagers, Homebody by Theo Parish. The later, a non-fiction graphic novel about the author coming to terms with their gender, is sure to have huge commercial appeal. Keep an eye out also for Dave Roman’s Unicorn Boy, about a shy child who one day finds he is, unwillingly, growing a unicorn horn. My pick of the best also includes Sam Sedgman’s gripping mystery, The Clockwork Conspiracy, and Kate Saunders’ gorgeous final novel, A Drop of Golden Sun. One of favourite YAis Sarah Crossan’s newest verse novel, a historical love story set during the Great Hunger, and there is the new thrilling Holly Jackson. The Reappearance of Rachel Price is about a woman who, aſter being missing for 16 years, returns to her family. It is full of twists and turns, as expected, and readers will be gripped until the final page. There will continue to be a lot of YA fantasy next
My pick of the best also includes Sam Sedgman’s gripping mystery... and Kate Saunders’ gorgeous final novel
JORDAN LEES
year, reflecting the continuing influence of TikTok, but American authors dominate in this area, so I particularly enjoyed Shade Lapite’s exciting fantasy, set in an imaginary world inspired by West Africa. In Picture Books, Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks have a new collaboration coming out about the Tooth Fairy, and their story about said tooth fairy trying to get teeth from a crocodile sounds simply brilliant. And rounding up my top 10 is a truly original non-fiction from Ben Newman about a mystery-solving bee.
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You can find Charlotte on Twitter (@charlotteleyre), or make contact via email (
charlotte.eyre@thebookseller.com)
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The Bookseller Buyer’s Guide Children’s
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