Books like Anya's ghost
Anya's ghost by Vera Brosgol reads as humorous, poignant. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.
What Anya's ghost is like to read
A wry, slightly spooky YA graphic novel about an awkward teen whose new ghostly best friend turns out to be more trouble than comfort. The tone balances teen social anxiety with a creeping supernatural unease. Best for: YA readers who like graphic novels blending coming-of-age awkwardness with light horror.
Nimona
N.D. Stevenson · 2015
A fast, funny graphic-novel romp mixing heroic fantasy and sci-fi, following a brash shapeshifting sidekick and her villain boss through action and unexpected plot twists.
Smile
Raina Telgemeier · 2010
An earnest, episodic middle-school memoir in comics form — funny and cringey by turns, with real warmth as Raina grows past her insecurities.
Awkward
Svetlana Chmakova · 2015
A warm, funny middle-school story about a shy new kid whose small act of cowardice haunts her until she can make it right — episodic art-club hijinks braided with a sincere friendship-repair arc.
How to Speak Dragonese
Cressida Cowell · 2005
A fast, funny middle-grade romp told in Hiccup's earnest, self-deprecating voice, full of Viking mishaps, dragon banter, and narrow escapes.
DAWN ON THE COAST
Ann M. Martin · 2025
A warm, low-stakes BSC entry where Dawn's California vacation stirs a real ache about family, home, and belonging.
All's faire in middle school
Victoria Jamieson · 2017
A funny, relatable graphic-novel account of an eleven-year-old navigating the social minefield of public school for the first time after a homeschooled, Renaissance-Fair upbringing
DeadEndia
Hamish Steele · 2018
Shares the foundfamily + comingofage thread
Beetle and the Hollowbones
Aliza Layne · 2020
Shares the foundfamily + comingofage thread
Anne of Green Gables
Mariah Marsden · 2017
A warm, episodic graphic-novel adaptation following an imaginative orphan girl as she wins over a reluctant adoptive family and community through her wit and heart.
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
Terry Pratchett · 2001
A Pied-Piper con-game curdles into something darker as the educated rats confront the meaning of Evil — Pratchett's signature wit carrying real moral weight beneath the caper.
Twins
Varian Johnson · 2020
A quiet, emotionally attentive middle-grade story about a twin watching her closest bond stretch as her sister claims a separate identity in middle school; the tension is internal and relational rather than plot-driven.
Hurricane Child
Kacen Callender · 2018
A young girl haunted by superstition and loss journeys through folklore and memory to find her mother, discovering self-acceptance along the way.
About Anya's ghost — what the genome says
Is Anya's ghost a complete story or a cliffhanger?
It's a complete, standalone-satisfying story.
How scary is Anya's ghost?
Creepy and atmospheric rather than gory or traumatizing.
Who is Anya's ghost for?
It's young adult — teen protagonists with crossover appeal.
Find your next read by its genome
Tell Novelome one book you love — get recommendations tuned to your taste, including the ones other sites never surface.
Start free →More readalikes: Books like THE LET THEM THEORY · Books like EXTREME OWNERSHIP · Books like WINGS OF STARLIGHT · Books like DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK, EXPANDED EDITION · Books like I WILL TEACH YOU TO BE RICH, SECOND EDITION · Books like FAKE SKATING · Books like THE CREATIVE ACT · Books like IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER