Students, especially those in middle and high school, have a desire and a need to talk about current issues surrounding politics, policy, human rights, and diversity. When we bring such topics into the classroom in a respectful and honest way student voices are validated, current issues are discussed, and motivation to engage with text and learning is increased. I stumbled upon a few graphic novels that cover current issues and could serve as paired text for history, social/political science, current issues, genre study, and/or a mentor text (among other things). These topics, presented in a highly accessible multimedia format, will capture just about any teen at any reading level but can be appropriate for younger students as well. To provide some grounding for this social justice approach to literacy, I would recommend reading Critical Literacy and Writer's Workshop: Bringing Purpose and Passion to Student Writing by Lee Heffernan. This book offers philosophical insight, practical and applicable tips, and a glimpse of the success that this form of literacy can provide. It reads fast, being only 86 pages in total, and will give you valuable information for this approach.
Read on for an annotated bibliography of these graphic novels, along with some links to lesson plans, discussion questions, and author websites and biographies...
Please note that I have not read all of the following books yet and am not sure that they are totally appropriate for school-aged children. Those that I have read are listed as "reviewed" with a description of the content and its "worthiness" as a teaching tool. Keep in mind that the culture of graphic novels includes the use of adult content/images. Though this culture is quickly changing due to a realization that this genre can benefit literacy learning for all ages, the culture is long-standing. Therefore we must be careful of the types of graphic novels we provide to our students. Be aware that the following novels may fall into the "adult" category and that you must screen them for yourself before providing them to your students.
ISBN # 1596431032
REVIEWED! A+
~ This novel has an introduction that outlines the history of Rwanda leading up to the Rwandan genocide. It is followed by a story that follows a young boys struggles toward manhood. The story also touches on gender equality, inter-racial relations, racism, and more. School Library Journal suggests this is a book for grades 10 and up. I will agree with School Library Journal for grade inclusion. There are sexual topics, such as prostitution and teen sex exploration, but it is appropriate for the historical context. These scenes are not disjointed or irrelevant as can be the case in some stories. This graphic novel is rich and layered with symbolism, history, culture, metaphor, and honest emotion. I LOVED IT! I was enthralled, not putting it down until I was finished. The artwork is beautifully done, conveying clear information that is not hard to follow. I feel I could read it again and gather new depths that I missed the first time through. I would recommend getting parent permission to use this in class. It must also be read with the intent to discuss the emotionally and socially charged topics! This is Meaty stuff, excellent! I would be comfortable using this with a group of mature 8th graders, provided they were the right grouping. AND I would be comfortable with my sophomore daughter reading it (with guidance and discussion). Brilliant read for any adults too!
Lesson Plan Links:
Deogratias lesson 1
Deogratias lesson 2
Biography by Lambiek
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Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan
REVIEWED! C-
~ This story is a view of the 2003 bombing raid in Baghdad from the point of view of four escaped zoo lions. This is based on a true story. School Library Journal suggests this is a book for grades 9 and up. I strongly disagree! First, the book is labeled "suggested for mature readers". Second, there is a brief mating scene with sexually aggressive adult elements. The more disturbing part for me was the graphic and bloody decapitation of a giraffe by a bombing and the machine-gun peppering of the main characters at the end. While these elements may be factual to the event, I found the graphic images disturbing. This may have been redeemed by a gripping plot and deep moral message, but I found this to be lacking. The story was one-dimensional, contrite, and full of bickering that put any caring relationships in the shadows. There were moral messages such as war is devastating, animal captivity is wrong, war is displacing, war ignores innocent bystanders, and so on, but my sense is that there are better stories available to communicate these messages in a more sensitive way. In case you were not sure, I was most excited by the potential of this book and am most disappointed with what it turned out to be. I would be hard pressed to recommend this text without intense re-working and focused guided talk and instruction.
I will say that, in excerpt fashion, this could be a great example of writing on a topic from an unusual alternative perspective and could make an excellent mentor text (in excerpt fashion) for a sumative project following any unit in social studies. Viewing events from alternative perspectives is one element of critical literacy, a much needed skill. Additionally, it provides a look into the war as a paired text for a unit on current issues. BE AWARE: There is some language along with animal procreation (called "rape" by a commenter on Chris Wilson's blog), pain and sorrow, blood and death. The blood and death disturbed me much more than the "rape" (which, when looked at through the eyes of an animal behaviorist, is just how lions mate).
Study Guide Questions for Pride.
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The Photographer: Into War-torn Afghanistan by Emmanuel Guibert
ISBN# 1596433752
REVIEWED! (briefly) A+
~ A photographer follows medical staff around war-torn Afghanistan. This is an autobiographical look at the region's culture, terrain, and turmoil though black & white photos and pen & ink characters. For a graphic novel it is stunningly realistic, graphic, horrific, and morbidly honest (akin to killing chickens for dinner). Prefaced by the history and current political climate, and full of culture and the bumblings of learning it in a foreign and hostile land, the story follows the photographer through their travels. Certainly not appropriate for young children, I would highly recommend this to middle and high school students if it is used within a social studies unit and carefully scaffolded. Besides content, this graphic novel lends itself as a unique mentor text that includes multi-media as part of the "text". Adults: Read This, it is brilliant.
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A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld
ISBN# 037571488X
~ This graphic novel follows lives of 5 people in the six hours after the Katrina disaster.
Neufeld's web site
I did not have a chance to read this book, but I flipped through the pages as a rudimentary preview. there is some adult language but possibly appropriate for mature middle schoolers. The book follows the lives of multiple people as they experience the same disaster; the tsumani flood in New Orleans. Each person is represented by a different color scheme and this is a great literary element to examine as one way to convey meaning, so consider using this book as a mentor text.
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The 9/11 report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jackobson
ISBN# 0809057395
Interview with authors
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In the Shadow of No Towers by Art spiegleman
ISBN# 0670915416
Spanish edition
REVIEWED! B
~ This is a personal (autobiographical) telling of the events of 9/11. The author, who was at ground zero when the towers were hit and fell, tells a terrifying and chaotic story of the events. interspersed within the novel are narrative pages describing the author's motive to write this graphic novel as well as some history.
I found this graphic novel to be very difficult to follow. It tells the story from 4 different perspectives: 1) narrator, 2) author first person, 3) author second person, 4) satirical & sarcastic cartoon strips. There are great idioms and an excellent use of subtle satire and sarcasm that can be used as instructional aids for those familiar with the 9/11 event. Not only can the history of 9/11 be examined from a participant's perspective, but the old-style comics at the back can offer an opportunity to examine the stereotypes of their era as well as the social/political issues of the current era. Be careful to frame the stereotypes presented in these comics.
~ Artistically, the better of the 9/11 accounts.
Biography by Lambiek
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Barefoot Gen, Vol. 1: a cartoon story of Hiroshima by Keiji Nakazawa
ISBN# 0867196025
Study Guide
prREVIEWED... (sort of) B
I checked this book out to read over spring break, along with the oodles of other graphic novels listed here. While graphic novels tend to be fast reads, this one isn't. It is detailed and ripe with heavy concepts and historical truths. I only had enough time to flip through this book in preview mode, hence the "B"grade. The art, while B&W, is emotive and engaging! I think this book could be a wonderful avenue into the history of Hiroshima, full of emotion and chaos instead of dry like a text book. Pair this text for fleshing out a lesson. I can not advise the appropriateness of this book for a classroom with any authority due to my brief exploration of its contents. But I will be checking it out again because what I saw was an intriguing trailer! I think this book could grade "A+"...
Biography by Lembiek
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Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
(also Persepolis 2)
ISBN# 037571457X
Lesson Plan Links:
Persepolis lesson 1
Persepolis lesson 2
biography by Lambiek
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The Rabbi's Cat by Joann Sfar
ISBN# 0375714642
REVIEWED! (book 2) C-
~ I could only get my hands on the second of the series and was not impressed. While there was nothing to concern me about including this in an upper grade school classroom, I found very little in the way of content or artistic quality. For authentic peek into culture it can serve well, but there was not much in the way of academic value in this book. I did find it entertaining, however.
biography by Lambiek
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American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
ISBN# 0312384483
REVIEWED! B+
~ What a pleasant introduction into hormone-driven adolescent angst. The plot follows the main character through his assimilation into American school and culture. There is some adult language to watch out for, so don't include this in a grade school library. A running metaphor involves the stories of the Monkey King, making this graphic novel good for guided infrencing, but it would also be good for discussing the magnified effects of teen drama on a culturally different student. The frames of this graphic novel are set around two or three to a page, making reading easy and fast. I encourage most middle school teachers to add this to their library.
Yang's Website
Lesson Plan Links:
American Born lesson 1
American Born lesson 2
American Born lesson 3
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Epileptic by David B.
ISBN# 0375714685
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Mom's Cancer by Brian Fies
ISBN# 0810971070
Fies Website
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MAUS I: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegleman
(also MAUS II)
ISBN# 0394747232
biography by Lambiek
Lesson Plan Links:
Maus lesson 1
Maus lesson 2
Maus lesson 3
Maus lesson 4
Maus II lesson 1
college resource (timeline)
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We Are On Our Own by Miriam Katin
ISBN# 1896597203
REVIEWED! A
~Don't let the story-book-like artwork fool you. This is a very mature story written from the slightly innocent view of a young girl. As with any war, looting, pillaging, and rape are all present in this story of a Jewish mother and her child during their attempt to escape a capture by Nazis. It is not appropriate for young children due to male nudity and sexual assault (though it is delicately communicated).
Again, this is a mature read, clearly and delicately communicated with image before dialogue, for it is brief in word. The afterward explains the authors connection to the material and its impact on her life and family. The big message here is that war's impact reaches generations beyond its immediate presence. I can imagne this graphic novel pairing nicely with Number The Stars by Lois Lowry.
As a mentor text, this novel uses color and black and white to express mood as well as time (flashback). The art is soft and blended and detailed when the feeling of the story is calm and safe, but when things get scary and dangerous the pencil lines become heavy, choppy, and scribbly. I felt this was an exceptional piece of literature, though not a warm & fuzzy read.
Katin's website
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Burma Chronicles by Guy Delisle
ISBN# 177046025X
Delisle's website
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Kampung Boy by Lat (also Town Boy)
ISBN# 1-59643-121-0
REVIEWED! B+
~ When culture is overtaken by industry; this story paints just a picture as we learn about a young boy in the midst of cultural change. The social mores and nuances of his culture offer the reader a glimpse into the foreign life of a Malaysian boy. The presentation of the issues is simplistic and light-hearted, but suggest some need for deeper exploration. This could be read for leisure or examined more deeply as an introduction to some cultural and social issues. I found this book to be a fun read worth reading again. It includes some native language vocabulary (Muslim or Malaysian?). I would recommend adding this little gem to your classroom library, or to lesson plans that focus on cultural change due to industry or modernization. FUN READ! Great and whimsical art!
Lesson Plan Links:
Kampung lesson 1
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FLOOD: A Novel in Pictures by Eric Drooker
ISBN# 1593076762
REVIEWED! B
~ This one MUST be edited and used in appropriate portions due to ADULT CONTENT. This book does NOT belong in a school library or where students have free access to it due to very graphic sexual scenes, brief though they are. Having said that, this graphic novel is a true piece of art (literary and image). Flood tells a story without words about a city man drowning in his city life and longing for simpler times. For older ELL students this could provide an opportunity to tell a story in first and second languages without the pressure of decoding written text. It could also give them vignettes to write about. The content of this graphic novel is meaty and edgy, full of imagery, metaphor, and a message that is worth examining. This makes a nice example (mentor text) of how to tell a story without words! I recommend it to adults; The images are striking and the message is thought-provoking!
Drooker's website
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Graphic Witness: Four Wordless Graphic Novels
ISBN# 1554072700
~ As above, this collection can be used similarly with ELL students. But it's content is socially challenging, emotionally ripe, and could be used to address issues of justice. It would be a nice way to strengthen inference as none of the stories have text and conclusions must be made based on the art. One of the authors is Eric Drooker, author of Flood. Due to the graphic nature of Flood, I would suggest Caution when choosing this book for students. There may be ADULT CONTENT.
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The Arrival by Shaun Tan
ISBN# 0439895294
REVIEWED! A+
~ Another wordless graphic novel in which the main character immigrates and then struggles through the process of leaving family behind, adapting to new culture, and the social baggage that comes with such a trial. There are introductions to other migrant characters who migrated for reasons akin to historical events such as the holocaust. The wonderful thing about each immigrant story is that events and objects and reasons are figurative enough that they can be applied to almost any one's experience. This book is ripe with symbolism which makes it fun for examining and even better for writing about! Highly Recommended!!!
Lesson Plan Links:
Arrival lessons 1
The following links are a series of blogs and podcasts presented by a teacher who developed an extensive unit surrounding Shaun Tan's The Arrival...
educating alice day 1, educating alice day 2, educating alice day 3, educating alice day 4, educating alice day 5, educating alice day 6, educating alice day 7, educating alice day 8, educating alice day 9, educating alice day 10
Tan's website
More American History, Less Social Justice (many of which I found here):
(Please view this PDF article for a list of graphic novels that support history)
ISBN# 1596433752
~ The classic and historical story set in the graphic novel genera. appropriate for 7th grade and up.
ISBN# 1-59643-106-7
Lesson Plan Links:
Mohawk lesson 1
podcast interview with author
ISBN# 1-59643-142-3
Just Because comics:
visit this adorable on-line comic "Uku" by Otto Uhrwerk van Germain - an excellent example of how great art can tell an exceptional story with few and simplistic frames.
Otto also has a comic titled "Soup" - the comic adventures of the very first life forms on earth as they swim around in that "Primordial Goo". Funny and scientifically relevant for those who want to integrate literacy with science. Be warned: there is some language late in the comic.
Consider viewing my Multiple Literacies post for additional graphic novel use to support learning.
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