As the year comes nearer and nearer to its end, so, too, does the publishing season. The end of October is when we really see things slow down. In the world of YA, we’ll begin to see fewer novels published from here on out, which means that there will be even fewer works of YA nonfiction and YA comics hitting shelves, too. Fortunately, there are many new releases from October in both YA nonfiction and YA comics to keep you excited through the quieter months ahead.
October’s new YA nonfiction and YA comics releases include a return to an award-winning and beloved fictionalized comic memoir, a look at the history of magic, comics for fans of horror and weird things, and so much more. It should be noted that this month’s offerings still don’t offer quite the range they have in the past–particularly when it comes to nonfiction, which has been the story of 2026. It will be interesting to see what the short list for the Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults award looks like come early December, as last year’s list was not particularly inclusive because there were not as many new titles released throughout the year (and to be clear, all of last year’s short listed titles were great!). This year’s nonfiction releases are even fewer. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see multiple nonfiction comics make the list, as those have been pretty strong in 2026.
YA Nonfiction Releases for October
An Illustrated History of Magic by Adam Allsuch Boardman
This is part of a really neat image-focused series of nonfiction books exploring topics of interest to teen readers, including ghosts, UFOs, urban legends, and this one: magic. It’s a deep dive into the history of magic, beginning in the prehistoric era and continuing through the rise of magicians, Wicca, crystals, mail-order magic tricks, and more.
Welcome to Sex by Yumi Stynes, Dr. Melissa Kang, and illustrated by Jenny Latham
No matter how much book banners scream and moan, books about sex and sexuality are crucial for young readers to access, and Stynes’s guide is an age-appropriate and approachable book that answers the questions teens have about sex. Topics include consent, masturbation, contraception, staying safe, and whether or not one wants to or is ready to have sex at all. It’s a judgment-free, intersectional guide that includes real questions from teens, case studies, first-person accounts, and more.
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We’re Here, We’re Queer: A History of LGBTQ+ Activism by David Roberts
A gorgeously illustrated work of nonfiction, this book dives deep into the history of activism in the LGBTQ+ community. It covers the topics you’d expect and then some, highlighting the champions and movements throughout history where queer people have led the charge for social and political change.
YA Comic Releases for October
Fangs and All by Tas Mukanik
Meet The Parents meets Wednesday is the pitch for this one, and it looks like a hoot.
Sam and Boots have a great relationship, and it’s time to take it to the next level. Boots wants to bring Sam home for a weekend to meet her parents, even though she’s made it clear that her family is a little odd and will be surprised Boots is bringing home a girlfriend. Sam’s not worried, though. She’ll win over Boots’s parents.
Sam was not prepared for Boots’s parents to be monsters, nor to learn that Boots is a vampire. Sam wants to be supportive–she loves Boots!–but it’s kind of hard to keep your head on straight when your girlfriend’s family wants to hunt you down.
Huda F Would Love You? by Huda Fahmy
The final installment of the “Huda F” series takes readers to Huda’s first year after high school. She’s finally found a group of girlfriends she digs, and Huda’s ready to take the next step in her life: finding love and getting married. It’ll be easy. She’ll just ask the aunties to help her find an eligible bachelor.
Too quickly, though, Huda finds herself torn between being true to who she is and who it is she thinks people want her to be. This causes her trouble both in the love department and in her friendships. Can she be true to who she is and what she believes and find a happily ever after?
It’s not surprising, of course, that this entry into the beloved series is just as smart and funny as the rest.
Last Night I Dreamed of Home by Sophie Li
Alice didn’t do well on the exam that matters most in China, so she’s decided that she’s going to take her college life easy. She wants to have fun like she’s seen kids in America have fun in college. Too bad she’s struck up an unlikely friendship–and maybe something more–with a boy who is everything she thought she’d left behind.
Haoran is set on getting a business degree, especially because his dad spent a lot of money sending him overseas for school. He promised to get the education and a good job, but Haoran really wants to create comics. It’s a desire that continues to pull at him.
Alice and Haoran develop a surprising friendship, and as things grow more romantic between them, each struggles with something huge that could change the course of their lives both together and apart. Hoaran has a chance at a creative project that could change the dynamics of his relationship with his family, while Alice must wrestle with her identity or face losing her connection to her roots altogether.
Additional YA comic releases from October include:
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