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

Out from Boneville

Out from Boneville

by Jeff Smith

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