GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

HISTORY OF GRAPHIC NOVELS

American comics - The Yellow Kid, 1895 by R.F. Outcault

Comic books -- 1930s Patriotic comics -- 1940s Conservative comics -- 1950s Superheroes -- 1960s Comic book conventions -- 1970s Social outcast superheroes -- 1980s Graphic novels -- 1990s

GRAPHIC NOVELS AND READING

Assist poor readers Connect with visual learners Develop language arts skills Encourage unmotivated readers Convey educational messages Stimulate readers to explore other

literature

VISUAL LITERACY

Increase comfort with non-text visual media

Understand a cinematic approach to storytelling

Interpret sequential art Appreciate varied artistic styles

APPEAL OF GRAPHIC NOVELS

Action Powerful Images Important Themes Super-Hero as Modern Mythology Variety Enjoyment

GRAPHIC NOVELS AND CREATIVITY

Appeal to gifted students Encourage creation of original comics Novelists, screenwriters, directors,

illustrators as comic book fans

CONCERNS

Negative feedback from parents, teachers, administrators

Junk literature Portray violence, sexism, anti-social

behavior, and other inappropriate messages

FEATURED TITLESFOR SCHOOLS

*Compiled by Robin Brenner Brookline Public Schools

Coraline by Neil Gaiman The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam by Ann Marie Fleming Stuck in the Middle:17 Stories from an Unpleasant Age by Various United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation by J. Hennessy Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis War at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks Bone Series by Jeff Smith Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

TITLES WITH STRONG FEMALE ROLE MODELS

Akiko Castle Waiting Courageous Princess Give Me Liberty Dignifying Science The Tale of One Bad Rat

REVIEWS AND RESOURCES*Compiled by Robin Brenner

Professional Reviews:Booklist – February

Library Journal – Bi-monthly column

Publishers Weekly – Short articles regularly

SLJ– Reviews monthly

VOYA – “Graphically Speaking” review column bi-monthly

LESSON PLANS

Comics in the Classroom

http://comicsintheclassroom.net Teaching With Comics

http://www.flummery.com/teaching/ Teaching Comics

http://www.teachingcomics.org/ Bookshelf from Diamond Comics

http://bookshelfdiamondcomics.com/public/

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Understanding Manga and Anime by Robin Brenner Getting Graphic! Comics for Kids by Michele Gorman Getting Graphic! Using Graphic Novels to Promote Literacy with

Preteens and Teens by Michele Gorman Graphic Novels in Your Library and Media Center: A Definitive

Guide by Allyson and Barry Lyga Graphic Novels: A Genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga, and

More by Michael Pawuk A Librarian’s Guide to Graphic Novels for Children and Tweens

by David Serchay