If your kid is into graphic novels, you’ve likely seen Nimona floating around. It started as a webcomic by ND Stevenson and eventually became a National Book Award finalist. Set in a world that’s a mashup of medieval knights and high-tech gadgets (think swords and suits of armor alongside flying cameras and laser beams), it follows Nimona, a young shapeshifter who insists on being the sidekick to the kingdom’s biggest "villain," Lord Ballister Blackheart.

But here’s the twist: Blackheart isn’t actually that bad. He’s a guy with a strict moral code who was wronged by the so-called "heroes" of the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics. Nimona, on the other hand, is a literal force of nature who is more than happy to burn the whole system down.

Learn more about the differences between the Nimona book and the Netflix movie

Kids—especially middle schoolers and young teens—are at a developmental stage where they are starting to question the "rules" of the world. They’re figuring out who they are, and often, that doesn't align with who their teachers, parents, or peers expect them to be.

Nimona is a "chaos gremlin." She’s funny, impulsive, and refuses to be controlled. For a kid who spends eight hours a day following a bell schedule and another four hours doing homework, there is something incredibly cathartic about a character who can turn into a shark just because she’s bored.

Shapeshifting is the ultimate metaphor for the teenage experience. One day you’re one person, the next day you’re someone else. For many readers, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, Nimona’s fluid identity resonates on a much deeper level. She doesn't have a "true" form; she is whatever she chooses to be in the moment. In a world that constantly asks kids to "pick a lane," Nimona’s existence is a radical "no."

The book taps into the feeling that the "adults in charge" might not actually have everything figured out. The Institution in Nimona claims to be the protector of the people, but it’s actually manipulative and controlling. Kids are smart—they see the cracks in systems, and this book validates that skepticism.

We often talk about "brain rot" when it comes to digital media, but Nimona is the exact opposite. It’s a "brain expander." It forces the reader to look at the nuance between good and evil.

In most traditional stories, the "Hero" is good and the "Villain" is bad. ND Stevenson flips the script. Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin (the "Hero") is a good person working for a bad system. Ballister Blackheart (the "Villain") is a victim of that system. By the end of the book, your kid isn't just rooting for the "good guy"—they're asking what "good" even means.

Check out our guide on graphic novels that challenge the hero trope

If your kid finished Nimona and is looking for more content that hits those same themes of identity, subversion, and found family, here are the top picks:

Also helmed by ND Stevenson, this Netflix series is the spiritual successor to Nimona. It takes a classic 80s cartoon and turns it into a deep, serialized story about war, trauma, and redemption. It’s incredibly popular with the same demographic that loves Nimona.

This Disney show follows Luz, a "weird" girl who finds a world where she finally fits in. Like Nimona, it deals with themes of challenging a corrupt authority figure (Emperor Belos) and embracing your "inner monster."

If your kid liked the friendship and the "girls being chaotic" aspect of Nimona, Lumberjanes is a must. It’s about five best friends at a summer camp for "Hardcore Lady-Types" where they fight supernatural creatures. It’s high energy, queer-inclusive, and very funny.

Kat Leyh worked on the Nimona movie, and her solo work has a very similar vibe. Snapdragon is about a girl who befriends the town "witch" and discovers a world of magic, ghosts, and family secrets. It’s heartwarming and deals with identity in a very grounded way.

While the Netflix Nimona movie is rated PG and is generally safe for kids as young as 8 or 9, the graphic novel is a bit darker.

Ask our chatbot for a comparison of violence in Nimona vs. other popular graphic novels

If you’re an intentional parent, you probably want to know about the "agenda" or the "message." Here’s the "no-BS" breakdown:

If you want to have a real conversation about Nimona without sounding like you’re conducting an interview, try these:

Nimona is not "brain rot." It’s a sophisticated, funny, and heartbreaking piece of literature that happens to have a lot of explosions and a dragon. It’s the kind of book that stays with a kid because it tells them that it’s okay to be "weird," it’s okay to question the status quo, and it’s okay to be a "monster" if the "heroes" are the ones acting like villains.

If your kid is reading this, they aren't just looking at pictures; they’re wrestling with some of the biggest questions of the human experience. And honestly? That’s pretty cool.

Ask our chatbot for more graphic novel recommendations for 12-year-olds