Ages: 10-14 | Length: 544 pages | Vibe: Harry Potter meets Sabrina

Hooky follows twin witches Dani and Dorian who miss the bus to magic school and end up on a wild adventure involving witch hunters, magical politics, and family secrets. The original webtoon has over 1 billion reads, and the graphic novel adaptation is now a bestseller.

What parents need to know: According to Common Sense Media, there are battle scenes with magical spells, swords, and dragon attacks. One character is killed (sword to the chest), and witches are threatened with being burned at the stake. However, the art style significantly softens the violence—it's more "adventure peril" than graphic. Think Percy Jackson levels of intensity.

The Reddit parent consensus seems to be "fit for all ages" with nothing explicitly graphic, though I'd personally put it at 10+ because of the themes around prejudice, war, and some romantic tension between characters.

Why kids love it: The twin dynamic is genuinely funny, the magic system is creative without being overwhelming, and there's enough mystery to keep pages turning. It's also just beautiful—the full-color art is a major draw compared to black-and-white manga.

Parent bonus: It's 544 pages. If your kid tears through this in two days, that's still several hours of reading time. The book is substantial enough to feel like a real accomplishment.

The webtoon-to-graphic-novel pipeline is producing some genuinely engaging content for middle-grade readers, and here's why it's worth paying attention to:

For reluctant readers: The vertical scroll format and episodic nature make reading feel less daunting. Kids who balk at 300-page novels will happily consume the same amount of story in webtoon format because it feels different.

Visual literacy matters: These aren't "lesser" than traditional books. Reading graphic novels requires interpreting visual storytelling, pacing, and symbolic imagery—all legitimate literacy skills.

Community aspect: Many kids follow webtoons as they're released, discuss theories online, and create fan art. It's participatory reading culture, which is pretty cool.

Gateway effect: Multiple parents report kids moving from webtoons to traditional novels after getting hooked on a story. Percy Jackson fans often discover webtoons, and webtoon fans often discover traditional fantasy series.

Ages: 14+ | Greek mythology retelling

Gorgeous art, Hades and Persephone romance, but definitely older teens—there's sexual content and mature themes around consent and trauma. Not for middle schoolers despite the pretty colors.

Ages: 12+ | LGBTQ+ romance

The gentlest, sweetest queer love story between two British schoolboys. Originally a webcomic, now published graphic novels AND a Netflix series. Incredibly wholesome—think first crushes, hand-holding, and supportive friend groups.

Ages: 10+ | Comedy/fantasy

A princess who doesn't fit conventional beauty standards joins a support group for "cursed" princesses. Funny, body-positive, and genuinely sweet without being preachy.

If your kid wants to read webtoons digitally instead of buying the books, here's the reality check on the Webtoon app:

The good:

The concerns:

According to parent reviews on Common Sense Media, most recommend the app for ages 10-11+ with parental oversight. The key is actually setting up the mature content filter (it's not automatic) and having conversations about what to do if they encounter something uncomfortable.

One parent's approach I really like: Start with the physical graphic novels, and if your kid gets really into the format, then consider the app with clear boundaries and periodic check-ins about what they're reading.

Ages 8-10: Stick with published graphic novels rather than the app. Hooky might be slightly intense for younger 8-year-olds, but many 9-10 year olds will be fine. Better bets for this age: Dog Man, Hilo, or Investigators.

Ages 10-13: The sweet spot for webtoon-inspired graphic novels. Hooky, Heartstopper, and Cursed Princess Club all work well. If using the app, set up content restrictions and check in regularly.

Ages 14+: More freedom with the app makes sense, but still worth having conversations about content choices. Some webtoons marketed to teens contain pretty explicit sexual content or intense violence—it's not all Heartstopper sweetness.

Here's the tension: webtoons on the app are screen time, but they're also reading. How you count this depends on your family's approach to screens.

Some frameworks that make sense:

For context, our community data shows kids are averaging 4.2 hours of total screen time daily, with 50% of families allowing unsupervised tablet use. If webtoons are replacing doomscrolling on YouTube or TikTok, that's a massive win.

Webtoon-inspired graphic novels are legitimate, engaging reading material that's capturing a generation of middle-grade readers. Hooky specifically is a solid choice for ages 10+—beautiful art, compelling story, and substantial enough to feel like a real book.

The format itself isn't the problem. Like everything digital, it's about intentional choices: curating what your kid reads, setting appropriate boundaries on apps, and having ongoing conversations about content.

Start with the physical books. They're gorgeous, they're substantial, and they don't come with the algorithmic chaos of an app. If your kid falls in love with the format and wants more, then you can navigate the app together with appropriate guardrails.