Virginia Library Association Announces 2026 Graphic Novel Diversity Award Youth Winner and Honor Titles

Fishersville, VA — The Virginia Library Association (VLA) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Graphic Novel Diversity Award (GNDA) in the Youth category. Now in its tenth year, the GNDA celebrates diversity captured within the pages of graphic novels and recognizes outstanding works that reflect and uplift a wide range of experiences.

Selected by the Graphic Novel Diversity Award Committee, this year’s Youth division includes one winner and five honor titles that exemplify excellence in storytelling, illustration, and representation.

2026 Youth Winner

Love, Misha by Askel Aden
First Second

Love Misha

Love, Misha follows nonbinary teen Misha on a surreal and emotional road trip with their estranged mother. Blending heartfelt realism with imaginative fantasy, Aden crafts a powerful story about identity, acceptance, and the complexities of family relationships. Through atmospheric illustrations and compassionate storytelling, the novel explores the challenges and rewards of building understanding across differences.

2026 Youth Honor Titles

  • Absolutely Everything by Damian Alexander (Graphic Universe, ISBN: 979-8765608524)
  • Dan in Green Gables by Rey Terciero; art by Claudia Aguirre (Penguin Workshop, ISBN: 978-0593385586)
  • Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand; art by Tara Anand (HarperAlley, ISBN: 978-0063237537)
  • Hey, Mary! by Andrew Wheeler; art by Rye Hickman (Oni Press, ISBN: 978-1637156384)
  • Iyanu: Child of Wonder Library Edition Vol. 1 by Roye Okupe; art by Godwin Akpan and Chima Kalu (Dark Horse Books, ISBN: 978-1506752327)
These honor titles highlight a wide spectrum of experiences, including LGBTQ+ identity, invisible disabilities, mental health, cultural heritage, religion, and gender representation.

Absolutely Everything Dan in Green Gables Fitting Indian
Hey Mary Iyanu Child of Wonder

The Graphic Novel Diversity Award was established to:
  • Increase opportunities for readers to see themselves represented in literature
  • Elevate the visibility of diversity in graphic novels
  • Recognize high-quality works featuring diverse characters and themes
  • Support libraries in their mission to educate and promote reading

Diversity is defined broadly within the award to include both visible and invisible differences, encompassing areas such as race, ethnicity, disability, gender, religion, and LGBTQ+ identity. Eligible titles feature diverse protagonists, supporting characters, or subject matter that meaningfully contributes to the narrative.

The winning creator will receive a $500 award and will be recognized during the Opening Session of the 2026 VLA/VLACRL Annual Conference on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Hilton Norfolk The Main in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Graphic Novel Diversity Award Youth Division Committee includes five judges, a Chair, and a Co-Chair, who collectively review nominated titles submitted by publishers across North America. The Virginia Library Association thanks this year's chair, John Diaz of Prince William County Libraries, for his continued commitment to amplifying the work of the authors and artists honored by the committee.

The winning titles for the Adult Division will be announced tomorrow. The Committee's overflow selections in both categories will be available for download on August 6, 2026.