Growing up, I’m sure many of us heard adults say that comic books were bad for us. I certainly did, but today, comics are one of the first things people see when they visit the RSJ library. That’s for good reason: their bright, energetic covers are immediately appealing to readers of all ages, and so I use them as a gateway to invite our pupils to explore the rest of the library.
In much the same way, graphic novels can serve as a gateway to reading for those who might be overwhelmed by conventional books. The illustrations break up the text into manageable chunks, making decoding the words feel like a much less intimidating task. The pictures also give context clues that help readers to better understand what’s going on in the story. When children are first learning to read, we happily give them picture books, understanding that the visual cues will help to develop their reading comprehension. By giving older pupils graphic novels, we can continue to scaffold their learning and help them grow into independent readers.
On the subject of scaffolding learning, graphic adaptations of classic novels are a great way to support readers in the English classroom, and studies have shown they have a positive impact on reading comprehension for both native speakers and EFL learners. Comics can be useful in the classroom, too; for example, Jabari Sellars wrote an illuminating article on how he uses X-Men as a metaphor to help learners understand the ideologies of the American civil rights movement. Graphic novels have also been shown to have a positive impact on visual literacy, which is used for everything from interpreting graphs to understanding art; skills which are needed in all areas of the School.
Personally, I think we should all read a graphic novel every now and then. Although I’ve written a great deal about how they support our pupils, I hesitate to perpetuate the belief that they’re nothing but tools for struggling readers—just a step on the path to reading real books. Art Spiegelman’s Maus alone shows that graphic novels have literary merit and are worth appreciating for what they are. So if you’re one of those adults who tells kids that comic books are bad for them, please consider picking up one of my recommendations for yourself. You might just be surprised by it.
My recommendations
For years 7-9, I often recommend Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, a story of how friendships change as we get older, and El Deafo by Cece Bell, about self-acceptance and growing up with hearing loss. I also like Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang, which retells the story of the Boxer Rebellion from both sides, with young characters who draw their inspiration from famous heroes.
For years 10 and 11, I like Long Way Down, a fantastic adaptation of the novel-in-verse (another format I’m fond of when it comes to engaging reluctant readers) by Jason Reynolds. Illustrated in gorgeous watercolours, it’s about neighbourhood violence and breaking the cycle of death perpetuated by revenge. For something more up-beat, there’s Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas, an exciting action-fantasy with no shortage of sword-fighting, set in a world heavily inspired by Arabic and North African culture.
For years 12 and 13, there are the great classics like Watchmen or Persepolis, of course, but I’ve recently really enjoyed On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden, about lost love and found family, with a cosy, nostalgic feeling throughout. I also loved What is Home, Mum? by Sabba Khan, a graphic memoir by a British Asian girl exploring her family’s roots in Kashmir and the generational shifts experienced within migrant families.
