Head-to-head

The Stonekeeper vs Out from Boneville

Both are epic fantasy graphic novel series for ages 8-12 with intricate world-building and visual storytelling, but Amulet is more modern with magical artifacts while Bone is more whimsical with talking animals.

The Stonekeeper

The Stonekeeper

by Kazu Kibuishi

A visually stunning fantasy graphic novel that hooks reluctant readers with genuine emotional depth

Out from Boneville

Out from Boneville

by Jeff Smith

The gateway graphic novel that launched a generation of readers into epic fantasy

Score comparison

Score The Stonekeeper Out from Boneville Winner
Kid Score 71 67 The Stonekeeper (+4)
Parent Score 60 58 Tied
Teacher Score 54 63 Out from Boneville (+9)

✓ The Stonekeeper — perfect for

  • Reluctant readers who resist text-heavy books but love visual storytelling
  • Kids ages 9-12 who enjoy fantasy adventures with emotional stakes
  • Readers looking for a female protagonist who earns her hero status through courage, not destiny
  • Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender or Narnia-style portal fantasies

✓ Out from Boneville — perfect for

  • Reluctant readers who resist traditional chapter books
  • Kids who love adventure stories with humor and growing stakes
  • Graphic novel fans ready for an epic fantasy series
  • Readers ages 8-12 looking for a gateway into longer narrative arcs

Our take

There's no universal winner here — the right pick depends on who's reading. The Stonekeeper scores higher with kids (71 vs 67) — better if your goal is "my kid actually wants to read it."

Still not sure? Take the 2-minute SPARK quiz — we'll pick the one that fits your specific kid's reading personality.

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See the full review for each