Stepping Stones

In the late 2010s, writer and artist Lucy Knisley launched Stepping Stones, a warmhearted, semi-autobiographical graphic novel series for young readers published by Penguin Random House. The story follows Jen, a city kid navigating the upheaval of moving to the country, a new stepfamily, and the chaos of a farm—all anchored by Knisley’s expressive, inviting art. Though the series began with a single, self-contained book in 2020, it has since expanded into an ongoing collection of slice-of-life adventures that resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of place. Knisley’s gentle humor and keen emotional insight make this a standout in middle-grade graphic fiction, celebrating resilience and the messy beauty of everyday change.