Hunger Games

Here is the podcast I created with my students about Suzanne Collins novel Hunger Games

American Born Chinese

This was quite different.  The drawings were superb.  The dual story line was engaging.  The switching between the two story lines maintains interest.  It is clear why some would love this story.  Still, part of it seemed like a Saturday morning cartoon.  Perhaps this is because of the excellent drawing, the dual story line, all the things that make this story a great graphic novel also make it an excellent cartoon.  Is this a bad thing?  Not necessarily, there are some excellent cartoons out there that tell wonderful stories – some even with lessons to learn about life. 

There clearly is a lesson to this story.  The lesson(s) is not explicit but is not difficult to determine.  Also, it is a quick read, could be read in one (extended) sitting.  Though it is a quick read, it is not simple – there is plenty of room for some great discussions.  Undoubtedly, teens would enjoy this.  

Persepolis

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

 

Two years ago my book club decided to read a graphic novel. 

Persepolis was, at that time, a newer movie so they selected the book with the intention of watching the movie after reading.  I must admit I hurried through the book and just thought it was OK.  Since I had read all of the CHOICE books, (love Maus, Arrival I just read and really enjoyed – it was a difficult “read” though) I decided to reread Persepolis because it is the novel I least recalled.  There are a few things I noticed during my second read that I completely missed during my first.  When you focus more on the pictures, as well as the words, MUCH more is gained.  This may seem like a no-brainer, but when you are 

rushed in your reading of a graphic novel, you skim and it is quite difficult to skim a graphic novel and get everything out of it that you should.  Until I reread Persepolis, I hadn’t realized this as much. 

This makes perfect sense.  After recognizing this I have a much greater appreciation for the complexity of graphic novels.  Since I began reading graphic novels I truly enjoyed the genre and just looked at it as another method of engaging students – especially reluctant readers.  Because of this I guess I assumed the reading was easier.  This is just not the case.  

I struggled with The Arrival – and not because there were no words but because there was so much going on and so much had to be inferred (the area of greatest difficulty for student readers) When you think of picture books, you think of elementary 

school and The Arrival really contradicts that belief.

Maus – without the pictures the story is not nearly as interesting or deep.  The symbolism alone in the drawings is quite impressive.  Entire 

discussions could be held regarding just the symbolism. 

Persepolis – a story I thought was OK upon the first read and am so grateful I read it again – there is more to the story than skimming through the words can give the reader. 

Through these works (and others I have read) I have gone from enjoying this alternative story option to believing graphics novels should be required in literature (and other) classes.  I actually feel that (good) graphic novels are the most challenging of texts and offer the greatest interest and greatest discussion for students. 

As a teacher I have said countless times – don’t just tell, show.  Graphic novels literally and figuratively do just this.

They all survived... Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong

They all survived.

Those three little words drew me in to what I was otherwise skeptical to read.  The circums

tances were harsh to the point of unbelievable – yet they all survived.  How?  How is this possible?  I had to find out.  Was it luck?  Skill? Clever thinking?  All these factors?  They all survi

ved – unbelievable. 

Not once while reading did I forget they all survived; yet, the way the author told the tale, the suspense at times was nerve wrecking.  To accomplish something like this is an impressive feat. 

Nonfiction is not my favorite genre.  Adventure tales are not my topic of choice.  Stories without any female characters are not my usual read.  Everything was stacked against me appreciating this book.  Not only did I appreciate the book, I truly enjoyed it.  I read it in one night, not because I was rushed and couldn’t put it down but because I had to see how – They all survived.

As a teacher, I can think of MANY students, especially boys, who would really enjoy reading this book.  This would be an excellent book in a geography, history, or social studies classroom.  There are a lot of teachable possibilities in this tale.

The other big draw of this book was the pictures.  The fact that the crew had a professional photographer and, as you read you could actually see the ship and crew and dogs as everything was happening, really added to the story.  Again, you look at some of the images, and the map and those three words come back again – They all survived. 

Great story – the fact that it is nonfiction makes it all the better.