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It wasn’t until the American Library Association’s Young Adult Library Services division named their finalists for the Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award in December that I realized how the 2025 slate of YA nonfiction titles was not especially diverse. Historically, YA nonfiction has been the most diverse arena of books for teen readers. Last year, despite the really great nonfiction being published, that wasn’t the case. A good part of that is likely the fact that YA nonfiction just wasn’t published as frequently as it has been in prior years.
That might have been a fluke in 2025. Or maybe it was representative of where and how YA nonfiction continues to be under-marketed to readers, and how YA nonfiction simply doesn’t get attention in the outlets that drive attention (that is, social media). It’s not as sexy as the latest trend in fiction, despite the fact YA nonfiction has a hungry audience of readers.
They just happen to be primarily teens.
There aren’t many YA nonfiction books that hit shelves in January, and looking forward into the next several months, that dearth continues. This is something worth keeping an eye out as 2026 progresses because YA needs nonfiction, and YA readers deserve great true stories. That a category once an example of diversity and inclusion is now showing fewer and fewer new titles is deeply concerning not just for nonfiction, but for YA more broadly.
While YA comics have seen a welcome growth and an eager readership, few titles hit shelves in January, either. This will see an uptick coming into spring. A number of major publishers have recently developed YA-focused comic lines, and we’ve seen the positive reception both by readers and by those bestowing literary honors.
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All of that is to say that this month’s new YA nonfiction and new YA comics are few. There are two comics, one a standalone read and one the start of a new series. There are also two works of nonfiction, both of which are young reader editions of adult nonfiction titles–one of which was already published in hardcover but is seeing its paperback release now.
New YA Comics for January 2026
Fustuk: A Graphic Novel by Robert Mgrdich Apelian
Katah Fustukian comes from a family of chefs and couldn’t feel more like he doesn’t belong. He’s got no skills in the kitchen and he was too young to ever get to know his father, who was a legendary chef.
One thing Katah does have are dream visions. They’ve been getting more intense as his mother’s illness has been getting worse. Katah hopes those visions are a sign of magic, especially after they lead him to Az, a div who has some kind of connection to his family.
Now facing the reality that his mother could die, Katah and his siblings strike a deal with Az. Az will save her life in exchange for the siblings cooking up a meal as memorable as their belated father’s. The three siblings can’t figure out what to make, and amidst the fighting, Katah will find himself lost in a world of magic, his family’s history, and a bargain that’s much bigger than he ever expected.
This one’s inspired by Armenian and Persian mythology.
Love Me To Death, Volume 1 by Toonimated
If this looks or sounds familiar, that’s because this is the print edition of a super popular Webtoon.
Necromancy has been banned in San Guadario for more than 100 years, and every thing that anyone wants to do in town requires a blood signature. That’s because if a necromancer leaves their blood, their identity will be revealed.
Victor, a necromancer, has had to live a life of secrecy and in the shadows with his one-eyed cat. He’s never been able to be settled because his very livelihood has always been a crime.
So when he’s offered a job by the wealthiest patron in town to resurrect his recently deceased wife, Victor’s intrigued. There’s a catch, though, and it’s a big one. The ritual Victor will use for the resurrection will bind him to that woman forever. That sure makes things challenging and confusing, as Victor is now stuck in the midst of a romance he never wanted to be part of in the first place.
New YA Nonfiction for January 2026
Lovely One: Adapted for Young Adults by Ketanji Brown Jackson
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn into her role in 2022. The road to get there was one paved by determination and the ability to overcome challenges throughout her young life.
This YA adaptation of her adult memoir focuses on her high school and college years, exploring where and how Justice Brown Jackson found herself feeling isolated as one of the only Black kids in her high school. She talks honestly about being one of the few Black faces working in the justice system and how she’s balanced her work life with her personal life.
As a bonus in this edition, readers will get to read a speech that the Justice gave when she was in high school herself.
True Gretch: Young Adult Edition by Gretchen Whitmer
The paperback edition of Whitmer’s memoir, adapted for young adult readers, also hit shelves this month. Readers who love politics, learning about female leaders, and/or who are interested in finding inspiration for their own personal journeys will find a lot to sink their teeth into. Whitmer’s book shares some of the most important lessons she’s learned before and during her tenure as governor of Michigan.
Here’s to seeing more YA comics and YA nonfiction as we progress through the new year.
